Mental Health + Well-Being - September 1st to 30th đ§ đ¸
1 in 4 New Zealand adults will suffer from a mental disorder or distress at some point in their lives. When they do, letâs make sure they donât have to go it alone. To create safer, more caring communities we need to not only look after ourselves but those around us as well.
For the month of September, we want to use our voice to raise awareness for mental health and well-being. Perhaps consider sharing a cuppa with someone you know who could use the support or challenge your family and friends to unplug from social media for the entire month to improve their well-being. If you or someone you know is going through a rough patch, donât forget you can call or text 1737 anytime for FREE support from a trained counsellor.
This month also coincides with World Suicide Prevention Day (September 10th) followed by Mental Health Awareness Week (21 - 27 September).
However you choose to take part, make sure to tag us in your posts + use the following hashtag so we can see how youâre cultivating better mental health for yourself or in your community this month:
#NSNZmentalhealth
Poll: How important is the ability to book a doctorâs appointment online?
Hi Neighbours
Here at The Doctors we would love to hear how you prefer to book your doctorâs appointments. With busy schedules, different people find different methods easier.
For some, online booking is very convenient, you can make an appointment anytime without needing to wait on the phone. Others still prefer calling the clinic and speaking to a real person, especially if they have specific questions about their visit.
Your feedback helps us understand what works best for our patients and how we can improve access to care.
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34.9% I prefer booking online whenever possible
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26.4% Online booking is helpful but not essential
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34% I prefer calling the clinic
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4.7% I didnât know online booking was available
A reminder this hunting season
As thousands of hunters are making their plans for autumn â the Roar â recreational firearms groups are urging hunters to always be 100% sure of their targets.
Te Tari Pureke - Firearms Safety Authority NZ, which chairs the Recreational Firearms Users Group, has begun a public information campaign reminding hunters everywhere of Rule #4 of the Firearms Safety Code: to identify their target beyond all doubt.
Director Communities and Corporate, Mike McIlraith, says there is an estimated 50,000-60,000 New Zealanders involved in big game animal hunting each year, and the Roar is the key event for many hunters each year.
âThe Roar is a fantastic time of year for hunters to get out into the hills after a trophy animal but hunting safely and making sure everyone gets home in one piece, still must be the most important goal of every trip,â says Mike McIlraith.
âThe consequences of not fully identifying your target beyond all doubt can be catastrophic. Our message to hunters is a really simple one: If you are not sure, then donât shoot.â
Mike McIlraith says while hunting fatalities are thankfully rare, research has shown that misidentification of the target is the largest firearms related risk to New Zealand deer hunters, and 80% of the time this involves members of the same hunting group.
The Authority says hunters should not feel pressured to take a shot: âInstead, hunters should take the time to analyse their target, wait and see if it is a hind or stag, how old is the animal, how many points does its antlers have? Identifying your target means never firing at sound, shape, colour or movement alone.â
Mike McIlraith says good hunters will slow down, and run through some simple mental checks:
- Can I see the whole animal, or could this be another hunter?
- Where are my hunting companions â could this be them or someone else?
- How much of the animal can you see, if it is a hind or stag, how old is the animal, how - many points does its antlers have?
âTaking a little extra time to identify your target and check the firing zone is the key to safer hunting. No meat or no trophy is better than no mate,â he says.
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