October is National Mental Health Month: Week 2

Mental Health Awareness Month Week 2

Around 1 in 5 Australian adults experience a common mental illness each year. Understanding how to talk about mental health and help someone in need are important skills.

This year’s National Mental Health Awareness Campaign theme is: ‘Building Resilience: Communities and Connections’

The CCS GEDI committee is sharing resources weekly to encourage all staff and students to reflect on their own mental health, as well as the mental health of their family, friends and colleagues. 

See Week 1 post and related image

What can you look forward to this week?

●     12 Oct - Emotional Resilience Workshop with ShareTree - Check out this free event at https://events.humanitix.com/emotional-resilience-workshop-with-sharetree

In this workshop, you will gain the knowledge, skills and tools to effectively establish and promote mental and emotional wellbeing in your workplace, school, community organisation and family.

This workshop will help provide tools to create psychological safety, embed authentic relating skills and support cultures of resilience in teams and organisations.

●     12 Oct -  SWAP: Growing Healthy Veggies for a Summer Harvest – 2 face-to-face sessions available. Register via MyDevelopment

Want to grow your own food and never pay $10 for lettuce again? Join CERES Permaculture & Bushfood Nursery to learn more about gardening in summer.

●     13 Oct (Thurs) - Child and Adolescent Mental Health Forum

Young people’s mental health is as important as their good physical health if they are to develop into independent and confident adults. Good mental health is an essential part of healthy adolescent development; it helps young people build positive social, emotional, thinking and communication skills and behaviours. It also lays the foundation for better mental health and wellbeing later in life                         

Experts will be sharing their insights on Child and Adolescent Mental Health followed by a Q & A discussion.

●     14 Oct (Friday) - Seniors' Mental Health Forum

This forum will address the gap currently prevalent in the services available for the Seniors and what ways mental health policy makers and mental health services can work to bridge the gap, ultimately to promote the mental health and wellbeing of the most vulnerable people who are our seniors in the community.

●     Reminder 16 Oct - Mental health Walk around Albert Park Lake

Next week starts with the walk “towards the road of resilience and wellbeing” around Albert Park lake. Sign up here. This initiative gives everyone the opportunity to get outside and get fit with their family, friends or on their own.  It is also a good opportunity to meet new people!

You can choose to walk 3km, 5km or 10km. The Melbourne Walk is a perfect opportunity for the community to come together to raise awareness and advocate for mental health.  Ticket prices start from $10.

See below for additional resources and links to support Mental Health wellbeing

• https://mentalhealthmonth.wayahead.org.au/starterkit/
• Downloadable resources for Mental Health Month Oct. 2022
• Mental-health self-assessment, prepared by the New Zealand based raise mental health group
• Mental Health Foundation Australia calendar of face to face and virtual events that you might find interesting,
• Monash Employee Assistance Program, Benestar EAP, available to staff, students and family members (1 300 788 336)
• Monash Counselling services (9905-3020)
• Lifeline - (13 11 14)
• Beyond Blue (1 300 22 4636)
• Rainbow Door (1 800 729 367) LGBTIQA+ support service 10am-5pm
• OLife (1 800 184 527) LGBTIQA+ support service 3pm-midnight
• 1800RESPECT - 1800 737 732 - 24 hour support and help line for Family Violence and sexual assault