Taha hinengaro is our mind, heart, conscience, thoughts and feelings
Taha hinengro is about how we feel and how we communicate and think.
Taking care of taha hinengaro is important for everyone, regardless of whether or not we've experienced mental illness or distress.
When taha hinengaro is strong, we can better cope with life's challenges. We can express our feelings and reach out for support from friends, whānau and hoamahi (colleagues) if we need to.
Some surprising lifestyle choices can get in the way of having healthy taha hinengaro as outlined below.
Food
What we eat affects our taha hinengaro. Eating some foods can improve our mood and mental wellbeing, while other foods can have a negative impact on how we feel. That means we can improve our taha hinengaro by making small changes to our diet. Luckily, the same eating habits that keep us mentally well also support our taha tinana.
Physical activity
How much we move also affects our taha hinengaro. Physical activity not only appears to reduce the symptoms and frequency of depression but, better still, reduces the risk of becoming depressed at all!
Alcohol
Drinking alcohol can lift our mood with the first glass, but too much alcohol, too often, can be a downer for taha hinengaro.
Managing stress
Learning how to manage stress also supports taha hinengaro and is a key life skill. Stress is our body's natural reaction to a threat or an excess demand. Some stress is good for us and helps motivate us to get something done. But when we are under too much stress for too long, it affects our taha hinengaro.
Find out what support services are available for staff and students and where to find tools, strategies and more information
Need help now?
- Student Health 0800 479 821 or +64 3 479 8212
- 1737 Free call or text 1737 any time, 24 hours a day to talk or text with a trained counsellor.
- Lifeline Phone 0800 543 354 or +64 9 522 2999 or text HELP (4357) any time
- Suicide Prevention Helpline0508 828 865 (0508 TAUTOK0)
- Youthline0800 376 633 or free text 234
- Samaritans0800 726 666
In crisis?
- Mental health crisis assessment team
- In an emergency call 111