We recognize whānau are in different stages of response and recovery and want to share the following sets of practical messaging for use on your channels – these have been developed by our public health and clinical leads with a view to what would be of most use. They are on our Facebook page ((20+) Te Aka Whai Ora Māori Health Authority | Facebook) so are simple to share on social.
Clean up korero.
- Wear a mask to protect your airways. This reduces the amount of dust and other particles entering your tinara. This is especially important for our whānau with respiratory illness such as asthma or emphysema.
- Waterproof bandages. You may have some cuts or scratches, and we don’t want you to get an infection which could put you in hospital.
- Gumboots and gloves. Helping you minimise the risk of touching and carrying the paru from the mud and silt with you throughout the day.
- Airflow in our whare. Helping to keep our spaces as ventilated as possible.
- Use of hand sanitiser after cleaning the mess or using the wharepaku, and especially before consuming any kai or inu, to help reduce the risk of becoming māuiui.
- Use of alcohol wipes to wipe down items and kill any bugs that could make your whānau māuiui.
Let’s stay connected. Emotional support is available.
- Whānau, we are mindful of the stress and distress that others are going through. Let’s stay connected support them with aroha.
- If anyone in our whānau is distressed, we can listen, we can be there with them, we can share our aroha and concern for them, let them know they can talk with us.
- There’s other help available too – if you or anyone in your whānau is distressed, they can reach out to their doctor or call 1737 to talk with a counsellor or a trained peer support worker. (Add local/grassroots advice as relevant.)
Telehealth support
Dr Rawiri McKree Jansen has provided the information below on the telehealth support available for health, mental health, and wellbeing – including with prescriptions.
Free, 24/7 telehealth support available – for health, mental health and wellbeing
Healthline – 0800 611 116
Health advice and information – from nurses, paramedics, and doctors (who can help with prescriptions). Questions about your medication, you’re away from home, you can’t access your GP or you don’t currently have a GP– call Healthline (and you can ask for the Maori team) .
Mental health and wellbeing support – 1737
The current and recent weather events are distressing. If you’re feeling stressed or overwhelmed – talk with a 1737 counsellor for support, advice and ideas to help right now. Call or text 1737 anytime.
Some great advice on managing stress in an emergency;
https://www.health.govt.nz/your-health/healthy-living/emergency-management/managing-stress-emergency
Disability Helpline – 0800 11 12 13 or text 8988
Disability Helpline team has been supporting members of the Disability Community with managing COVID at home and can also help with:
any general health concerns
if a support worker/carer is unavailable or hasn’t arrived and to help right now,
information and support about the recent severe weather and flooding.
For assistance, access using the NZ Relay Service www.nzrelay.co.nz
A person with experience or knowledge of disability will answer your call from 8am to 8pm.
After 8pm, calls are answered by a trained member of the Healthline team.
These services are powered by Whakarongorau Aotearoa // New Zealand Telehealth Services.
