The Nelson Leader: 8-Page Spotlight on Mental Health & Community Impact

We are incredibly honoured to be featured in The Nelson Leader with an extensive 8-page spread covering Hope Is My Homeboy and the impact of our work in mental health, community engagement, and suicide prevention. This feature, released today, dives deep into the journey, challenges, and successes of our movement, shedding light on crucial conversations surrounding mental health in New Zealand.

What’s Inside the Feature?

Each page of the article focuses on a different aspect of Hope Is My Homeboy and the broader movement for mental health awareness and support. Here’s a quick look at the topics covered:

1. Hope Is My Homeboy: A Movement for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention

   • The mission and purpose behind Hope Is My Homeboy.

2. A Phoenix from the Ashes: The Story Behind the Movement

   • The personal journey that led to the creation of Hope Is My Homeboy and why we fight for mental health awareness every day.

3. The Silent Crisis: NZ’s Mental Health Landscape

   • A look at the alarming statistics and the urgent need for change in New Zealand’s mental health sector.

4. Mental Health Initiative Transforms Rugby Culture

   • How we’re working with sports teams to break the stigma and foster open conversations around mental health in rugby.

5. Community & Connection: How Aroha Kotahi Is Transforming Youth Support in Nelson

   • The power of unity and local initiatives making a difference for young people in our region.

6. Golden Bay Football Tournament Kicks Off Mental Health Conversation

   • Using sport as a platform to encourage discussion and support for mental wellbeing.

7. Maataa Waka Presents Mauri Ora Hikoi Nelson

   • A powerful event that brought the community together in support of mental health and wellbeing.

8. How You Can Join the Journey

   • Ways for individuals, businesses, and organisations to get involved and help drive meaningful change.

Why This Feature Matters

Mental health struggles affect thousands of Kiwis every year, and too often, these issues go unspoken. Through this feature, The Nelson Leader has helped amplify our message, reaching more people who may need support or who want to be part of the movement. It also showcases the incredible work being done in the Nelson/Tasman region to foster resilience, connection, and positive change.

Join Us on This Journey

The fight for mental health awareness and suicide prevention doesn’t stop here. If you’re inspired by our story and want to contribute, there are many ways to get involved:

• Support Our Initiatives – Attend events, spread the word, and advocate for mental health in your community.
• Donate or Sponsor – Your contributions help us continue our outreach programs and support those in need.
• Follow & Share – Keep the conversation going by following us on social media and sharing our message.

Thank you to The Nelson Leader for this incredible opportunity to share our story and highlight the importance of mental health advocacy. Together, we can make a real impact. Let’s keep the conversation going.

Read the Full Feature

We encourage everyone to take a moment to read the full article and gain insight into the work being done to make a difference in mental health advocacy and support.

You can access the article here: Read The Nelson Leader feature