Atiu Takes Part in Mental Health Awareness Programme
Punanga Tauturu Violence Against Women and Children Co-ordinator Rebeka Buchanan travelled to Atiu at the end of July to deliver our Gender-Based Violence awareness programme as part of Te Kainga o Pa Taunga Mental Health Centre’s Mental Health Awareness workshop. She joined the team including Co-ordinator Mereana Taikoko and Committee Member Mavis Tere of Te Kainga and Ministry of Education staff Eitiare Vano.
The Mental Health Awareness programme aims to empower different people in the community with the knowledge to better help their family and friends who are in their old age, have a disability or facing violence. Rebeka spoke about the philosophy behind Gender and Gender-Based Violence, why we are advocating to end it and how the Cook Islands has an obligation to end violence against women and children after signing to the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. Coping during difficult times and dealing with anger management are both difficult habits to achieve, Rebeka also had participants take part in our Basic Counselling Skills activities and Communication Skills programme.
Part of the programme also looked at resilience building . Presentations included improving communication and active listening with youth and the elderly, learning different parenting skills and understanding dynamics in love and marriage relationships. Mereana presented Te Kainga’s Suicide Prevention Strategy that emphasises measures the community can take to reach out to those who may be struggling or have become disconnected from others. She also spoke about how important it is to also talk with and listen to anyone who may experience a loved one commit suicide.
Te Kainga also took their Psychosocial Rehabilitation Programme to the island. Mereana also spoke about this day programme and the importance of having a day of activity and social contact for the elderly and disabled. Those who have caretaking expertise living on each island manage the PSR programme and plan to run it each week. The programme includes starting the day with devotion, a form of simple exercise, morning tea or lunch and activities such as art, singing or yoga. Contact Te Kainga o Pa Taunga for more information on 20162.
Following on from resilience building, Ministry of Education Parenting Programme Co-ordinator Eitiare Vano presented a Parenting Skills programme that Ministry of Education have endorsed for the community to access. Examples of topics included in the Programme are parenting styles, peer pressure and the “V of Love” parenting model that explains the importance of having boundaries to keep your kids safe and widening those boundaries as they become more independent. Training on parenting for specific age groups of children was something that was felt might be needed more. You can contact Eitiare Vano at Ministry of Education for more information about the Parenting Programme on 29357.
Around 60 participants came and went through the various presentations, including High School students, parents and grandparents. The Programme was funded by Social Impact Fund and Australia Aid.
Rebeka presents on Communication Skills at the Enuamanu School.
Participants at the workshop included NGO volunteers. In this photo Paul Maaka from Public Health is pictured in the centre.