nedjelja, 11. listopada 2026.

Mental Health Awareness Week is here – and it matters more than ever.

Mental Health Awareness Week 2026  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­   View in browser 

Kia ora ,


Over the past decade, Aotearoa has made remarkable progress in embracing mental health as a vital part of overall wellbeing.
We’ve seen communities come together, schools champion wellbeing, and workplaces begin to prioritise mental health. Conversations around anxiety, stress, and resilience are becoming more open, and the value of lived experience is increasingly recognised as a source of insight, leadership, and strength.

Yet, we know the journey is ongoing.

Anxiety, stress, and burnout continue to affect thousands of New Zealanders. Access to support remains uneven, and the pressures of modern life are growing. That’s why Mental Health Awareness Week and other awareness initiatives are so important: they offer a moment to pause, reflect, and recommit to building a more compassionate, connected, and resilient society.

We’re proud to offer a range of free resources to help you support you, your community, school, or workplace. Together, we can continue to create environments where mental health is understood, respected, and supported.

✅ Free Printable Posters
Designed to spark conversations and provide practical tools for managing anxiety and stress.
➡️ Find these here

✅ Online Courses & Workshops
This Mental Health Awareness Week we are running Uplevel My Wellbeing Challenge - you are invited to join us! 
➡️ Get your spot now

✅ Helpline
Our 24/7 Anxiety Helpline is here for you when you're feeling stressed or anxious.
📞 0800 ANXIETY (0800 269 4389)

We invite you to use and share these tools. Together, we can create a more supportive, resilient Aotearoa.

The Anxiety NZ Team

OCD Awareness Week

OCD Awareness Week (11-17 October): Shedding Light on Intrusive Thoughts

Many of us experience unwanted or intrusive thoughts from time to time. Usually, they pass. But for some, these thoughts become persistent, distressing, and difficult to shake—leading to patterns of reassurance-seeking or mental rituals that offer short-term relief but can deepen anxiety over time.

These “sticky” thoughts can intensify during certain life stages or under stress. When they begin to interfere with daily life, they may be part of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)—a condition that affects thousands of New Zealanders. OCD involves recurring unwanted thoughts (e.g. intrusive obsessions) and behaviours or mental acts (e.g. compulsive response) aimed at easing the anxiety those thoughts bring.

The good news is: OCD is treatable. A great first step is talking to your doctor. You can also call our free 24/7 national 0800 Anxiety Helpline (0800 269 4389) to speak with someone who understands and learn helpful techniques.

In this article, our Anxiety NZ Community Education Intern interviewed a friend living with OCD:

“I had no idea about OCD or anxiety until my late teens. It just wasn’t talked about.”

This OCD Awareness Week, we invite you to learn more, share stories, and help break the silence.
The more we understand, the better we can support those around us.


October is ADHD Awareness Month: Celebrating Neurodiversity

ADHD is a neurodevelopmental condition. It’s a natural variation in how the brain regulates attention, emotions, and behaviour. People with ADHD may experience challenges such as inattention, impulsivity, or restlessness, especially when tasks are repetitive or lack stimulation.

To learn more, and get links and resources head to our website.

This October, let’s move beyond awareness to acceptance, empowerment, and celebration. ADHD is not a deficit—it’s a different way of thinking, feeling, and thriving.

From the Clinic




Counselling Services:

    • Online (nationally) or in-person (Auckland clinic) appointments may be available Mon-Sat, including late nights
    • Funding support may apply

📅 Call us at 09 846 9776 or visit Counselling Services | Anxiety NZ to learn more.

Grab your spot now

Last days to do so

Join us in Uplevel My Wellbeing free challenge now. 

Keen for more ways to get involved?

Did you know that Anxiety NZ is a charity NGO (non-governmental organisation)? Our mission is to provide mental health support, treatment, and education so that we can help build a more resilient and thriving Aotearoa NZ together. You can help us make a difference in the lives of the growing number of Kiwis seeking support for anxiety and other related conditions.

Here are a few ways you can help us keep going in our mission:

Your support helps us to answer the 0800 ANXIETY Helpline calls 24/7 and support people when they need it the most. Please open your heart and donate today!

Get in touch with us if you have any questions on how to get involved. 🩵

Thank you to our sponsors and funders

Anxiety New Zealand Trust

77 Morningside Drive, St Lukes, Auckland, NZ 1025, Auckland

New Zealand

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