In a first for WA Mental Health Week, we are excited to bring you a Breakfast by the Bay at The University Club of Western Australia on Tuesday, 12 October.

Through a partnership with The University of WA (UWA), this Breakfast by the Bay will explore the important intersection between our mind, body, environment, and life experiences on our mental health and discuss ways to move forward in processing and healing to live our best lives possible. 

• Date: Tuesday, 12 October
• Time: 7.00am-9.00am
• Venue: Banquet Hall, The University Club of WA, Entrance 1, Hackett Drive, Crawley
• Price: UWA Club members $55 | Non-members $65 | Table of 10 $600

Register via The University Club of WA website (link here). 

Understanding how the body, mind and environment intersect is essential to our overall wellbeing. Physical health – both inside of us and in the world around us – has a major impact on mental health. The nutrition we consume, the movement of our bodies, the health of the planet and quality of our housing and neighbourhoods all play a part in building healthy communities.

What does the latest research have to say about the emerging links between trauma, toxic stress, and negative life experiences and its impact on our mental and physical health? How and why do certain experiences remain stored in our bodies? What role should individuals and the services that support us play?

Join us for a sit-down two-course breakfast and discussion panel from expert professionals, researchers and clinicians on the mind, body, environment and trauma, and explore the interrelationships.

INTRODUCING OUR PANELISTS: 

Dr Tiffany Calvert, a clinical psychologist who specialises in trauma and eating disorders at The Swan Centre has been involved in eating disorder research projects across Australia and internationally. She has a special interest in the intersection between trauma and eating disorders, finding that individuals can have a complex relationship with their body that in turn impacts their capacity to nurture and nourish themselves. Dr Calvert will speak about treatments and strategies to move to a place of processing, healing and thriving.

The body and our nervous system holds onto trauma and stress, which effects our mental health. The nutrition we consume, movement of our bodies, and care we take of ourselves all contribute to building mentally healthy individuals and communities.

Associate Professor Claus Christophersen is a molecular microbiologist specialising in the role and impact of the gut microbiome on human health. Prof Christophersen leads both the Systems Biology and Microbiome Research at Centre for Integrative Metabolomics and Computational Biology at Edith Cowan University and the WA Human Microbiome Collaboration Centre at Curtin University. He participates in multi-disciplinary research to understand how the microbiome interacts with the host and how manipulating it can improve health, mental health or prevent diseases. Prof Christophersen will speak to the connection between gut health and mental health.

Psychological stress has a particularly harmful effect on the vagus nerve and inflammation of the gut linked to causing several mental illnesses including anxiety and depression, with healthy gut function linked to normal central nervous system function.

Belinda McCawley is a certified environmental practitioner and registered meditation facilitator and certified forest therapy guide. She studied environmental management and went onto a corporate career as an environmental scientist. More recently, Ms McCawley launched Mindful In Nature to share the practice of 'forest therapy' with people who are keen to improve the quality of their lives. She will talk to using forest therapy as a holistic, nature-based intervention to improve wellbeing.

Embracing our natural world and learning to appreciate the simpler elements of nature can reduce mental distress and create a sense of calm, clear our head and allow time for reflection, relaxation and restoration.

Dr Lies Notebaert, a senior lecturer of the School of Psychological Science at UWA, where she examines cognitive processes such as attention, interpretation, memory and complex planning to find out how these affect mental health and resilience in people who are dealing with adversity. Dr Notebaert will speak about the impacts of natural disasters and other climatic influences on mental health wellbeing.

Both the health of the planet and the quality of our housing and neighbourhoods are intrinsically linked with our mental health, sense of place, community, lifestyle, access to nature, connection, safety and wellbeing.

Adam Przytula is the founder and director of Armed For Life, a social enterprise driven by the goal of helping children, teenagers and adults develop resilience and increase their wellbeing and mental health. His passion for helping teenagers and adults with mental health issues, came from his own personal struggle with mental health issues, specifically anxiety and depression. In 2014 Armed For Life won the Telstra Australian Business Award in the Micro Business Category. Mr Przytula will talk to mindfulness, meditation and training the brain for self-care.

Learning to control our minds and reactions, and how to process, heal and grow from negative experiences shapes our resilience, access to new opportunities, coping skills, connections, and relationships.

Register via The University Club of WA website. 

Celebrate your recovery journey and help us break down stigma by purchasing a green mental health awareness ribbon or pen.

Green is the colour of mental health – representing hope, strength and support. A ribbon or pen may also serve as a great way to identify staff who are approachable, trained and a 'safe space' for someone if they need to reach out for 'first response support and referral' in the workplace; or can act as your daily reminder to look after your own mental health.

Purchase a ribbon or pen at mentalhealthweek.org.au/awareness.

Visit mentalhealthweek.org.au/resources for downloadable factsheet flyers, social media assets and posters!