There is just over one week to go until Queensland Mental Health Week (QMHW)! This year, the focus is on 'Awareness, Belonging, Connection', reflecting the important factors that help people maintain positive mental health and wellbeing.

Whether it's raising awareness of mental health online, taking time to understand what activities boost your own mental wellbeing, spending time with colleagues or members your community group, or reaching out to someone you have lost contact with, we hope you will take time to mark QMHW in a way that is meaningful to you.

To help get you prepared for QMHW below is a handy checklist to make sure you've got everything you need to mark the week. Have you:

• Downloaded resources? There are posters, a Zoom background, PowerPoint presentation template, social media templates and more! Plus, school resources.
• Registered your event? Whether you've organised a workplace initiative, a school assembly presentation, or community event, we want to know about it! You can register your event as either public or private.
• Printed and prepared materials? The trifold brochure, postcard, and affirmation cards are perfect for giving out to students during homeroom activities or around the office. If you have a paper guillotine that can help make them look super snazzy and quicken the process.
• Searched our events calendar? There are over 285 events set to occur, so now is the time to find out what is happening near you and online.
• Considered catering options and how to include healthy choices? This resource developed by Mood Food will help you provide delicious food to your event attendees that support the gut-brain connection.
• Let teachers in your life know about the collaborative colouring activity? If you're interested in this activity and the associated competition, make sure to engage with the Facebook event.

We hope you enjoy reading this edition the QMHW eNews! Please feel free to forward it to your contacts or encourage them to subscibe here.

To effectively reach and engage with culturally and linguistically diverse communities, the QMHW poster and trifold brochure have been translated by Ethnolink into the eight most commonly spoken languages in the state other than English. The resources are now available to download in Arabic, Japanese, Korean, Punjabi, Simplified Chinese, Spanish, Traditional Chinese and Vietnamese. View the resources here.

Aligning with our Awareness, Belonging, Connection theme, we are inviting Queenslanders to reflect on the factors that help them maintain positive mental health and wellbeing. You can participate in the ‘ABCs of Mental Health Social Media Challenge’ by posting a photo to Instragram between Saturday 1 October to Sunday 16 October for the chance to win prizes.

Photos entered into the competition will go into a photo album and a People's Choice winner will win a Fitbit Inspire 2 Smart Fitness Tracker that has been generously sponsored by the Mental Awareness Foundation. Read the T&Cs and how to enter here.

Music is a powerful thing. Aside from its entertainment value, it has been generally accepted that listening to and creating music can positively affect mood and mental health.

Through the Together Sing initiative, which will culminate during QMHW, schools and community groups have the opportunity to sing a song specifically composed for the occasion. Digital downloads including lyrics, audio files, scores, and other support material are available for all registered participants FREE OF CHARGE. This has been made possible through a partnership program coordinated by Kodály QLD.

During QMHW, participants will gather in their own context to perform the song together and immerse themselves in the joy and benefits of making music together. The 2022 song 'Where We Begin' is composed by Slade Gibson and arranged by Will Brown.

🟣 Click here to watch the promotional video.
🟢 Click here to register to participate.

Funded by the Queensland Mental Health Commission, Queensland Mental Health Week is coordinated by CheckUP and delivered by a strong cross-sector collaboration.

Each edition of this eNews will feature information on our different cross-sector partners.

24/7 Crisis Helplines

If you need immediate support, Lifeline (13 11 14) and the Suicide Call Back Service (1300 659 467) are available 24/7. In an emergency, call 000.

Acknowledgement of Country

We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the lands from across Queensland. We pay our respect to the Elders, past, present and emerging, for they hold the memories, traditions, the culture and hopes of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples across the state.

Contact CheckUP

Phone: 07 3105 8300
Email: info@qldmentalhealthweek.org.au
PO Box 3205, South Brisbane Queensland 4101