Mental Health Awareness Week 2024

He aha te mea nui o te ao? He tangata, he tangata, he tangata!

At Apollo, community is at the heart of everything we do. It’s fitting that this year’s Mental Health Awareness Week (MHAW) theme centres on community. Instead of just focusing on one week, we’ve dedicated the entire month of September to promoting mental health.

From learning about gut health to participating in Steptember, the month has been all about our people and the importance of community.

Earlier this month, we welcomed Alice Fitzgerald from the Gut Foundation to speak to our team about the link between gut and mental health. The presentation emphasised the significance of the microbiome and its role in supporting overall wellbeing.

Throughout September, we also prioritised physical health, recognising its strong connection to mental wellbeing. The Steptember challenge encouraged our staff to stay active, and the uptake has been fantastic. One team member, Scott Hellyer, shared his experience:

“There was a time I thought my health would prevent me from reaching 5,000 steps. I told a Christchurch colleague that my goal was to break the 10,000-step barrier by the end of September. Over the weekend, I not only reached it but smashed it! I’m very proud of myself. Thanks to the Apollo team for Steptember and for encouraging us to achieve what we thought was impossible.”

In summary, MHAW is about community, and so are we at Apollo. This past month has allowed us to reflect on our mental health and other aspects of wellbeing that deeply influence it. While MHAW highlights specific themes, it’s important to recognise that mental health is an ongoing priority throughout the year. Let’s continue to be mindful of our own mental health and that of those around us.