The stages that typically follow a disaster.

Anticipate the journey

Whakaneineitia te anga whakamua

Recovering from a disaster takes time (experts suggest five to ten years) and it's important to say right up front that it’s not a straight forward process. It’s very normal for things to feel “two steps forward - one step back” — but research suggests there are some common phases communities go through.

He whare ka āta whakaritea he whare tū tonu A house carefully built is a house that will withstand all storms.

Early on, an event or shock can create a common bond that connects your community, but over time, as people's personal situations become more varied, it’s likely your community will be staggered across several different phases. It’s important to make sure your actions evolve to reflect this, so that nobody feels left behind.

Wellbeing and how this can be challenged post-disaster.

Understand wellbeing

Te māramatanga o te hauora

Mental wellbeing is all about feeling good and functioning well. Mental health is something we all have, and just like our physical health, our mental health is something we can look after and strengthen.

Tama tū tama ora, tama noho tama mate He who is active finds purpose, he who is complacent perishes.

Spending time doing the things that keep us well will help us cope, boost our mood and build positive mental health. Better skills and awareness around this makes us more resilient. It helps to build our adaptive buffers so when times do get tough, we’re able to adapt more quickly.

Using research to meet people's needs.

Seek to understand

Whāia te māramatanga

Before you do anything, it's important to get a sense of where people are at, and how they are doing. Whatever your budget, asking questions and seeking to understand is the perfect place to start (and continue!).

Mā te ara tika koe e whai māramatanga ai By way of the right process you will find understanding.

When it comes to research, our top tip is to be curious. If you can’t afford an independent researcher, just do what you can to find out how people are doing, whether that’s by chatting to community leaders, creating your own surveys, or just getting out and asking questions. Remember that the simple act of asking people how are they are doing, and listening attentively to the responses, can make a big difference in itself, helping people to feel valued and validated.

Getting (and keeping!) wellbeing on the agenda

Building the foundations

Te hanga tūāpapa

Whether you're working in a recovery space or are wanting to foster greater wellbeing in your community, it’s important to work closely with potential allies who can help. You don’t have to do it alone – and even if you could, the end result is always better with a little help from your friends.

He waka whakaaro kotahi, he waka hoe tahi A vessel with a shared vision is a vessel with synchronised rhythm

Having the right people around the table helps ensure there is clarity over who is doing what when it comes to recovery. You don’t need to do it all, but it is important that you define the space you are working in.

How to gain advocates and boost your impact.

Amplify the message

Ko te whakapāho o te karere

Regardless of your budget or the type of work you’re hoping to do, you can achieve much more by working in partnership with others in your community.

He ringa raupā, he ringa hoe waka Allow the experienced of your community to help row the vessel (of communication)

You can exponentially increase your impact by fostering a sense of shared ownership. Working in partnership and providing opportunities to influence your direction increases the likelihood of your stakeholders becoming your champions.

Supporting people to take more control of their wellbeing.

Engage and empower

Me whakawhanaunga, me whakamana

Mental health promotion supports people to have more awareness of and control over what helps them feel good and function well. Raising emotional and wellbeing literacy can reduce worries or concerns over troubling experiences and emotions, bringing people’s natural coping mechanisms to the fore, improve quality of life, raise awareness of issues early and reduce the need for service-level care.

He aha te mea nui o te ao? He tangata, he tangata, he tangata What is the most important thing? It is people, it is people, it is people

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

While most people won’t need to access specialist mental health services after an event, everybody can benefit from support to build knowledge and skills to take charge of their own mental health and wellbeing.

Specialists, trust and why collaboration makes all the difference

Form your team

Whakaritea tō tira whakahaere

Having a team with a wide range of backgrounds and specialities can deliver the best results. Team up with people who specialise in the things you don’t and foster a culture built on trust, where it's okay to disagree, have different opinions and throw ideas around.

Ehara taku toa i te toa takitahi engari taku toa he toa takitini My success should not be bestowed onto me alone, as it was not individual success but the success of a collective.

Building a high performing team doesn’t happen overnight, and when you have people from a wide variety of backgrounds the challenge can be even greater. Starting each week with whanaungatanga can be a great way to build camaraderie and trust – your team will also be going through the stages of recovery, not to mention life’s ups and downs.

How to create resources that engage and hit their mark.

Get creative

Whakamahia tō ringa auaha

Whether you're creating resources, giving talks or planning an event, creativity and thinking outside the square can really help you generate some buzz and engage your audience. Getting specialist help with visual communication can be a big help!

Mā te huruhuru te manu ka rere With feathers allows a bird to fly - with the right tools anything is possible.

Interactive resources and activities are best. The goal is to activate the evidence-based actions that improve mental wellbeing. Find ways to make your activity stand out - whether that's developing an innovative concept, using a novel delivery method (e.g. flags in road cones) or developing something tactile (people love things they can play with!). Have fun, be inclusive, and look to connect with your audience.

The benefits of evaluation and sharing your impact.

Show your impact

Whakaaturia ngā hua kua puta

Knowing the difference you’re making enables you to continually refine and reframe your approach. As well as helping to ensure you’re on the right track, having evidence that you are making a difference can help you secure ongoing funding and support.

All Right? has been annually evaluated - this has taken two forms, a quantitative survey and a process evaluation. The survey has measured reach and impact, while the process evaluation has focused on specific population groups or aspects of the campaign.

Ka mua ka muri Walking backwards into the future - moving forward with lessons learnt from the past.

Do what you can to find out what impact you’re having - whether that’s by chatting to community leaders, looking at web traffic stats, or just getting out and asking questions. And if there are organisations carrying out their own research, don’t be afraid to offer up some questions they could ask on your behalf…