World Mental Health Day was an opportunity for people and communities to unite behind the theme ‘Mental health is a universal human right” to improve knowledge, raise awareness and support actions that promote and protect everyone’s mental health.

A day to let people know that it’s okay to ask for help,.

Yesterday, Turanga Meitaki o te Manako (Mental Health) was celebrated at Te Kainga O Pa Taunga (Mental Health Centre) with a gathering of around 70 people from various non-government-organisations.

Director of Te Kainga O Pa Taunga, Mereana Taikoko delivered the key note address stressing that “at this point it is very important to train others to continue this work.”

Taikoko noted that trained staff are vital so that the people who need these services will always have somebody there to help them.

“Sadly mental health has always at the bottom of the barrel because of the stigma,” she said.

“The stigma is there because many of us do not understand what mental health is.

“It is very important  for us to know all these very basic things that will help us to take the stigma and shame away from turanga meitaki o te manako.”

She explained that mental health is a stage of mental well being  which enables people to cope with stresses of life.

“When we are stressed it is very important that there are people there to help us along our way.”

General Practitioner, Cook Islander Dr Maria Peach from the Cook Islands Family Welfare Association conducts outreach programmes with Te Are Pa Metua , The Creative Centre, Te Kainga O Pa Taunga and Corrective Services.

She said mental health is part of a person’s well-being along with spiritual and physical health and when one is out of alignment it affects the other, “ so it’s not something to be ashamed of.”

Dr Peach noted that more young people today are likely to struggle maintaining good mental health because society is changing and there is much more to deal with.

“Young people might feel alone sometimes, but know that there is always someone around who can be there for you, one person is all you need. Seek out people you can trust, and be there for each other.”

She said the elderly have a lot of strength because they are well grounded.

“They (elderly) have had relationships and experiences that has grounded them, they come from a tight knit community, there is a lot of strength in what they have.”