All health conditions | Health Navigator New Zealand

Whatever health condition(s) you have, there are things you can learn and do to take control, improve your wellbeing and reduce any problems arising. Below are some programmes and courses other people have found really useful.

Choose a topic below or simply scroll down:

Stanford self-management programme (learn a range of generic skills and tips to maximise your health and wellbeing)
Green Prescription (a recommendation from your doctor or nurse that for your health's sake, you need to increase your physical activity levels)
Steady as You Go (a peer-led exercise programme)
Walking groups (there are hundreds of walking groups around New Zealand for all ages. Find one near you)
Beating the Blues (online programme that helps treat mild to moderate depression and anxiety)
The Journal (self-help online programme that will help you learn a range of skills to reduce depression)

Stanford self management programme

The Stanford programme is based on over 25 years of research and is used in 25+ countries around the world. Whatever health issues you have, this 6 week course can help as you learn a range of generic skills and tips to maximise your health and wellbeing.

Participants attend once a week for two and a half hours, for 6 weeks.
It is held in community settings such as community centres, churches, libraries and practices.
Read more and find a course near you.

Green Prescription

Most of us don't get enough physical activity. We often drive everywhere and many have desk jobs. We now know that sitting is actually very poor for our health and most of us need to find ways to increase our activity levels.

A green prescription is a recommendation from your doctor or nurse that for your health's sake, you need to increase your physical activity levels. With your permission, a referral is sent through to your local Green Prescription team who will contact you, find out what you would be interested in doing and connect you with local programmes and groups.

Funded by the Ministry of Health, it's a great programme and opportunity to get back into walking, swimming, gentle exercise at a gym, dancing or whatever activity you enjoy doing. The team will keep in touch and provide support and encouragement to make some small goals and slowly increase as you are able.

Steady as You Go

Steady As You Go is a peer-led exercise programme that started in Otago. The programme has become so popular, it has now been adopted in a number of regions around the country.

Classes are held weekly, for one hour a week and are designed to be fun while also helping older people in their ordinary everyday lives. Groups practice balance, coordination-building and muscle-strengthening exercises such as standing on tip toes or moving from a sitting to standing position. People have found the exercises reduce pain, stiffness, improve their balance and reduce the risk of falls.

Where: Dunedin has over 40 classes Otago has 16 or more.

Classes are also available in Ashburton Tauranga Whanganui
Area not listed? Contact your local Age Concern group.

Walking groups

Walking remains one of the best forms of exercise as you can do it any time, anywhere and its free! Join up with a friend and it provides a wonderful social activity at the same time.

There are hundreds of walking groups around NZ for all ages. To find one near you, the following sites may help:

long list, but good content. Walking NZ
Local church groups
Auckland Walk Auckland
Christchurch walking groups Community Information Christchurch

The Journal self-help programme

The Journal is a free online programme that will help you learn a range of skills to reduce depression. Sir John Kirwan (often known as JK) and three of New Zealand’s top mental health experts will take you through a series of online lessons to cover everything you need to know:

How to stay positive
Lifestyle changes that improve mental health
Solving the problems that can cause depression

The Journal has been used by over 40,000 New Zealanders and has been shown to help people who have mild to moderate depression. It is also used by people with no symptoms to stay well.

How does it work?

The Journal consists of a series of six short online sessions that take you through a practical skill. Most people do a session in about 20 minutes then practice the skill over a week, but you can take as long as you like.

You’ll also get email and text reminders for each lesson and practical task you need to do. The Depression Helpline is available 24/7 if you need any assistance.

Read more and about The Journal on the Depression NZ website. Sign up on the home page.

Beating the Blues - online treatment for depression

Depression is very common with 1 in 5 people suffering from depression every year. Beating the Blues® is a widely used online treatment programme for mild to moderate depression or anxiety. Developed in the UK, it is now used around the world and studies have shown 7 out of 10 people who have used Beating the Blues® have been able to overcome their depression or anxiety.

Based on cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), the programme helps people work through the same strategies and approaches used by many therapists in face to face counselling or treatment for depression with a psychologist.