Life is Do-able (2002)
Group or Institution
Waikato Institute of Technology (Wintec)
Author(s)
Sonya de Haan, Jenni Edge, Paula Palmer, Sharman Perry, Donna Holmes, Debbie Watson, Danielle Ballantyne (Tutor: Diana Bowen)
Abstract
A group of second year nursing students and their tutor undertook a project in collaboration with the Mental Health Promotion project group of Community Health, Health Waikato, to explore ways in which to promote a Quality of Life programme with the focus being on 17-25 year olds.
The Mental Health Foundation and the University of Auckland have researched and developed a generic programme called “Life is Do-able”. The objective of the programme is to help individuals achieve a positive feeling of well-being and empowerment. The project group were concerned at the high level of suicide rates among young people, particularly among Maori males, and especially in the Waikato area. It would therefore seem appropriate for a Quality of Life programme such as “Life is Do-able” to be introduced in an effort to further address these devastating statistics.
The “Life is Do-able” programme is derived from the Quality of Life model which includes goal-setting behaviour. Quality of Life in simple terms means “how good is your life for you?” The Quality of Life concept is broken down into three sub-areas: Being, Belonging and Becoming. Being is about how I feel within myself right now, Belonging is about my relationships with my environment, community and society, and Becoming is about where I want to go in terms of practical accomplishments such as careers and hobbies.
In order to complete this project, it was necessary to find out what other programmes were already available in the Hamilton area for the target age group. Meetings were held with the Mental Health Promotion project group to obtain relevant background knowledge, and focus groups and similar semi-structured interviews with community members were carried out. From the information obtained, several issues were explored and recommendations made to the Mental Health Promotion project group, Community Health, Health Waikato to assist them in introducing the programme to Hamilton.
The key recommendation for implementing the programme that resulted from the two focus group discussions held at the Apostolic Training Centre Unlimited, the Foundation Nursing course at the Waikato Institute of Technology, and the literature review were:
- That the “Life is Do-able” programme be adopted and piloted within Hamilton.
- That the “Life is Do-able” programme be integrated into already existing teaching or training programmes in the community.
- That the “Life is Do-able” programme be integrated into existing programmes for Maori, facilitated by Maori.
It is hoped that the recommendations will assist the Mental Health Promotion project group of Community Health, Health Waikato to introduce the “Life is Do-able” programme in Hamilton for 17-25 year olds.
Group/s Associated with the Research:
Apostolic Training Centre Unlimited: Steve Bailey, Stephen Strawbridge, Gordon Griffiths
Public Health Research Evaluator, Anna Cox
Focus Group Participants
Mental Health Foundation, Caroline Tichbon
A full copy of the report is available from:
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