Council partnership to raise mental health awareness
Published on 30 September 2022
The City of Launceston has partnered with Mental Health Australia to help raise awareness around mental health for Mental Health Awareness Month this October.
The joint campaign: "Look after your mental health, Australia" aims to provide mental health tools and tips to the community.
Mental health awareness will also be a key focus at a number of local events during Mental Health Week in Launceston (from October 8), including:
- Minds Do Matter exhibit, RANTArts at QVMAG on October 1 to December 11
- Mental Health Week Community Dog Walk, Wellways, Conway Street, on October 12
- Covered in Colour, Headspace, Kings Park on October 15
- Launnie Men's 5km walk, The Men's Table, Mowbray on October 16
City of Launceston Mayor Albert van Zetten said mental health was a growing problem right across the country, which had been exacerbated by the COVID pandemic.
"The Council is certainly proud to be partnering with Mental Health Australia for this incredibly important awareness campaign," Mayor van Zetten said.
"We all know that taking care of your own mental health is just as important as looking after your physical health and wellbeing, and it's equally important that we know how to support our friends, family and work colleagues in this space."
A recent mental health and wellbeing study found that 44 per cent of Australian adults - or 8.6 million people - have experienced a mental health condition at some point in their life.
The National Study of Mental Health and Wellbeing also found that:
- 15 per cent of Australians reported experiencing high or very high levels of psychological distress
- One-in-five people aged 16 to 34 experienced high or very high levels of psychological distress
- One in six Australians aged 16 to 85 have experienced suicidal thoughts or behaviours during their life, and-
- 3.4 million Australian saw a health professional for their mental health.
"While some of those statistics may be quite confronting, it's very important that we shine a light on these survey figures as they are a stark reminder just how prevalent mental health issues are in our society today," Mayor van Zetten said. "While councils may not be resourced or qualified to deliver mental health support, we can certainly play a key advocacy role within our communities, and for Launceston, we see that as a vitally important part of what we do."
Mental Health Australia is an independent national peak body for the mental health sector and works with its members, governments, partners and the community to ensure all Australians can access mental health treatments and support where and when they need it.
As part of the month-long awareness campaign, October 10 is World Mental Health Day, with Mental Health Australia encouraging people to sign up and make the pledge to 'make mindful habits'.
For more information and to register, go to www.lookafteryourmentalhealthaustralia.org.au/
For its part, the City of Launceston will focus on a number of key issues and topics over the month via its social media pages.