Free museum entry for New Zealanders and people living in New Zealand
Open every day 10am-6pm
(except Christmas Day)
Free museum entry for New Zealanders and people living in New Zealand
Many individuals from Asian diasporas in Aotearoa New Zealand have consistently called for a greater focus on mental health issues. This project responds to this call and aims to highlight various discussions, understandings, and perspectives on mental health of Asian communities in Aotearoa.
Several key people working in the Asian mental health space in Aotearoa New Zealand – many of them featured in our Asian Mental Health video series – look to the future and consider: where to from here?
As part of our Asian Mental Health project, the Reimagining Asian Mental Health hui brought together mental health professionals, advocates, activists, and academics to speak on the issues and ways forward, surrounded by a room full of passionate individuals. Here, participant Tenisha Kumar reflects on the kaupapa of the day.
How one woman’s fear of birds controlled her life – and affected those around her.
Eva Chen began her mental health advocacy work almost a decade ago after seeing the need for a culturally responsive service for Asian communities, resulting in the establishment of the Wellbeing Charitable Trust.
Eva Chen talks about relatable challenges in her advocacy, and her culturally sensitive approach to supporting our communities.
Maria Milmine is a counsellor and part of a small collective of Filipino therapists. She speaks about working in our mental health system.
Maria Milmine’s approach to counselling is infused with a critical awareness of how factors such as migration, race, gender, colonisation, and class impact an individual’s mental health. Here she shares about her experiences working in New Zealand’s mental health system.
“For so long we looked at the mainstream perspective [of mental health] as the baseline perspective. It’s not. There could be other perspectives, catered for other cultural groups, and they could exist in harmony.”
Sehar Moughal is a psychologist, activist, public speaker, teacher, and doctoral candidate at the University of Auckland. Her professional and research work centres around challenging the status quo and advocating for people on the fringes. Mehwish Mughal, who leads our Asian Mental Health project, asks Sehar what makes her so passionate about the work she does.
We hear from several knowledge holders working in the Asian mental health space as they outline the key issues we need to tackle to open the door to positive change.
Dharshi discusses her dance therapy sessions and workshops – typically frequented by women from South Asian communities – which offer the benefits of dance while doubling as a safe space for students to form friendships and find community.
Dharshi’s work in the mental health space challenges us to reconsider what ‘therapy’ looks like, where it happens, and who does it. Here, she discusses her philosophy, dreams, hopes for change, and tips for self-care.
As part of Mental Health Awareness Week (26 Sep – 2 Oct), researcher and activist Mehwish Mughal and Grace Gassin, Curator Asian New Zealand Histories, proudly launch our new Asian Mental Health project.
Many individuals from, and working alongside, Asian diasporas in Aotearoa New Zealand have consistently called for a greater focus on mental health issues. Here, our Asian Mental Health project lead Mehwish Mughal offers a deeply personal insight into why the mental health concerns of Asian communities need to be addressed.
A zine featuring submissions from contributors of diverse Asian heritages on mental health-related themes and experiences.
Many individuals from, and working alongside, Asian diasporas in Aotearoa, New Zealand, have consistently called for a greater focus on mental health issues.
Content warning: Please note that the following entry contains references to suicide.
This embroidery, 'The chaos in my mind does not define me' by LeAnn Baigent, depicts the maker's own lived experience of how chronic mental illness presents in her mind.
