About Mental Health Week
Mental Health Week is celebrated all around Australia, with each state and territory adopting its own theme and holding their own events each year.
This year, Mental Health Week in Western Australia will run from 10 - 17 October.
In 2020, the Mental Health Week theme is Strengthening Our Community – Live, Learn, Work, Play as we aim at increasing mental wellbeing in WA communities.
The events of recent times have brought the social determinants of mental health into sharp focus across all of our communities and we think it’s important we take this opportunity of community awareness to bring attention to the need to safeguard people’s social determinants of mental health during and after the COVID-19 crisis has passed.
To build supportive communities, we must take a holistic look at mental health, sharing ideas, and learning from each other through every day activities.
In 2020, we will continue to aim to boost mental wellbeing in WA communities by:
• Encouraging each of us to support and look out for one another
• Promoting mental health literacy and self-care tips
• Raising awareness of mental health issues and reducing stigma associated with seeking support.
Mental Health Week has been coordinated in WA by the Western Australian Association for Mental Health (WAAMH) for more than 50 years, and is supported by the Government of Western Australia, Mental Health Commission and Lotterywest, plus many community organisations.
WAAMH is proudly part of Australia's mental health promotion group which plan awareness campaigns around World Mental Health Day (10 October).
COVID-2019
With the current uncertainty in the world that is changing daily, it's even more important than ever that we take care of mental health and celebrate recovery within our community.
Some of our approaches might be a little different this year, in light of the public health and safety guidelines surrounding the COVID-2019 emergency, and we expect many of our own and your large events to be cancelled or reduced.
The situation is changing daily as you are aware, and with events currently capped at 100 people and social distancing and hygiene measures in place, we will start to adopt more digital strategies to share with you.
We all hope WA, and the rest of the world, has recovered from the coronavirus pandemic by the time Mental Health Week swings around in October, so some public events and gatherings may still be able to go ahead with caution.
However, if our State's situation worsens and escalates to lock downs and further preventative measures similar to those we have witnessed worldwide, are still in place in October, then some plans will need to change.
One thing won't change though - we are here for you and by your side in the good times and the tougher ones.
We are following the State Government's advice here: https://www.wa.gov.au/government/coronavirus-covid-19