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 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 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.
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.
We love seeing our sites get into the spirit of the month with the following planned events.
Calendar of week events:
Monday 10 October
Tuesday 11 October
Wednesday 12 October
Thursday 13 October
Friday 14 October
The Belmont team have also participated in the Walk for Awareness (see image below)
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:
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.
Week events schedule including:
