Mental health and wellbeing are important in nurturing our emotional wellbeing, which plays a huge role in our daily lives. Our Psychological First Aid Team Lead, Alistair Souch, says, " It's okay not to be okay.”

Update 14: In this update we focus on our work supporting mental health in recovering communities and check in on three community grant recipients.

We talked with Pimia Wehi about the community-led recovery taking place in Te Karaka after Cyclone Gabrielle, the mental and emotional toll of the disaster, and her experience of taking a Psychological First Aid course with Red Cross.

New Zealand Red Cross disaster response teams were there for the people of Westport as they faced their homes flooding for the second time in seven months. Two team members reflect on their experience and on a weary but strong community standing up to help itself.

Our Disaster Welfare and Support Teams (DWST) respond to emergencies throughout Aotearoa New Zealand. Comprising 19 teams of highly committed, multi-skilled volunteers, DWST provides welfare support and psychological first aid to people impacted by disaster – which can be anything from earthquakes, floods and fires, to terrorist attacks.