With applications for the 2022 Queensland Mental Health Week (QMHW) Community Events Grant Program closing next month we know many of you will be busy brainstorming what type of event you will be holding this year. When considering options we encourage you to try to incorporate this year's theme 'Awareness, Belonging, Connection' into your event activities and messaging!

Many hands make light work, so if you haven't started inviting people to join your organising team to help you come up with ideas and hold your best QMHW event yet, you still have time. Why don't you shoot them a quick message now to see if they'd be happy to help? (You'll never know who'll say yes unless you ask 🤗).

Once you’ve worked out what you want to do, we’d love to know about it. By registering your event on our website you'll be joining the statewide QMHW community and will receive your own event page. Even if you're holding a private event, we encourage you to register to show your support for mental health awareness.

There are two major QMHW events with dates already set that you can read more about below - the Recovered Futures Art Exhibition and the All Of Us Festival. Also below are news snippets from the sector and information on some of our parters (please get in touch if you're interested in becoming a sponsor).

We hope you enjoy reading this edition!

The impact of COVID has been devastating for small businesses owners and individuals alike. Fully-funded mental health and wellbeing support is available for small business owners, their families, and employees living within the Queensland border community who are experiencing distress and deterioration in wellbeing from coronavirus (COVID-19).

Read more about the COVID Recovery (Border Communities) Service established by Wesley Mission Queensland.

This month a brand new Upbeat Arts Choir will launch in North Brisbane. Following the success of their original choir, the Absolutely Everybody Brisbane Choir, Upbeat Arts is excited to be presenting a second choir which will be fun, inclusive and low pressure. Places are filling fast. To find out more about the choir, click here.

Aboriginal and Torres Straits Islanders now have access to a new 24/7 national crisis support telephone service, ensuring they can receive culturally safe and appropriate health services where and when they are needed. Funded by the Australian Government, 13YARN was co-designed by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples with the support of Lifeline Australia and the peak organisation for Indigenous suicide prevention, Gayaa Dhuwi (Proud Spirit) Australia.

Launched last month, 13YARN offers confidential one-on-one yarning opportunities with Lifeline-trained Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island Crisis Supporters 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. If you, or someone you know, are feeling worried or no good, we encourage you to connect with 13YARN on 13 92 76.

Many transgender and gender diverse people live happy and healthy lives; however, some also experience a higher burden of poor mental health and rates of suicidality than the general population. This factsheet has been created with information taken from LGBTIQ+ Health Australia's National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Strategy, which was developed in response to the need for urgent action on mental health and suicide prevention for LGBTIQ+ communities.

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.

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 details

Phone: 1300 640 709
Email: info@qldmentalhealthweek.org.au
PO Box 3205, South Brisbane Queensland 4101