Queensland Mental Health Week

“Looking after our mental wellbeing needs to become a habit, not an activity,” Joanne Adrelius, Lifeline North QLD Crisis Support & Suicide Prevention Local Service Manager says.

With almost half of all Australian adults to face mental ill-health during their lives, prioritising mental health and understanding what we need to foster our mental wellbeing has never been more important.

For Joanne, Queensland Mental Health Week, which is celebrated every October, is an opportunity to promote mental wellbeing not just for a few days, but all year round.

“You have to intentionally and consciously place mental wellbeing into your day, just checking in with yourself, checking in with each other and reaching out to talk with someone if you are not feeling okay,” she says.

Awareness, Belonging, Connection, the theme for Queensland Mental Health Week 2022, reflects the key factors needed to maintain positive mental health and wellbeing.

According to Joanne, the theme gets to the grassroots of addressing mental health issues—being aware of how you and others are tracking, and connecting with friends, family and other community networks that help to provide a sense of belonging.

“One of the keys to helping with mental health is making connections with other people and that’s where Lifeline comes in,” she said.

“It’s a resource that’s available so you can connect with another human being no matter where you are or what time of the day it is, no one is ever alone and help is always available.”

And despite the misconception, Joanne says positive mental health isn’t about being happy every day.

“It doesn’t mean we have to be completely happy and content all the time, but rather you know how to look after yourself, you are aware of when you are travelling well or when you are not and what that looks like.”