By DANE LILLINGSTONE
MENTAL Health Week continues in the Southern Downs with a range of events continuing until 10 October.
Today, the Warwick Town Hall will continue to host various sessions on mindfulness and tai chi.
On Friday, Rose City will host a pop up backyard at the top of the escalators from 10am-4pm.
It will be an opportunity to connect with local organisations around Warwick and the Southern Downs that provide mental health support.
There will also be a fund-raising barbecue outside Bunnings Warwick from 9am-2pm to support the work of Lifeline Darling Downs SWQ’s Personal Helpers and Mentors Program.
Stanthorpe will also host a Meet and Eat today from 10.30am at Rotary Park next to the Information Centre on Leslie Parade.
There will be tai chi and a midday barbecue. The event is supported by Community Development Services with Uniting Care, Lifeline PHaMs program, Partners in Recovery and Southern Downs Employment Services.
The week will wrap up on Saturday with a Ride and Treasure Hunt at the Clifton Showgrounds.
The event will act as a fund-raiser for Headspace Warwick. Bookings are essential and inquiries can be made to Wendy Cochrane on 4661 1999 with tickets available at www.trybooking.com/152326.
Minister for Health Sussan Ley said this year’s Mental Health Week theme was mental health begins with me, and encouraged all Australians to take part.
“Mental Health Week is held annually to raise awareness of mental health in the community, reduce the stigma associated with mental ill-health, and most importantly, to encourage help-seeking behaviour,” Ms Ley said.
“Good general health and well-being is important for mental health, and this year people are being encouraged to write a mental health promise to themselves that is achievable, such as eating more healthy meals or getting more sleep.”
The largest national survey of youth mental health was released earlier this year, and it highlighted concerns around teenage depression, self-harm and suicide.
The ‘Second Australian Child and Adolescent survey of Mental Health and Well-Being’ found one in seven children and young people experienced a mental disorder in the previous 12 months – the equivalent of 560,000 young Australians.
