December 15, 2023
Māori mindfulness course for the mincer
A youth mental health organisation that has helped thousands of rangatahi over the past decade says Aotearoa is in a youth mental health crisis.
The Kindness Institute this year lost government funding for its kaupapa-led programme which has been shown to significantly reduce depression and anxiety while improving confidence and resilience.
Director Brady Polkinghorne of Ngāti Tamaterā says Atawhai combines the best of Māori connectivity to nature and Papatuanuku with traditional mental health practices.
“We basically teach a kete of tools that includes mindfulness, yoga, self-reflection, creative arts, mindful communication, stress management, we do big workshops on things like forgiveness,” he says.
Mr Polkinghorne says when Governments want to slash spending, programmes like Atawhai are often the first to be targeted.
The Kindness Institute is seeking private and philanthropic donors to make up the $350,000 it has lost in government funding.