Mental Health Month, held in October each year, gives us an opportunity to raise awareness about mental health and wellbeing through running a broad campaign. This year's theme is "Share the Journey".
It is estimated that every year 1 in every 5 Australians will experience some sort of mental health issue or challenge. Hence the NSW Mental Health Month, a month-long campaign featuring a variety of activities held across the state to raise awareness about mental health and wellbeing.
The initiative is driven by WayAhead, an organisation dedicated to educating people throughout New South Wales on mental health and wellbeing and links individuals to services and resources that improve their mental health.
Held this Friday September 27, Mental Health Matters award kicked off events marking the month-long campaign. These awards recognise the achievements of individuals and organisations who have worked to improve understanding, awareness, service provision and the general mental health of communities in NSW over the previous year.
In the sidelines of the Awards, Asha Zapa WayAhead Mental Health Promotions Officer revealed that among the 8 award recipients one outstanding Indigenous program, the Warranggal Dhiyan (Strong Families) program run by Gunida Gunyah Aboriginal Corporation was acknowledged taking the Aboriginal Social and Emotional Wellbeing Award.
Asha Zappa also explained the significance of his year’s Mental Health Month’s theme: ”Share the journey” saying that this theme emphasizes on social connections.
“The focus is not only on what we can do as individuals to connect with others but also the ways we can create communities that make it easier for others to connect,” Asha Zappa said in an interview with NITV radio.
“We know that when people are experiencing difficulties, especially in regards to their mental health, reaching out can be really difficult,” Asha Zappa said.
Luckily, she underlines, there are easy ways we can make it collectively easier to connect at times when it is really difficult.
“It could be something as simple as cooking a meal for someone you’ve noticed that has been a bit withdrawn; or something a bit broader like doing community awareness raising so that people do feel more comfortable to be open about what they are going through.”
“When we are doing okay ourselves and do reach out and find ways to connect with people who are going through difficult times it does benefit them but it also has a positive knock-on effect that gives us the benefit of that social connection. It has a positive impact on our mental health as well.”
It is important to recognise that people go through a range of difficulties at different stages of their lives. Asha encourages people to check the online calendar and see how they can participate. “It is really important to have that community awareness approach”.
