Queensland Mental Health Week
Take time for mental health by attending an online or in-person event
With the COVID-19 pandemic affecting so many people, Queensland Mental Health Week’s theme of take time for mental health is more relevant than ever. There are more than 200 registered events that focus on wellbeing, community connection and mental health. We’ve highlighted a few below, but you can find them all here.
Light Up Queensland
10-13 October, dusk at various locations
As part of Queensland Mental Health Week celebrations, various landmarks around Queensland will light up on World Mental Health Day (October 10) to shine a spotlight on the importance of our mental health and wellbeing. Landmarks will light up purple for positivity and empowerment and/or green for hope, strength, and support. Catch the light up if you can and join the conversation by sharing images with family, friends, and colleagues, using the hashtags #QMHW and #QMHWTakeTime.
Brisbane: The Story Bridge, Victoria Bridge, Reddacliff Place sculptures, and the Tropical Display Dome at the Brisbane Botanic Gardens.
Logan: The water towers located at Wineglass Drive Hillcrest, Telfer Street Shailer Park and Brookvale Drive Underwood.
Rockhampton: Riverbank Heritage Façade.
Bundaberg: Bundaberg Regional Council will dye the Bourbong Street fountain purple.
Toowoomba: The City Hall Annex and the Victoria Street Bridge.
Moreton Bay: The Caboolture Hub and a few other locations around the region will be lit up.
Southern Downs: Warwick Town Hall.
Livingstone Shire: Three monuments will be lit up: The Singing Ship, Emu Park; Wreak Point Lookout, Cooee Bay; and The Amphitheatre, Yeppoon Main Beach.
Lift The Lid Walk For Mental Health (Sunshine Coast)
Sunday 11 October 11, 8 am at Mooloolaba
Organised by Rotary Club of Mooloolaba
Register here.
The purpose of the walk is to:
- Raise awareness of the serious mental health issues we face in all areas of our communities, schools, homes and workplaces.
- Break down the stigma that continues to plague our society so that people are more comfortable to discuss mental health and seek help for mental health issues.
- Raise much-needed funds for Australian Rotary Health Mental Health Research which benefits those who are suffering with mental health issues. It is important to note that 100 per cent of the proceeds are donated to Australia Rotary Health for mental health research programs.
The point of difference of this walk is that it is not a race. It is a family occasion offering an organised, fun walk from Mooloolaba to Maroochydore and back. Walkers also have the option to turn around at any time.
Shining A Light On Rural Mental Health (Online)
14 October, 10 am
Organised by Career Development Centre Pty Ltd
Register here.
Career Development Centre and Mentally Well Workplaces invite you to join our Principal Master Mental Health Trainer, Tina Winchester, in this interactive two-hour workshop.
A common barrier to in rural and remote communities is fear of stigma, which reduces awareness and acceptance of mental illness, partly because it is difficult to maintain privacy in small communities.
Tina will provide strategies to
• Improve awareness and understanding of mental health issues
• Early warning signs to look out for and the importance early intervention
• Strategies and pathways to support your own mental health and the mental health of those around you
• Social isolation and loneliness – how it impacts our mental health and how we can combat it
• Open conversations in community about mental health and wellbeing
• Dispelling myths around accessing mental health support
• How to play an active role in reducing stigma in communities and self stigma for individuals
Community Fun Day – Coming Together For Mental Health (Hervey Bay)
10 October 10, 9am at 15 Central Ave, Pialba
Organised by headspace Hervey Bay
Take some time out and enjoy a few hours of fun and laughter with headspace Hervey Bay's CommUnity Fun Day.
Designed to raise awareness for mental health amongt the Fraser Coast community and engaging with other community organisations headspace Hervey Bay will be providing some fun events, activities and entertainment, as well as a free sausage sizzle (including soft drink).
Using Cultural Capability To Create Mentally Healthy And Safe Workplaces (online)
20 October, 2pm
Organised by the Office of Industrial Relations
Join Meeting Place Consultancy managing director and owner Mark Watego for a presentation on how cultural capability contributes to the creation of a mentally healthy and safe workplace. Mark will draw on his extensive experience in the area of cultural awareness training and consultancy to explore this and related workplace strategies. He shares his expertise in the importance of understanding cultural differences, and recognition of issues affecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. This session explores cultural capability from a strength perspective and dives into beliefs, unconscious bias and the importance of language and culture.
Walk For Awareness (multiple locations)
11 October, 8am
Organised by Mental Awareness Foundation
Register here.
Walk for Awareness is an annual event that involves bringing people together in a friendly environment where the issues of mental health can be discussed openly with friends, family, and supportive strangers.
This year the Mental Awareness Foundation will be hosting a physical event at Captain Burke Park in Brisbane, plus also giving individuals and teams the option to find their own 8km walk route and Walk for Awareness virtually on Sunday 11 October.
At Captain Burke Park, the morning will begin with an inspiring opening ceremony, where those lost to mental illness will be remembered and those who are continuing their struggle with mental health will be honoured. After a quick warm-up and stretch, walkers will take off on an 8km walk around Brisbane’s winding river and beautiful scenery.
Registrations are open for both the physical and virtual event options and all participants receive an event pack.
We’re In It Together (online)
17 October, 10am
Capricorn Film Festival will present a free mental health workshop for regional artists during Queensland Mental Health Week.
What is it? A free virtual discussion where the Capricorn Film Festival presents a conversation with mental health professional, Dr Montgomery Burrows, psychiatry registrar and the filmmakers behind upcoming Central Queensland rugby league feature documentary, ‘Sharko’.
The aim to create an understanding of mental health illness in the regional arts industry and promote mental health wellbeing.
Conversations That Matter: Men’s Online Webinar
10 October, 7pm
Organised by Blokepedia
Blokepedia, with the support of Kingston East Neighbourhood Group and Logan City Council, will host an online webinar that discusses the importance of health and wellbeing in men and boys and provide valuable insights and tools by having a ‘conversation that matters’.
With an amazing panel of speakers including Dr John Davis, psychologist Shane Senituli, NRL’s Joel Thompson and men’s health advocate and speaker Justin Geange, this truly is a conversation that matters.
Positive Mental Health Festival (Mount Isa)
9 October, 4pm at PCYC Mount Isa, Isa Street, Parkside
Organised by PCYC Mt Isa
The Positive Mental Health Festival will include a range of activities at three close locations to engage young people and boost their mental health during Queensland Mental Health Week.
Please see PYCY Facebook page for more information.
Get healthy – skate park competition and skipping activities
Keep learning – stalls will be set up to engage people with a particular skill
Show kindness – starting a gratitude jar
Connect – participants will be encouraged to leave their handprints and where they come from in a snake pattern with the words “connectedness and community”
Take notice – chalk about it project – participants will be invited to write a positive mental health message on the pcyc concrete
Embrace nature – young people can create a grass head to take home to look after and grow
Mackay Rainbow Pride: Show Your Pride
14 October, 7am at the Greater Whitsunday Farmers' Market, River Street, Mackay.
Community members and support organisations have come together with the local Greater Whitsundays Farmers Market at the Blue Water Quay to hold a mental health, suicide awareness and LGBTIQA+ pride event. The purpose of the event is to bring visibility and show support to the Mackay LGBTIQA+ community, as well as bring awareness to the higher rates of mental ill health and suicide experienced by the community.
A stall is going to be present at the farmer’s markets with resources to hand out to members of the community detailing where they can find rainbow friendly mental health support if they or a family member or friend is struggling with their mental health. The event will also contain a speaker from the local area with lived experience of mental ill-health and recovery, as well as being part of the rainbow community. We aim to finish the event up by walking up and down the nearby bridge with rainbow flags- demonstrating pride and support for our rainbow community members.
Out From The Mist (Brisbane)
All week at 1 William Street, Brisbane
Organised by Mental Illness Fellowship of Australia
Out from the Mist is a photography and short movie competition – all you need is a smart phone to enter (although more upmarket kit is okay too).
The competition is about mental illness, but is also about so much more.
Individuals facing challenges to their mental wellbeing are varied in their experiences and their responses.
This competition hopes to capture the breadth of that diversity, from the experiences of pain and suffering, caring and empathy for loved ones, through to the elation of conquering obstacles.
Short-listed entries will be exhibited at the Queensland Government Building, 1 William St Brisbane, during Queensland Mental Health Week (10 to 18 October).
Hope and Healing (Townsville)
18 October, 10:00 am at Ross River Road, Cranbrook
Organised by 4K1G
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists will perform at this outdoor, fully-shaded, COVID safe event on 18 October to mark Queensland Mental Health Week.
4K1G will broadcast live and there will be information available from mental health services around Townsville.
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