We are excited to share that planning is officially underway for Queensland Mental Health Week (QMHW) 2023, with the Queensland Mental Health Commission appointing CheckUP to coordinate the campaign for the week again, as well as the QMHW Community Events Grant Program. More information on the Grant Program will be released next month, so stay tuned!

We are pleased to let you know that registrations are now open for one of the week's major events, the Walk for Awareness, which is hosted by the Mental Awareness Foundation. Getting involved in this fun, rewarding and inspiring event is a great way to show your support. You can learn more about registration options by clicking here.

If you have updates on a QMHW event that you would like considered for inclusion in future editions of this newsletter, please email info@qldmentalhealthweek.org.au.

Thank you for your interest in and support of QMHW. We hope you enjoy this edition of the eNews and look forward to keeping you updated on all the latest news and events related to this important awareness initiative.

Did you know that almost half of all Australians will experience mental health challenges in their lifetime? And one in five Australians experience mental ill-health each year.

Most of us have ups and downs throughout our life. So what can we do to maintain our mental wellbeing? It starts with this year’s Queensland Mental Health Week theme: Awareness, Belonging, Connection.

Awareness is about understanding how to maintain and boost our mental wellbeing, realising when we need to reach out for help, and knowing where to get it.

• Being mentally healthy is just as important as being physically healthy, and we can all take steps to maintain and boost our mental wellbeing.

Belonging is about looking out for each other, feeling safe and supported, and knowing that we’re not alone.

• However you’re feeling, you’re not alone. Other people are going through it too, and there are places you can go for help. (Note: the Find Help page of our website has some suggestions.)
• It’s also important to know how and when to reach out to people in your community to give them support.

Connection is about our relationships: not just with our friends, families and those we care about, but also the groups, clubs, and networks we rely on to help us stay happy and healthy.

• You deserve to be happy and healthy, wherever you live, work or play.
• It’s healthy to connect with people in your networks when you need some support, whether that’s someone in your family, a friend, workmates or any groups or clubs you’re in.

Here are some ideas for how you can incorporate the Awareness, Belonging, Connection theme into an event for QMHW this year:

• Host events that promote community engagement and social connection, such as group discussions or creative activities.
• Provide educational resources that raise awareness about mental health and help to reduce stigma.
• Provide opportunities for attendees to connect with mental health professionals and access resources for support.

We'll be updating the QMHW website and releasing more ideas next month in our Event Starter Kit.

Several new reports have been released providing an insight into increased community distress, that may translate to increased demand for mental health, alcohol and other drugs, and suicide prevention services.

The ACDC (Assisting Communities through Direct Connection) project, run by Community Mental Health Australia, recently surveyed the mental health of 37,500 households across Australia. Nearly half reported being in distress and more than one-third said they needed more support – but many encountered barriers to receiving help. Read the report here.

Lifeline has also revealed over 26,000 searches for assistance and support in January 2023 across Australia, the highest on record. Referral searches by Lifeline's helpline counsellors specifically relating to financial issues and homelessness also went up 49 percent between August 2022 and January 2023.

Suicide Prevention Australia's Quarterly Community Tracker also reported that almost half of all Australians (46%) are now reporting elevated distress from cost-of-living pressures—a significant increase (+5 points) on the December Quarter (41%).

A new centre for parents experiencing mental health conditions like anxiety and depression is set to open at the Mater in South Brisbane. $7 million in capital funding has been committed by the Queensland State Government along with $11 million in annual operational funding, and an additional $17 million in community donations to the Mater site, on which the facility is to be built. Read more here.

'Absolutely Everybody Sings' will be a joyous afternoon concert featuring moving performances from the two Brisbane 'Absolutely Everybody Choirs' from Upbeat Arts. The choirs work to transform the lives of those with mental health challenges, or those who are marginalised or disadvantaged and, for many, these choirs are life-changing.

Join Upbeat Arts at 2pm on Saturday 29 April at State Library of Queensland for a 90 minute concert full of great songs, great harmonies and inspirational stories of new beginnings. The choir members will be joined by Gregory Moore (loved Brisbane tenor) and audiences might just find themselves singing along. This concert is presented with support from Queensland Mental Health Commission. Buy your tickets here.

Save the date! The First 2000 Days Conference is in Brisbane on Monday 12 June. This uniquely lived experience-informed conference aims to foster a better understanding of perinatal and infant mental healthcare and early parenting support. Find out more.

Queensland Care Consortium grants are now open. The grant funding is being made available to enable health and community services sector stakeholders to design and implement sustainable place-based attraction, development and retention activities to meet gaps in the sectors’ local workforce planning and development effort. The opportunity to apply for funding is open to not-for-profit community organisations, industry organisations, an enterprise or a group of enterprises, to work collaboratively to undertake an agreed action learning activity. Applications close on Tuesday 11 April. Find out more.

The 2023 Seniors Month grants program is now open. The program provides a funding pool of $100,000 for individual grants up to $2000 to support community events during Queensland Seniors Month in October. Apply now.

Host a discussion with people you know to tell us what your community needs from local healthcare. Talk about what your local health care needs are and what barriers you have experienced. We are looking for people to host these Kitchen Table Discussion in these places:

• Far North Queensland - Yarrabah, Ravenshoe, Mount Garnet, Tully, Mossman and Mareeba
• North West Queensland - Mt Isa, Bowen, Doomadgee, Charters Towers and Mornington Island
• Central West Queensland - Kilkivan, Boulia, Gympie, Theodore, Taroom and Mt Morgan
• South West Queensland- Kingaroy, Charleville, Cherbourg, St George and Thargomindah

Find out more and apply here.

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

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