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Funding doubled for mental health week community initiatives

24 Sep 2020

Funding for Queensland Mental Health Week 2020 community events and initiatives has been boosted by $100,000 in recognition of the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Queensland Mental Health Commissioner Ivan Frkovic said the funding increase acknowledged community vulnerability and stress due to the pandemic’s socio-economic fallout.

“My team at the Queensland Mental Health Commission (QMHC) is keenly aware of the need to bring communities together this year, even if that can only be done virtually,” he said.

“And Queenslanders obviously agree, as applications for our Mental Health Week small grants program more than doubled, from 125 last year to 255 this year.

“This has led me to increase our pool to $192,000, which will be shared by 109 community organisations stretching from the Gold Coast to the Gulf of Carpentaria, and across the outback.

“Activities to boost wellbeing will include a flouro flash dash in Blackall, a colour run in Durack, Indigenous saltwater healing on North Stradbroke Island, theatre games with the Queensland Shakespeare Ensemble, library events in Normanton, and a men’s weekend in Cloncurry.”

Mr Frkovic said Queensland Mental Health Week focused on grassroots community initiatives to promote mental health and wellbeing.

“Learning the skills to build positive wellbeing is ever-more important to every single Queenslander, because the pandemic’s effects are felt by everyone.

“We need to increase activities, events and initiatives that nourish and sustain our mental health and wellbeing.

“The six building blocks of our mental health and wellbeing are: get healthy, keep learning, show kindness, connect more, take notice and embrace nature.”

Mr Frkovic said 35 Queensland schools and four youth services had been funded to promote mental health awareness and better wellbeing among children and young people.

“Young people are more likely to experience the longer-term effects of the pandemic. It’s important to acknowledge the strain they’re under and help them navigate the ongoing disruption to their lives.”

He said grant recipients included 10 rural and regional councils, eight Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations, and several neighbourhood centres.

“Many organisations will host Queensland Mental Health Week events online this year, but there are also plenty of COVID-safe in-person activities,” Mr Frkovic said.

To participate in state-wide Queensland Mental Health Week (10-18 October) events, go to https://www.qldmentalhealthweek.org.au/. There are currently 200 registered events statewide.

The Queensland Mental Health Week grant program is funded by the Queensland Mental Health Commission and administered by the Queensland Alliance for Mental Health.

ENDS

Media contact: media@qmhc.qld.gov.au

Grant recipients

 

Organisation

Name of Event
  1.  

Merrimac State High School

Band Slam: Slamming the Stigma of Mental Health
  1.  

4 Aussie Heroes Foundation

"Pedals'n Medals" Bike Ride 4 Aussie Heroes
  1.  

Agnes Water State School Parents & Citizens Association Inc.

Agnes Water State School QLD Mental Health Week
  1.  

Arundel State School

Mental Wealth Day
  1.  

Australian Parents Education Association Incorporated

Care and Communicate
  1.  

Australian Trade College North Brisbane Ltd

Australian Trade College and MRAEL Mental Health Week 2020
  1.  

Awesome Women in Construction Inc

Resilient Women in Construction - Mental Health in the Workplace
  1.  

Bamboo Projects

Take time to connect with culture - Feet on Country
  1.  

Blackall-Tambo Regional Council

Outback Mind Warrior Fluro Flash Dash
  1.  

Brisbane Multiple Birth Association (Southside) Inc.

Mental health event for parents of multiples
  1.  

Brisbane Seinendan Inc

We are always on your side.
  1.  

Brisbane Youth Service Inc

Youth Neighbourhood Party
  1.  

Buddy Up Australia

Wellbeing Forum: Take Time - for mental health
  1.  

Bundaberg Region SPN

Happiness "Found!" Arts Exhibition Trail and Dog Walk Celebration
  1.  

Burdekin Shire Council

Community Wellness and Family Fun Day
  1.  

Burnett State College P&C Association

Burnett Wellness Week
  1.  

Calliope Primary P&C Association

Calliope - Mental Health Matters
  1.  

Calliope State High School Parents & Citizens Association

Calliope State High School - Take Time
  1.  

Calmer Kids Yoga

Calmer Kids presents Your Brilliant Brain
  1.  

Campfire Project Aboriginal Corporation

FootSteps' Towards Take Time for Mental Health
  1.  

Capalaba State College P&C Association

Mental Health and Mindfulness Program
  1.  

Capricorn Film Festival Inc

We’re in it together
  1.  

Care Balonne Assoc Inc.

Compile a Book of Memories
  1.  

Carers Outlook

Information session: Consider mental health for people with dementia and their carers
  1.  

Carpentaria Shire Council

Carpentaria Shire Council Libraries Mental Health Week Events
  1.  

Cedar Creek State School P&C Association

Cedar Creek State School Mental Health Week Festival
  1.  

Central Highlands Regional Council

Qld Mental Health Week Outdoor Movie Night
  1.  

Central Highlands Regional Council

Conversation starters
  1.  

Central Queensland Indigenous Development

Galangoor Yilbanyaa (Good Mind) - Butchulla Aboriginal language
  1.  

Chapel Hill State School

Mental Health Week @ CHSS
  1.  

ClearThinking Queensland Ltd

Family, friends, and COVID19 - How they impact young peoples mental health and wellbeing
  1.  

Cloncurry Shire Council

Men's Weekend
  1.  

COTA Queensland

Mental health and wellbeing awareness for older people, their families, carers and support people
  1.  

Eacham Community Help Organisation Empowering Services

Creative Connection for Resilience
  1.  

Foxwell State Secondary College P&C Association

Take Time for Mental Health - Taking time to connect - technology free day.
  1.  

Frenchville State School P&C Association

Building mental health resilience in our children:  An innovative initiative
  1.  

George Street Neighbourhood Centre Association Inc.

Self Care/Self Box to take time for Mental Health
  1.  

Gladstone Regional Council

Avenue to Awareness / QLD Mental Health Week Activities
  1.  

Glenala High P&C Association

Glenala Gladiator Colour Run
  1.  

Glenmorgan Primary P&C Association

Are you bogged mate?
  1.  

Goompi Give and Grow Ltd

Goompi Saltwater Healing
  1.  

Goondir Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Corporation for Health Services

Big Buddy Fun Run - Mental Health Awareness
  1.  

Gordonvale Family Medical Centre

Gordonvale Mental Health Week
  1.  

Headspace Southport

Express Yourself - Carers Mental Health and Well-being Workshop
  1.  

Hinchinbrook Shire Council

Happiness Festival
  1.  

Holland Park SHS

Mental Health Week
  1.  

Human Connection Project Foundation Ltd

The Global Movement
  1.  

Inala Youth Service

Burgers for Better Health
  1.  

Jimboomba State School

Take Time for Mental Health
  1.  

Kairi State School

Take Time for Mental Wellbeing
  1.  

Kirwan High P&C Association

Mental Health Week Expo
  1.  

Kurbingui Youth and Family Development Limited

Kurbingui - Transition from Boy to Man
  1.  

Lives Lived Well

QMHW at Logan House
  1.  

Livingstone Shire Council

Wellness at The Coast
  1.  

Lockyer Community Centre

Empowering You - one day workshop
  1.  

Logan East Community Neighbourhood Association

LECNA Self Care Sessions
  1.  

Macintyre Ag Alliance

Women On The Land (WOTL): And their passion projects
  1.  

Mental Illness Fellowship of Australia

Out from the Mist
  1.  

Miami State School P&C Association

QMHW@ Miami state school
  1.  

Mind Australia Limited

Mackay Pride Parade Walk
  1.  

Miners Common Museum, Arts and Cultural Centre

Laugh, Kookaburra, Laugh
  1.  

Moffatdale State Primary School P & C

Healthy Minds and Bodies
  1.  

Naradell Inc

Naradell Walking Rally for Mental Health
  1.  

New Children's Pathways

Lowood Community BBQ for mental health
  1.  

North Townsville Community Hub Inc

I'm Doing Fine Townsville
  1.  

Northern Australia Primary Health Limited

Time 4 me!
  1.  

Northern Beaches State High School P&C Association

Northern Beaches State High School We're not alone!
  1.  

Oonoonba State School

Oonoonba State School Creates Mindful Spaces
  1.  

Open Doors Youth Service Inc.

Creative Therapies Week 2020
  1.  

Palm Island Community Company Limited

Bwgcolman Talent Show
  1.  

Picabeen Community Association

Mental Health Week Expo
  1.  

Picnic Creek School P&C Association

Be Kind and Take Some Time: Our Picnic Creek Way
  1.  

Pierce Productions Pty Ltd as Trustee for Lumsden Psychology Trust

Mental Health Matters - Strengthening Family and Community Resilience in Drought Affected Areas
  1.  

Pimlico State High School

Festival of Mental Health and Wellbeing
  1.  

Playlab Theatre

The Art of 'Undertow': Dissecting a Work About Mental Health
  1.  

Pomona & District Community House Inc

Stress Less Week
  1.  

Queensland Academies Health Sciences Campus

QA Spring into Wellbeing Week: A QLD Mental Health Week Initative
  1.  

Queensland Police-Citizens Youth Welfare Association - PCYC Mt Isa

Positive Mental Health Festival
  1.  

Queensland Rural Regional & Remote Women's Network

Taking Time to Connect
  1.  

Queensland Shakespeare Ensemble Inc.

Theatre Games with QSE: A Community Workshop that Promotes Positivity and Wellbeing
  1.  

Reclink Australia

Healthy Mind, Body and Spirit
  1.  

Richlands East State School P & C

RESS Mental Health Awareness Day/Week
  1.  

Ripley Valley State Secondary College Parents & Citizens Association

Community Indoor Basketball Competition
  1.  

Rockhampton High Parents and Citizen Association

Rockhampton SHS Rocket Program Launch
  1.  

Rotary Club of Cairns Trinity Inc.

Happy Heads
  1.  

Rural Aid Ltd

Farmers - Take a break!  featuring Mary O'Brien from "Are you Bogged Mate"
  1.  

Shailer Park State High School P&C

Destigmatizing Mental Health
  1.  

Sisters With Helping Hands Inc

Happy Times Ahead
  1.  

Soroptimist International of Beenleigh

Your are Amazing - Wellness Day
  1.  

Southern Cross Catholic College

QMHW Bishop Putney 9s Carnival
  1.  

Southport State School P&C

Identity and Connection and Time
  1.  

Southside Mountain Bike Club Inc

Totally Mental Bike Ride
  1.  

Spinifex State College Mount Isa - Residential Campus

Spinifex Residential Campus - Mental Health Bonanza
  1.  

Stepping Black

Taking Time to have Fun, Understand and Accept Others - Community Volleyball Challenge
  1.  

STEPS Group Australia

Wellbeing in Mind
  1.  

Strathpine State School P&C Association

Mental Health Awareness Week - Strathpine State School
  1.  

The Baptist Union of Qld

Health and Wellness Expo
  1.  

The Migrant Centre Organisation Inc. (trading as TMC)

Seniors Take Time for Mental Health
  1.  

The Rotary Club of Brisbane Mid-City Inc.

Lift the Lid Gala
  1.  

The Salvation Army Australia

Family Fun Day
  1.  

The Trustee for the Hymba Yumba Community Hub Foundation

Community Elders mental health morning at Hymba Yumba.
  1.  

The Women's Centre

Be kind to your mind
  1.  

Tullawong State High School

Tullawong State High School's Take Time for Mental Health
  1.  

White Cloud Foundation

Leaping Lads
  1.  

Windaroo P&C

Mental health and wellbeing awareness week
  1.  

Winton Shire Council

Winton's Mental Health Week
  1.  

Womens Shed Coolum Inc.

Womens Shed Coolum Inc.- Mental Health Week – Take time out for a Women’s Day
  1.  

Worklink Group

Stress Less Day - Breakfast
  1.  

Yeppoon State School P&C

Shine Program - Mental Health Wellbeing Week
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