“Approximately 50 per cent of mental health conditions start before a person turns 12 years old and one in four New Zealand children will experience a mental health issue before the age of 18,” – Cat Levine.
Cat Levine with one of the tractors touring Waipā the next fortnight to raise awareness of children’s mental health issues. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
More than a dozen tractors are leaving the farm and heading out on Waikato roads for a two-week trek supporting a children’s mental health programme.
It is the second time the Feelings for Life Tractor Trek has been to the Waikato, and it was also previously run successfully last year between New Plymouth and Napier.
The trek, which is strongly supported by Rotary clubs from around the region, is the brainchild of ex-farmer Phil Aish, and following its success in 2022 it is hoped that the rural heartland of New Zealand will get in behind and support it.
Phil’s daughter, Cat Levine, is a mental wellbeing educator who has developed a programme called Think and Be Me, tackling the issue of mental health with children through the use of teacher training, education, awareness, resources and presentations.
Photo: Steph Bell-Jenkins
Cat is visiting primary schools in Cambridge, Te Awamutu, Putaruru, Te Kuiti, Otorohanga, Waitomo, Matamata and Hinuera giving free presentations to the students through to February 25.
As part of these school visits, Cat teaches the children how to manage and regulate their feelings. The sessions are followed by a fun, interactive hands-on chance for the children to get up close and personal with the tractors participating in the trek.
The trek, which sees the tractors travelling on rural roads as well as visiting schools, is raising funds to help Cat produce free mental health resources and training to schools in the Waikato, in order to help children build positive mental health, for life.
“Approximately 50 per cent of mental health conditions start before a person turns 12 years old and one in four New Zealand children will experience a mental health issue before the age of 18,” Cat says.
Cat has just released a free new video series that are child-friendly and engaging and designed to improve the mental wellbeing outcomes of children, which has been received well. The Think and Be Me programme, funded by Feelings for Life, helps young people to understand, improve, maintain and grow their mental health and wellbeing through awareness and education, she says.
Rotary District Governor Kevin Forgeson says the Trek is a wonderful idea, which Rotarians were very pleased to support.
“Rotary is all about giving back to our communities and what better way to do that than help young people develop life skills that will be beneficial for generations to come? We are very proud to be able to support Cat in this programme.”
The trek is at Roto-o-Rangi School near Cambridge today (Thursday), Te Kuiti tomorrow and next week at Ōtorohanga South, Waitomo Caves, Matamata and Hinuera schools, finishing with a community event in Matamata on February 25.
On the road again: The trek was launched in Cambridge this week, from left: John Bishop (Cambridge Rotary president), Kevin Forgeson (District 9930 District Governor), Cat Levine, Taupo MP Louise Upston, Deputy mayor Liz Stolwyk, Phil Aish (Tractor Trek co-ordinator), David Hulme (Rotary Assistant governor), Daryl Gibbs (Cambridge Middle School principal). Photo: Mary Anne Gill
