Welcome to the July edition of the Queensland Mental Health Week (QMHW) eNews!

It might be chilly in Queensland at the moment, but Queensland Mental Health Week is heating up! New resources have been added to the QMHW website (more coming soon), grant outcome announcements are scheduled for early August, and there's only 10 weeks until the week officially begins. Now is the time to plan for your Queensland Mental Health Week.

Read on for how to get involved in QMHW, major event updates, news from the sector, and wellbeing tools and resources.

Nominations for the Queensland Mental Health Week Achievement Awards have been extended until 2 August! Now is your chance to shine a light on the incredible work happening in the mental health sector. Nominate today to recognise great work being done across the 11 award categories.

The awards are an important part of Queensland Mental Health Week and a chance to recognise and celebrate the achievements of individuals, groups and organisations working to reduce stigma and empower those living with mental illness. Open Minds has proudly hosted the Awards since 1996. The 2024 Awards will be presented at a ceremony in Brisbane on Friday 11 October 2024.

Download the nomination pack for more information about the categories and the nomination process or nominate online now.

Out From The Mist is an international competition that celebrates photography, short films, and music, providing a powerful platform for those with lived experiences of mental illness. When words fall short, images and music become vibrant conduits for expression. It is open to photographers, musicians, and short filmmakers who wish to explore their own experiences or those of someone close to them. Whether you are a professional or an amateur, all stories are valid and welcome.

The competition runs from July 1st to August 30th, with the awards night being held on World Mental Health Day, October 10th, in Brisbane. For more information and entry conditions, please visit the website.

Save the date for the 2024 Recovered Futures Art Exhibition proudly hosted by Richmond Fellowship Queensland (RFQ). This year the exhibition will run from 4-10 October in the Grand Marquee in King George Square, Brisbane CBD. Over 270 artists with lived mental health experience will showcase a diverse array of works. Artists have been busy dropping off their creative endeavours and this year there are over 400 entries to the exhibition which is the biggest response to the call-out yet!

RFQ are proud to announce Nicola Holly will return as the Curator for the second year in a row, bringing with her a wealth of knowledge and experience as Galleries Manager for Queensland College of Art.

During the lead-up to the exhibition, the Recovered Futures Art Exhibition showcase a variety of artist stories encompassing their lived experience and how their art practice is intertwined. Sign up to the mailing list on the Recovered Futures website to keep up to date with fresh information regarding the exhibition and read more about the exhibiting artists.

More information and details can be found on the Recovered Futures website or by following the Instagram or Facebook page.

The Walk For Awareness is happening again on Sunday October 6th 2024! The Walk For Awareness, run by the Mental Awareness Foundation is a time to come together as a community to celebrate life and remember those we’ve lost. We believe that matters surrounding suicide should be discussed, not hidden. So, take One Step At a Time with the MAF community on a 9km walk for mental health, starting at the lovely Captain Burke Park in Kangaroo Point. If you can’t join in person, there is also a virtual walk so people from all over Australia can walk for what they believe in.

Registrations are now open. You can also read the FAQs and donate.

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

We respectfully acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we work and live and recognise their continuing connection to the land, water, and community. We pay respect to Elders past and present and future leaders.

We also acknowledge people living with mental health challenges, problematic alcohol and other drugs use, as well as those impacted by suicide, their families, carers and support people.

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.

Contact CheckUP

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