Supporting migrant and refugee health in Canterbury

Wellbeing guides in migrant languages

Yellow Brick Road have published a series of downloadable wellbeing guides in English, Chinese, Samoan, Hindi and Tagalog. The resources cover a range of topics and will help you learn how to manage anxiety, boost your mental health and lower your stress levels.

• Read or download free wellbeing guides from Yellow Brick Road.

Yellow Brick Road provides services for families of people experiencing mental illness and was previously known as Supporting Families in Mental Illness.

Social cohesion programme to address incitement of hatred and discrimination

Beehive media release: 25th June 2021
The Government is launching a significant programme of work to strengthen social cohesion in New Zealand and create a safer, more inclusive society.

The work is part of the wider response to recommendations from the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the terrorist attack on Christchurch masjidain (mosques), and builds on existing initiatives by government to strengthen social cohesion.

“The Government wants to ensure Aotearoa is a place where everyone feels safe, valued, heard, has a strong sense of belonging, and is able to participate fully in society,” Associate Minister for Social Development and Employment, Priyanca Radhakrishnan said.

The Government is announcing public consultation on the latest programme of work on proposed changes to the Human Rights Act 1993 to strengthen protections against speech that incites hatred and discrimination; and seeking New Zealanders’ views about how they would make Aotearoa New Zealand more socially cohesive.

“Our diversity extends across ethnicity, culture, gender identities and expressions, religion, values and beliefs, ages, disabilities, sexual orientation, and the structure of our families.

“We are stronger as a nation because of this diversity but to maximise that strength, we need to create a society where our diverse communities are able to access opportunities, and express differences of opinion in a way that is safe,” Priyanca Radhakrishnan said.

• Find out more about the proposed new protections against speech that incites hatred and discrimination (Ministry of Justice).
• Find out more about changes people would like to see to make Aotearoa NZ more socially cohesive (Ministry of Social Development).

Submissions for both these consultations close on Friday 6th August 2021.

Learn to ride with Bike Bridge

Bike Bridge is a free programme for former refugee and migrant women at Ngā Puna Wai (Augustine Drive, Aidenfield).

Learn to ride including how to cycle on the road. Participants will also have the opportunity to get a discounted or free bicycle.

Winter sessions will happen the first Wednesday of the month – from July to September 2021.

Bikes and helmets provided. No special clothes are required to participate. The project welcomes female volunteers.

Contact Antoine Houle (021 111 7568) or Meg Christie (meg.christie[at]cdhb.health.nz or 027 848 6927) for more information.
Bike Bridge is supported by Community and Public Health.

Connecting over what’s in common

Cantabrians are being challenged to step outside their comfort zone, forge new connections and celebrate the region’s diversity.

InCommon is a initiative created in response to the Christchurch mosque attack by Cantabrians who want to ensure the incredible community spirit, togetherness and companionship that poured out after the tragic event doesn’t end.

InCommon spokesperson Lana Hart says the initiative encourages people to connect with others who they may initially think are different to themselves.

“We’re aiming to make people think twice about how they see the people around them and to think about what they have in common rather than focusing on the differences,” says Ms Hart.

• Find out more about the InCommon initiative.
• Follow InCommon on Facebook.