Strategic Partnerships
Good Programmes Trust
In June 2021, the Southern Wellbeing Trust partnered with the Good Programmes Trust, a national provider of mental health education, to scale up an innovative pilot project to support the Whakatipu community’s mental health and resilience.
The pilot project was created around the GoodYarn model, an established, evidence-based, peer-to-peer mental health education programme. The programme trains people to better understand and talk openly about mental health and wellbeing, learn how to recognise common signs and symptoms of mental illness, and support those experiencing mental distress to access help.
Managed by the Good Programmes Trust, the GoodYarn model is different to other mental health programmes in that it focuses on a peer delivery approach, training non-clinical people to deliver the programme to their friends, family, neighbours or colleagues, so that the knowledge and support offered is more easily accessible and stays in the community.
Since 2014, GoodYarn has been delivered in rural communities and workplaces across New Zealand with excellent results. It has recently been rolled out in a further 15 countries through a partnership with Fonterra Global. As a result of the Southern Wellbeing Trust and Good Programmes Trust partnership it is hoped that in time, the new community-based GoodYarn programme will be rolled out more widely across the region and, ultimately, around New Zealand.
