Jan Tinetti Labour MP

Firstly I want to acknowledge you, the people of Tauranga, who over the past two weeks have supported and adhered to the rules of the lockdown period by staying at home in order to not only protect yourselves and your families but your fellow New Zealanders. I would also like to acknowledge and thank all the essential workers-our doctors, nurses, midwives, pharmacy staff, community health care workers, supermarket staff, truck drivers and all others who have continued to work hard to supply us with essential services and goods during this time- we really appreciate all that you are doing.

There is no doubt that these are very challenging times. The Government announced this week a further range of supports is being rolled out across New Zealand to help people look after their mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic. The message from the Government is clear- you are not alone, if you or someone you know is struggling, there is help available. One initiative launched this week is the 'Getting through together” campaign.” It includes Sparklers at Home, which provides tools for parents to talk with their primary-school aged children about their own mental health and wellbeing. The original Sparklers initiative has been hugely successful in supporting and promoting the wellbeing of young Cantabrians following the Canterbury earthquakes.

• Getting through together: www.allright.org.nz/campaigns/getting-through-together
• Sparklers at home: www.sparklers.org.nz/parenting

It is also important to remember that a lot of the usual places people might go to for support, like your doctor, are still available. It might be by phone call or an online video link instead of a face to face appointment. Many employers also provide mental health support for their staff. The Government is also looking at what additional support is needed for our health workforce.

My office continues to operate remotely during the lockdown period and we have already helped many locals in need. You can contact us by phoning (07) 571 2492 Monday-Friday 9-5pm or anytime by emailing me at Jan.Tinetti@parliament.govt.nz

Please reach out if you need help. We will get through this together.