Tuesday, October 10, 2017
OPOTIKI College student, Te Rii Pirihi, pictured right, performing in the Yeah Nah It’s Not OK singing competition in Whakatane last month, which she won, with her own song, Violence is not the Key, on anti-bullying, will be performing at the TakeNotice concert. File photo
Ross McCullough
A concert will be held in Opotiki on Thursday to raise awareness about mental health and its impacts on those diagnosed with mental health conditions and their whanau.
Known as the Take Notice concert, it is the first such mental health awareness event to be held in Opotiki.
Other mental health awareness concerts are taking place around the country up until Sunday.
Kaupapa Maori mental health clinician and concert coordinator for Te Pou Oranga o Whakatohea, Selena Going, said the idea behind the concert was to raise awareness of mental health as it did not just impact on the person diagnosed but on those around them.
Ms Going, a registered social worker, said in the past 12 months Te Pou hadresponded to 500 tangata whai ora (clients) with mental health needs, all at differing levels from low-level depression through to schizophrenia and psychosis.
Opotiki’s concert on Thursday will be held from 10am to 2pm in the carpark of Te Pou Oranga o Whakatohea at 29a King Street behind the police station.
As well as music acts such as Craig Rimiha, Eru Tuari, and Opotiki Ukelele Club, there will also be guest speakers discussing mental health from their perspective, poetry, and even karaoke.
Opotiki College student, Te Rii Pirihi, who won the Yeah, Nah, It’s Not Ok song quest in Whakatane, will perform her anti-bullying song.
The event has been supported by local businesses who are providing spot prizes for the day.