February 2026

From the Commissioner

Ivan Frkovic

Hello everyone!

It's lovely to share our first State of mind update for the year with you. It's been a busy start to the year at the Commission, with many grants and other big pieces of work underway already.

Save the date - Leading Reform Summit 2026

Firstly I want to share some exciting news - our Leading Reform Summit 2026 dates have been confirmed (Monday 25 May - Tuesday 26 May 2026) and registrations will open very soon! After a year off, we're taking a renewed approach to how we run the Summit and look forward to sharing some exciting changes to the program soon.

Commissioners Corner

As you may have noticed, towards the end of last year we started publishing 'Commissioner's Corner' - a LinkedIn newsletter to share some more of the great activities I and the broader Commission get to take part in that we can't always fit into State of mind. I encourage you to take a look at our most recent edition which shares some important updates and activities we got to take part in towards the end of 2025.

Queensland Mental Health Week (QMHW)

I'm very excited to announce that the Queensland Alliance for Mental Health will be supporting QMHW 2026. A huge thanks goes to CheckUP for all their work in supporting and growing QMHW since 2018. You can read our joint announcement about this here.

Communicating about suicide

And finally, I'd like to acknowledge recent coverage around suicide and the distress associated with this as well as noting there is the potential for more, following upcoming reviews.

It is always important for information to be shared safely to reduce potential harm and stigma. I want to take this chance to once again highlight the work of Mindframe, which has prepared a range of resources around safe media reporting and communication. These include guidelines for media and public communications, resources for people sharing their lived experience and tips around imagery and help seeking resources. SANE StigmaWatch, developed in partnership with Mindframe, also provides a way for anyone to report items that do not align with these guidelines.

Youth alcohol and other drugs (AOD) grants

We’re offering grants from $100,000 to $300,000 to support youth-led and community-driven AOD initiatives across Queensland. These grants aim to support evidence-informed initiatives that respond to local needs and actively involve young people aged 10–25 in shaping solutions. Visit our website to view a recording of the briefing session for this funding opportunity and detailed information on how to apply.

LLE peer workforce grant recipients

We’re pleased to announce the successful recipients of the Lived-Living Experience (Peer) Workforce Grants.

Congratulations to:

• Roses in the Ocean – will lead statewide work to build a sustainable suicide prevention peer workforce.
• QuIVAA – will lead co-design for the Lived-Living Experience Advancement Partnership (LEAP) to strengthen the AOD peer workforce.
• Brook RED – will lead the development of a Code of Ethics, practice guidance and professional development for Queensland’s LLE mental health workforce.

We look forward to working with these organisations to support a strong, safe and valued lived-living experience workforce across Queensland. Read more.

Beyond Blue releases 2024–25 Impact and Annual Highlights reports

Beyond Blue has released two new national reports: the Impact Report 2024–25 and the Annual Highlights report, detailing progress against its strategy Earlier, Easier, Together and the breadth of its work across Australia.

In 2024–25, one in six Australians engaged with Beyond Blue content or services, and more than 303,000 people contacted the free 24/7 Support Service — a 10% increase on the previous year, with over 75% reporting they felt less distressed after contact. At a community level, nearly 15,000 schools and early learning services participated in Be You, supporting educator confidence to respond to children’s mental health needs.

The reports also highlight Beyond Blue’s system-level impact through research investment, policy advice and national data, including insights from Australia’s Mental Health and Wellbeing Check. View it.

New research highlights key factors linked to suicidal thoughts in teens

New research from the University of the Sunshine Coast’s Thompson Institute, funded by the Queensland Mental Health Commission, is helping to deepen understanding of suicidal thoughts among Australian teenagers.

Using data from a longitudinal study following young people aged 12 to 17, researchers tracked brain development, mental health and lifestyle factors over time. The study found that socioeconomic disadvantage, poor sleep, psychological distress and unhealthy eating habits were strongly associated with increased suicidal thoughts in teenagers.

Young people living in areas of socioeconomic disadvantage were up to 8.7 times more likely to experience suicidal thoughts, highlighting the impact of financial stress, housing instability and reduced access to support services. Poor sleep was also identified as a key risk factor, affecting emotional regulation, decision-making and stress management.

Sponsorships

We offer sponsorships of up to $10,000 for sector events. The next round closes on 28 February 2026.

Learn more

Grants

The Queensland Council of Social Service (QCOSS) publishes a comprehensive list of sector grants.

Learn more

What's on?

19 February 2026 | Lived-Living Experience Orientation Training Live

24 February 2026 | International Family Drug Support Day

24-25 March 2026 | Preventive Mental Health Conference 2026

11-19 April 2026 | Queensland Youth Week | GRANTS AVAILBLE

25-26 May 2026 | QMHC Leading Reform Summit | SAVE THE DATE

11-12 June 2026| Queensland Infant Mental Health Symposium 2026

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