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Changing Minds

@changingmindsnz

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Creating a new future for mental health, addiction and wellbeing in Aotearoa New Zealand
https://www.changingminds.org.nz/

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The Changing Minds' team share a final thought piece on belonging and community to contribute to Mental Health Awareness Week 2026 📣 (which has inspired us to write further and you'll see these in the not-too-distant future!)

We started our series of articles with a look at the place of the individual in belonging—the idea that we each have agency when it comes to choosing who and how and where and why and when we belong. We’ve discussed different perspectives on community, roles within it, what we’ve learned from community participation, and the power of collective Lived Experience voices and action. Today, we finish the week with sharing what organisations can do to encourage and foster belonging because, in order for people to have choice, we have to provide the options.

"Importantly, a space where everyone is welcome is a duty that we, as organisations, hold and facilitate, not a task for the individual to adapt to.”

You can read more on our website here 👉 https://f.mtr.cool/bgp6ps4jn1

Sign up to our monthly newsletter for news, updates and opportunities to engage in our community mahi 👉 https://f.mtr.cool/214xrbo18o

#mhawnz #mhaw2026 #belongingmatters by @changingmindsnz

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a day ago

The Changing Minds' team have written a series of thought pieces on belonging and community to contribute to Mental Health Awareness Week 2026 📣

Today's article asks about what defines community and what we've learned here at Changing Minds from engaging with community in various pieces of mahi.

"A large part of my mahi at Changing Minds involves asking and inviting people to share their knowledge. And one of the most frustratingly common things I hear is “I don’t know if I can participate – was my experience bad enough?”

You can read more on our website here 👉 https://f.mtr.cool/kd5b8mw9d6

Sign up to our monthly newsletter for news, updates and opportunities to engage in our community mahi 👉 https://f.mtr.cool/214xrbo18o

#mhawnz #mhaw2026 #belongingmatters by @changingmindsnz

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2 days ago

It's Mental Health Awareness Week 2026 📣 The Changing Minds' team have written a series of thought pieces on belonging and community.

In today's article, Kevin talks about the different roles people play within a community, depending on their personal sovereignty. He also highlights the power of the collective voice and the strength we can gain from sharing stories and knowledge with each other.

"With a sense of others' strength, willingness to learn, and motivation to right wrongs, I can stand and face my vulnerability and, I hope, represent what I know from listening to others."

You can read more on our website here 👉 https://f.mtr.cool/g5mxvzmbdp

Sign up to our monthly newsletter for shared knowledge, updates and opportunities to contribute to our mahi 👉 https://f.mtr.cool/214xrbo18o

#mhawnz #mhaw2026 #belongingmatters by @changingmindsnz

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3 days ago

This Mental Health Awareness Week 2026, Changing Minds is sharing a series of thought pieces on belonging and community.

Today's article discusses community in action—the idea that belonging is not just about being, but about doing, and doing with purpose. When we use our voices, we do it for a reason.

"The whakapapa of our community is one born from social action. At the centre of our work is a sense of completing a specific task, or ‘doing something,’ often with an advocacy component or kaupapa."

You can read more on our website here 👉 https://f.mtr.cool/at2qd90tkl

If you want to join the action, sign up to our monthly newsletter for updates and opportunities to contribute to our mahi 👉 https://f.mtr.cool/mj31ud7qjk

#mhawnz #mhaw2026 #belongingmatters by @changingmindsnz

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4 days ago

As we embrace Mental Health Awareness Week 2026 in Aotearoa, Changing Minds shares a series of thought pieces on belonging and community.

This first piece looks at the place of selfhood and choice in belonging, which isn't limited to social connection.

"Belonging is fluid and flexible, it is wherever we find ourselves on our paths, in time and space, history and place, and however we choose to belong along the way."

You can read more on our website here 👉 https://f.mtr.cool/cg4inlvbtr

#mhawnz #mhaw2026 #belongingmatters by @changingmindsnz

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5 days ago

A huge thank you to everyone who has signed up for our mahi with Whakarongorau, enabling community testing of their in-development mental health navigation tool – Good Place to Start (GPS).

Good Place to Start is a new online website with an AI-powered webchat, designed to help people find mental health and addiction information, services and support, especially when they are not sure where to begin.

We're finalising testing participants as we speak, so keep an eye on your inbox for all the info!

Ngā mihi nui and thank you community, this mahi wouldn’t be possible without you 🥳 by @changingmindsnz

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9 days ago

Paid testing and feedback opportunity for the Lived Experience community - *3 SPOTS LEFT* 📣

Changing Minds is excited to announce a collaborative project with Whakarongorau, enabling community testing of their in-development mental health navigation tool – Good Place to Start (GPS).

Good Place to Start is a new online website with an AI-powered webchat, designed to help people find mental health and addiction information, services and support, especially when they are not sure where to begin.

Our team has been working alongside Whakarongorau for the better part of a year now, ensuring community voice and Lived Experience values are embedded in the creation of this new navigation tool. We are excited that this tool is now at the stage of wider community testing and feedback, to understand what works, what does not, and what needs to improve.

This project will require:
✅Approximately 3 hours of your time over October.
✅Engaging with preparation materials for the project.
✅Engaging with two testing periods between 13-18 October and 26 October–1 November.
✅You will be compensated for your time.

We’re looking for Lived Experience participants with a range of comfort and familiarity around using AI technology. This means if you feel anxious, uncertain, or outright opposed to AI usage, we still want to hear from you! Your feedback is especially important in ensuring Whakarongorau has a full range of Lived Experience opinions, to ensure the webtool meets the needs of as many folks in Aotearoa as possible. All feedback is welcome, including honest, critical, and anything you feel will make the platform better.

If you would like to express interest in this project, please email 👉 community@changingminds.org.nz

We will finalise testing participants on the 9th October.

Ngā mihi nui and thank you community, this mahi wouldn’t be possible without you 🥳 by @changingmindsnz

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11 days ago

🔶Election 2026🔶

There's been much in the media lately about a low percentage of young people being enrolled to vote in the upcoming election.

But this is not on them. It's on us to lead the way. And it's on politicians to show that there's something worth voting for.

Step one: Enrol to vote. If we're over 18 and already enrolled to vote, we need to make sure that everyone we know is enrolled, too.

Step two: Inform ourselves about the values of the political parties and what they will offer us, if they form our next Government. Check out how they will serve the Lived Experience community here on our website 👉 https://f.mtr.cool/79rwm4i3bf

Make sure you are enrolled to vote before 25 October 👉 https://f.mtr.cool/6sc64u80tw by @changingmindsnz

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12 days ago

Kia ora community ❤️

A huge, warm thank you to everyone who joined us in Kirikiriroa Hamilton over the past couple of days to help co-design
Odyssey's exciting new peer-led and operated café space. It is shaping up to be something really special 🥳

If you couldn't make it in person, but would still like to contribute to the co-design, please take a moment to share your thoughts in a short survey via this link 👉 https://f.mtr.cool/5v7yz491ir

We can't wait to see this space come to life! by @changingmindsnz

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16 days ago

🔶Election 2026🔶

We collated a community letter and sent it to the political parties to find out how they're going to serve the Lived Experience community if they are elected to govern. One of the questions we asked them was about what action they'll take to improve mental health education in Aotearoa?

This community member highlighted why mental health education is so important, saying that "Education should start early. Understanding and awareness not only means people are more comfortable talking about mental health at all levels. It is so important for children to understand and to break down the stigma mental health still carries."

You can read partial responses from the parties in the comments below and the full responses on our website 👉 https://f.mtr.cool/79rwm4i3bf

Make sure you are enrolled to vote before 25 October 👉 https://f.mtr.cool/6sc64u80tw by @changingmindsnz

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18 days ago

Paid testing and feedback opportunity for the Lived Experience community 📣

Changing Minds is excited to announce a collaborative project with Whakarongorau, enabling community testing of their in-development mental health navigation tool – Good Place to Start (GPS).

Good Place to Start is a new online website with an AI-powered webchat, designed to help people find mental health and addiction information, services and support, especially when they are not sure where to begin.

Our team has been working alongside Whakarongorau for the better part of a year now, ensuring community voice and Lived Experience values are embedded in the creation of this new navigation tool. We are excited that this tool is now at the stage of wider community testing and feedback, to understand what works, what does not, and what needs to improve.

This project will require:
✅Approximately 3 hours of your time over October.
✅Engaging with preparation materials for the project.
✅Engaging with two testing periods between 13-18 October and 26 October–1 November.
✅You will be compensated for your time.

We’re looking for Lived Experience participants with a range of comfort and familiarity around using AI technology. This means if you feel anxious, uncertain, or outright opposed to AI usage, we still want to hear from you! Your feedback is especially important in ensuring Whakarongorau has a full range of Lived Experience opinions, to ensure the webtool meets the needs of as many folks in Aotearoa as possible. All feedback is welcome, including honest, critical, and anything you feel will make the platform better.

If you would like to express interest in this project, please email 👉 office@changingminds.org.nz

We will finalise testing participants on the 9th October.

Ngā mihi nui and thank you community, this mahi wouldn’t be possible without you 🥳 by @changingmindsnz

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19 days ago

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22 days ago