WHAKATAU MAI - Free online wellbeing sessions

‘’The Whakatau Mai sessions provide social connections, wellbeing activities and information for people – online, for free, in real time, and with real people. We create a safe space to learn, share, discuss and connect. We actively prioritise guest privacy and wellbeing, including offering private support from a Peer Support Worker who is available in each session.
 
Whakatau Mai  |  The Wellbeing Sessions offers a broad, holistic range of options, designed to support self-directed wellbeing with zero barriers to access. Anyone over the age of 18 with a device and an internet connection can join us.  All sessions are hosted online on a private Zoom link, by capable facilitators from around the country. We are led by 'lived-experience'. This means that our facilitators and support crew have 'been there done that' – their own experiences of working through tough times means they understand what guests may be facing or feeling right now, as the implications of Covid-19 continue to impact us all.

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Sessions range from topics such as yoga and physical fitness, art and dance, journaling and meditation to information and tips for managing anxiety and other emotions, as well as support groups, including LGBTQIA+.

• Since 1 May 2020 we have delivered over 450 sessions to more than 1700 guests all over New Zealand
• Responses to our online survey after each session tell us that 98-99% of guests feel safe in the online sessions, find them useful, and feel more connected and less isolated as a result of attending.

 
Guests speak highly of the lived-experience aspect of the programme:

• “You can feel the kindness in the people running the session. I appreciate that as someone who has suffered depression. It is a different experience to know the people on the other side of the screen are empathetic, knowledgable, and safe in relationship to the things I'm experiencing in my life.”

• “It [staff’s lived experience] sets up a warm, welcoming and accepting atmosphere that you don't get in webinars or liveclasses.”
• “It felt very authentic and genuine and not commercial at all.”

 
The innovative use of online video conferencing via a secure Zoom platform gives the team and their guests a wealth of ways to interact, making a session a rich experience, as a recent guest noted:

• “Good use of interactive features like the poll to get people's confirmation of confidentiality for the session, using the reactions feature as a back-up, having people's comments in the chat be acknowledged immediately in the facilitator's session.”

 
Accessibility and the freedom to attend sessions from home is also a strong appeal for guests:

• “Inclusive, culturally appropriate, accessible. No transport barriers. I can opt in or out without stress.”

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