Mental health events around Australia

Below is a list of the main events being celebrated - and a background as to why they an important feature in our calendars.

Mental Health Month (NSW, VIC, SA, ACT)

Mental Health Month gives us an opportunity to raise awareness around mental health and wellbeing. It is marked in New South Wales, Victoria and the ACT and centres specifically on World Mental Health Day on October 10.

This month provides the opportunity to understand the importance of good mental health in everyday lives and encourages help seeking behaviours when needed.

Tuning In means being present. It means being aware of what’s happening within you, and in the world around you. Tune In to Mental Health Month and help create a world we can all Tune In to.

Queensland Mental Health Week (QLD)

Queensland Mental Health Week is an annual event that aims to shine a light on mental health awareness. This year's new theme is ‘Awareness, Belonging, Connection’, reflecting the important factors that help people maintain positive mental health and wellbeing.

✅ Awareness is about understanding the things we need to maintain and boost our mental wellbeing, and knowing when we need to reach out for help and where to get it.

✅ Belonging is about looking out for each other, ensuring we feel safe and supported, and understanding that however we feel, we’re not alone, and that there are others going through the same thing.

✅ Connection is about our relationships with our friends, families, and those that we care about, as well as the groups, clubs, and networks around us that we rely on to help keep us happy and healthy, wherever we live, work, or play.

World Mental Health Day (Global)

The World Health Organisation recognises World Mental Health Day on 10 October every year.

The theme of 2022's World Mental Health Day, set by the World Federation for Mental Health, is 'Make mental health and wellbeing for all a global priority'.

WHO is working with partners to launch a campaign around the theme of Making Mental Health & Well-Being for All a Global Priority.

This will be an opportunity for people with mental health conditions, advocates, governments, employers, employees and other stakeholders to come together to recognize progress in this field and to be vocal about what we need to do to ensure mental health and well-being becomes a Global Priority for all.

Aurora mental health month events

We love seeing our sites get into the spirit of the month with the following planned events.

Belmont Private Hospital, QLD

Calendar of week events:

Monday 10 October

• water colour painting
• mindfulness practice
• Belmont Private Hospital Art Exhibition Opening Night

Tuesday 11 October

• Mandala patient collaboration
• Jam and sing with music therapist

Wednesday 12 October

• "Eating for health and wellbeing" - Dietician presentation
• guided walk

Thursday 13 October

• Lived experience presentation - Anita Link
• Mental health festival

Friday 14 October

• Discharge planning

The Belmont team have also participated in the Walk for Awareness (see image below)

Brunswick Private Hospital, VIC

• The site will be hosting a Mental Health Week special buffet luncheon for all South Ward patients, staffs and VMO's
• Mental health week posters have been hung up around the hospital
• Mindfulness colouring activities are being offered to all patients during the week
• Therapists will be doing planned group sessions with a focus on mental health content

Eden Private Hospital, QLD

Eden were lucky enough to get ‘Elle the Elephant’ (which we have named Eden the Elephant) from Private Hospitals Australia’s Elephant in the Room campaign following an application for it this Mental Health Week. With the help of the patients, both wards have been decorated in the theme of Circus with the main message meaning ‘Be the ringmaster of your own mind’. Each wing of the hospital is themed a different circus theme (ie. Walk the tightrope, stand tall, juggling your MH) and there is a suggested activity and games associated to the wing to improve our own mental health.

Full ward activity calendar as follows:

• Saturday, 8th October Art Therapy - Activity: Toolbox Treasure Hunt
• Sunday, 9th October Community Engagement/Outing - Activity: Celebrity Heads – MH Twist
• Monday, 10th October Activity: ‘Sip and Support’ - Lived Experience Guest Speaker De Backman-Doyle
• Tuesday, 11th October Morning Tea for Staff and Patients with info/edu - Activity: Love Bombing
• Wednesday, 12th October Patient lead group discussions - Activity: Barefoot Bowls in Cooroy
• Thursday, 13th October Education on mindfulness - Activity: Yoga/Thai Chi/Pilates
• Friday, 14th October Pizza Night - Activity: MH Trivia on the ward
• Saturday, 15th October Activity: Movie Marathon on the ward
• Sunday, 16th October Surf’s Up Sunday - Activity: Patient Outing to the Beach

Eden will also be presenting at Alexandra Headland Surf Life Saving Clubs Mental Health Awareness education night called – Beyond the Rip. It is a night to raise awareness around mental health and reduce the stigma of mental health within the community, particularly the Surf Life Saving community as it is so big here on the Sunshine Coast.

Mackay Private Hospital

• Visit from a service dog and handler
• Afternoon tea with Open Arms (including a puppy) and a discussion with patients on the benefits of animal therapy
• Smoothie station where patients chatting with nurses about the importance of good nutrition
• BBQ lunch with patients with a talk regarding the benefits of fresh air and sunshine.

Marian Centre, WA

Week events schedule including:

• Monday 10 October: Beach walk excursions, yoga session, supporters group
• Tuesday 11 October: Sports morning at Kings Park, Bold Park nature walk, movie night
• Wednesday 12 October: beach walk, yoga session, quiz night
• Thursday 13 October: Dance therapy, laughter yoga, games night
• Friday 14 October 2022: Creative arts, BBQ lunch for staff and patients

Robina Private Hospital, QLD

• Mental health week morning tea "mood food" selection
• Staff will be wearing assigned colours to match the mental health week themes - connection (orange), belonging (purple) and awareness (green)

South Coast Private Hospital, NSW

• Monday 10 November 2022 – Hospital wide buffet for all patients and staff to kick off the start of mental health week (see image below)
• Tuesday 11 November 2022 – External business before breakfast at SAGE hotel with key speakers Dr Al Griskaitis (Consultant Psychiatrist @ SCP) and Jessica O’Garr (SCP 2IC Programs & Clinical Psychologist)
• Wednesday 12 November 2022 – Art Exhibition Ground Floor
• Thursday 13 November 2022 – Gratitude Jar (Back by popular demand)

South Eastern Private Hospital, VIC

• Nurses wearing white shirt and ribbon for week
• Ward decorations
• Special awareness groups
• Potted plant decoration
• World Mental Health Day lunch on Monday 10 October
• Flyers and posters on coping strategies and exercises that patients can utilise to improve and maintain their mental health and well-being have been put around the hospital
• Patients are involved to create a mental health banner for each ward with the theme “Awareness, Belonging, Connection”. There will be two banners, one for each MH ward, and will be put up on World Mental Health Day.
• Mental Health week themed inpatient groups- gardening and wellness (see image below).

The Hills Clinic, NSW

• Mental health month art competition
• Staff Walk for Mental Health Research challenge: One Foot Forward - The Hills Clinic
  
• Week 1 - patients received a relaxation challenge checklist and happiness kit
• Patient and staff BBQ for World Mental Health Day
• Ted talk presentations by 3 former patients to discuss their mental health journey
• Movie night with popcorn and chips
• Free the funk challenge
• Benefits of exercise presentation to patients
• Multidisciplinary panel Q&A
• Cupcake Decorating for patients and staff
• Fluro Friday Scavenger hunt

Townsville Private Hospital, QLD

• Art show for the month of October (see image below)
• Project Speak Up Lunch with Grace Tame (see image below)
• RACGP Hot Topics 2022