5-13th October 2019

Tomorrow marks the start of Queensland Mental Health Week— how will you take time for mental health?

QMHW kicks off tomorrow!

What are you doing to celebrate QMHW? No matter where you are, there are events happening right across the state in a display of solidarity, ranging from expos, walks, art exhibitions, fairs, morning teas, workshops, and much more. Or just be a part of QMHW by taking time to connect with those around you and valuing your mental health and wellbeing.

If you haven’t registered your QMHW event yet, you still can here.

Finalists announced for Mental Health Awards

30 finalists for the 2019 Queensland Mental Health Week Achievement Awards have been shortlisted! The winners will be announced at the breakfast ceremony on Friday 11 October. You can read about their incredible work and achievements, and purchase tickets to attend here.

The Achievement Awards, organised by Open Minds, recognise and celebrate individuals, groups and organisations working tirelessly to reduce stigma and support and empower those living with mental illness.

Now in its 23rd year, the Awards ceremony takes place during Queensland Mental Health Week, and it is considered a major event on the Queensland Mental Health Week annual calendar.

The Awards Breakfast and Presentation Ceremony will take place on Friday, 11 October from 7:30am – 10:00am at Brisbane City Hall.

Happy Odd Socks Day!

October 4 is Odd Socks day! Odd Socks Day encourages Australians to wear odd socks to show that anyone can have an odd day. We hope you're wearing your odd socks today. Make sure to share pictures of you celebrating in your odd socks with #OSD2019

If you've missed out today, you can still donate to Grow, the great organisation who make Odd Socks Day happen every year.

Purple for positivity

Brisbane lights up for QMHW

Brisbane's bridges will ‘light up’ on World Mental Health Day (10 October). The Story Bridge, Victoria Bridge, Reddacliff Place sculptures, and the Tropical Dome (Brisbane Botanical Gardens) will be lit purple in a dazzling display of support for mental health and wellbeing.

We encourage you to take a photo with the Story Bridge or any of the purple landmarks and share your photos with our QMHW community on Facebook and Instagram with #QMHW

Townsville lights up for QMHW

Townsville will be joining in the celebration of mental health awareness with their own purple light up. The George Roberts Bridge and the iconic Townsville sign will both shine a magnificent purple on October 10 for World Mental Health Day in a show of solidarity for mental health issues and awareness.

Once again we encourage photos with the Townsville sign or George Roberts Bridge in purple! Share them on Facebook or Instagram with #QMHW

Browse some big Brisbane events

Recovered Futures Art Exhibition: Hosted by RFQ, in association with Brisbane City Council, the 2019 Recovered Futures Art Exhibition showcases a wonderful collection of striking and unique artwork by artists with a lived experience of mental illness and recovery. The exhibition starts on October 5, and runs until October 11. For opening times and more details, see the website and flyer.

Out from the Mist Exhibition: Out From The Mist is a new photography competition & exhibition being held for the first time in Brisbane during QMHW. The exhibition will run from 5 to 13 October at Brisbane City Hall and the the Kelvin Grove Creative Arts Precinct, Brisbane. See the Facebook page for more details.

Walk for Awareness: On Sunday the 6th of October at 8am, Australia's biggest charity walk dedicated to raising awareness about mental health and suicide prevention will begin. The scenic 8km River Loop walk can be undertaken by people of all ages and is wheelchair friendly. Children under 12 are free. More details and registration available on the website.

Achievement Awards: The Queensland Mental Health Week Achievement Awards recognise and celebrate the achievements of individuals, groups and organisations working tirelessly to reduce stigma and support and empower those living with mental illness. The awards are being  presented at a ceremony on Friday 11th October 2019 at Brisbane City Hall. Tickets are still on sale, purchase your ticket to attend the ceremony now. Or see more on the website.

Brisbane Mental Health Expo: Now in its 9th year, the Brisbane Mental Health Expo is an engaging and innovative way to promote mental health programs, services and organisations and share information and resources with the community. The expo will be held on Friday, October 11. It's free and there will be food, music, arts, interactive stalls plus more for all to enjoy! See the Facebook page for more details.

Walk for Wellness: Closing out the week, on Sunday, October 13, will be the 5th annual Walk for Wellness at the beautiful Berrinba Wetlands. The 5km walk is to raise awareness for, and encourage conversation around, mental health and wellness. You can register and see more on the website.

Research some roaring regional events

Colour run at Cunnamulla: Bring a white shirt and join in the fun at Cunnamulla on Sunday October 13. Registration is $10 and includes a sausage sizzle, drink, and of course, the colour!

Burdekin Mental Health Week: There's a jam-packed week ahead for Burdekin Residents, with events happening from 8-13 October. Check out their flyer for all the details.

Time out for Townsville: On Sunday October 13, Townsville will be taking some time out. Time Out For Townsville is a free community event designed to give you permission to enjoy yourself and connect with your local community.

Seeds of Community Health (Manoora): Starting on Sunday October 6, the Manoora community garden will be hosting a series of yoga, meditation and tapping (EFT - emotional freedom technique). The sessions will be run throughout QMHW. See their Facebook page for details.

Music that Heals (Cairns): Come and spend the afternoon listening to some inspiring songs and messages on Saturday October 12. Entry is by donation at the door. More details can be found on the Facebook event page.

How else can you can contribute?

Aren't able to go to an event? Queensland Mental Health Week is still a time to reflect and shed light on the mental wellbeing of ourselves and those close to us.

Whether that means opening up to a friend, family member, or colleague; taking a step towards improving your mental wellbeing; or just being there for others. Every little action counts as we strive for better mental health and wellbeing. Let's all take time for our mental health this October.

Join the QMHW community by connecting on Facebook and Instagram with #QMHW and visit our website for information and events near you. You can also check out some of the great posts that came in as part of our #QMHWTakeTime Instagram challenge where we asked people to share how they 'take time'.

Special Offer for eNews Subscribers

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