Queensland Mental Health Week is almost here and it’s time to get excited and get involved.
The theme of QMHW is Take time for mental health and this year it's more important than ever to take time to look after our own mental health and to check in on our family and friends.
QMHW runs from October 9-17 and there are already more than 200 events planned across the State, with something for everyone.
Put on those walking shoes, find some family, friends and colleagues and head to the Walk for Awareness on Sunday 10 October. Get a team or go solo, it’s a fantastic event and an opportunity for the community to come together, support each other and end the stigma of mental illness.
This year will be the 11th year of the Walk for Awareness by the Mental Awareness Foundation. So far almost 800 people have registered to walk but more walkers are needed, so grab your gear and register to join.
The 9km walk starts and ends at Captain Burke Park at Kangaroo Point. There will be two options for departing – 8.30am and the second wave at 9:00am.
Former rugby league star Mat Rogers, a mental health advocate, will be among those walking this year. And there's also a virtual walk so you can walk wherever you want. The Mental Awareness Foundation encourages people to take part anywhere in Australia, walking in their local area.
Wheelchairs, prams, pets and kids on scooters are all welcome.
Thirty years ago a small group of Brisbane creatives were inspired to give a voice to people living with mental illness. A poetic journey of self-discovery unfolded on the walls of the Schizophrenia Fellowship of Queensland drop in centre at Fortitude Valley.
Now, 30 years on, the Recovered Futures Art Exhibition, will be unveiled at Brisbane City Hall on Friday 8 October by Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner.
The exhibition, run by The Richmond Fellowship Queensland, and sponsored by the Queensland Mental Health Commission, will feature 200 artworks of more than 120 artists, who will share their art and personal stories of living with mental illness. The artists are aged from their early teens to late 70s.
The exhibition runs from 9-15 October at Brisbane City Hall and King George Square. All of the artworks on display will be for sale, with 85 per cent of the sale proceeds going directly to the artist.
Richmond Fellowship Queensland provides professional recovery-oriented psychosocial services throughout Queensland and nationally via telehealth services.
The winners of the Queensland Mental Health Week Achievement Awards will be announced at a ceremony on Friday 15 October.
This year is the 25th anniversary of the awards, run across 11 categories. And this year there was a record number of entries. Three finalists have been named for each of the 11 categories, which span early years, not for profits, workplaces and schools.
Finalists in the schools award are Mountain Creek State School near Buderim, Ryan Catholic College in Townsville and Tamborine Mountain State High School. Good luck to you all!
Run by Open Minds, and sponsored by the Queensland Government, the award winners will be announced at a breakfast ceremony on Friday 15 October at the Brisbane Convention Centre.
The awards celebrate individuals, groups and organisations that work tirelessly to reduce stigma and support and empower those living with mental illness.
If photography and film is your passion don’t miss the Out from the Mist exhibition, to be held from 10-17 October at 547 Ann Street, Fortitude Valley.
The exhibition, showcasing stories and experiences shared through a lens of those with lived experience. It showcases the lives, the joys and sadness, and the strength of those who directly or indirectly live with mental health challenges.
A competition, of photographs and short movies of less than one minute, was grouped around lived experience, relationships, recovery and change.
Winners will be announced at an awards night on 12 October. The competition was organised by the Mental Illness Fellowship of Australia and Adderton: house & heart of mercy.
If you want to know how to build a mentally healthy workplace, head online to a forum by the Office of Industrial Relations together with Worksafe Queensland on Monday 11 October.
Hear from industry experts about promoting, preventing and intervening early when it comes to workplace mental health along with supporting recovery.
The program, running from 8:00am to 5:00pm, examines all aspects of workplace mental health, from building resilience to bullying and harassment in the workplace, and looks at early intervention for post traumatic stress and how to support workers returning to work.
Upbeat Arts, which delivers tailored arts and cultural programs working with marginalised communities, will present a concert of musical performances, poetry and stories during QMHW.
Once Upon a Time will be held at the State Library of Queensland on Friday 8 October at 4:30pm. The concert will run for 90 minutes. Upbeat Arts members will be joined by a three piece band and guest artist Gregory Moore.
Their performance is full of heart and guaranteed to lift your mood. Our recommendation: get tickets before it's sold out. 😄
This year Carer's Week coincides with mental health week and it's also Arafmi's seventh carer forum where they ask us to Take time for carer mental health.
Meet the new Arafmi carer advisory committee and carer support team, find out new information about what is happening in the mental health sector, and take part in discussions on carer needs in Queensland. The results of research about the needs of young carers in Australia will also be released.
The carer's forum is on 13 October at the Brisbane Convention Centre, from 9:00am to 4:30pm, including a gourmet lunch.
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