Start Planning For NT Mental Health Week!
With just a week until NT Mental Health Week kicks off, now is a great time to start planning how you will get involved if you haven’t already!
Mental Health Week is a chance to not only increase our awareness about mental health issues and the ways we can support one another but we can also have a big impact in helping to reduce the stigma associated with mental ill-health by simply talking about it and getting involved in the activities happening around the community and online.
At some point we’ve all been affected by mental health challenges, whether directly or through the experiences of a loved one, a colleague or someone we’ve seen struggling in our community. As we know, the isolation and loneliness that often comes with mental ill-health can further challenge peoples’ ability to reach out when help is most needed. Mental Health Week gives us a chance to shine a light on the communities of support around us and encourages us to prioritize our own mental health and wellbeing by getting involved and staying connected to the people and activities we love and by seeking help if we need it.
The theme for Mental Health Week this year is Celebrating Our Strengths – a reminder that no matter what our circumstances or background there are people, communities and activities that we can all draw strength from when times get tough. The many wonderful video messages that we have received over the last months in the How I Stay Strong video campaign have shown us how beautifully connected we all are and the power that community, love, healing, growth and connection can have in supporting our mental health and wellbeing.
If you would like to hear what Territorians have had to say about how they stay strong, you can visit our YouTube channel (and hit ‘Subscribe’, as the videos are still rolling in!). It’s not too late if you’d like to share your own video – Just go to our video campaign page to learn more about it. You can do a video of your own or do it as a fun activity with your family, sports team or work mates – it’s as simple as grabbing your smart phone, thinking of a message you’d like to share and hitting record!
We hope you will find some inspiration, connection and a sense of community in this year’s Mental Health Week activities. There are lots of ways to get involved. Be sure to check out our events page and follow us on Facebook to stay up to date on what’s happening and don’t forget to tag us @NTMHC when posting about your Mental Health Week events!
Northern Territory Mental Health Coalition
NTMHC is the peak body for community managed mental health services across the Northern Territory. We work in collaboration with a wide network of organisations, people with lived experience, their families and supporters across the NT to advocate to improve the mental health and wellbeing of Territorians.
Please include the following crisis support services for any story regarding mental health or suicide:
Lifeline: 13 11 14 www.lifeline.org.au
Suicide Call Back Service: 1300 659 467 www.suicidecallbackservice.org.au
beyondblue: 1300 22 4636 www.beyondblue.org.au
More information on safely reporting on mental illness or suicide can be found at: https://mindframe.org.au/
Get Involved!
Attend Our Deckchair Cinema Event – Darwin
We will be kicking off Mental Health Week with an award-winning documentary On the Adamant at Deckchair Cinema on Monday, October 9th.
A story about adults receiving care for their mental distorders aboard a unique floating structure located in the middle of the Seine River in Paris.
Book your tickets now to avoid disappointment!
Check Out Our Events Calendar
There are lots of great events happening across the NT during Mental Health Week. Visit our Events Calendar to see what’s on and keep an eye on our Facebook page.
If you are planning to hold an event you can add it to our events calendar here (scroll to bottom of page) and we can help you promote it.
Download MHW Resources
To help you plan and promote a great Mental Health Week event, or simply raise awareness and show support – a range of downloadable resources are available, including logos, posters, social media tiles, banners, an email signature and an Event Planning and Promotion Kit. You can check them out here.