Queensland Mental Health Week - YDAT Campaign
Content warning – Please note the contents of the project page contains individual’s stories and experiences with mental health, and may be confronting or bring thoughts of one’s own trauma.
Bundaberg Regional Council’s Community Development team and the Youth Development Action Team (YDAT) are encouraging community response in relation to their Queensland Mental Health Week (QMHW) campaign to foster conversations and break down barriers and stigma around mental health.
YDAT, in conjunction with Council, will be setting up a pop-up kiosk at Hinkler Central Shopping Centre during QMHW on 8th-16th October 2022.
The purpose of this will be to spread awareness of mental health and foster inclusion by bringing people together through the power of experiences. Sharing these experiences will not only build awareness, but will develop our region’s understanding of mental health, whilst educating them on the lived experience and recovery process.
This can only be achieved through your and the community’s participation by submitting stories, anecdotes, experiences or words of support surrounding mental health. Specifically, we encourage you to share the path you, a family member, or a friend have taken to overcome difficult situations in your life, even though you or they may still be continuing a recovery journey.
The project aims to share your or your friends and family’s positive mental health experiences with the Bundaberg region community to provide insight into the struggles and triumphs of others in the region. Highlighting that ‘YOU ARE NOT ALONE’.
Your stories
With Queensland Mental Health Week finally here, we want to thank those courageous people who shared their stories or experiences and provided positive words of support to the community. These shared experiences have educated the Bundaberg community on the lived experience of those suffering from mental health and those thriving in recovery. We hope this conversation around mental health will continue beyond this week and become a normal everyday topic we feel more comfortable to discuss.
Remember if you, a friend or a family member need support, please reach out to any of the services/supports as noted here on our page. You can chat, text, call or see them in person, you are never alone and there is always someone willing to support you.
Please have a read of the powerful, personal stories here and comment, below.
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Experiences shared for Mental Health Week
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Bundaberg Regional Council is encouraging residents to foster conversations and break down barriers and stigma around mental health as part of the Our Stories Our Community campaign.
In conjunction with Queensland Mental Health Week (8 to 16 October), the initiative will provide an opportunity for locals to share their own mental health experiences online while supporting others.
Council's Community Services portfolio spokesperson Cr Tracey McPhee said the Our Stories Our Community campaign worked to spread awareness of mental health and foster inclusion by bringing people together through the power of experiences.
“Residents are encouraged to share their experiences or thoughts in regards to mental health,” she said.
“Sharing will help build our region’s understanding of mental health in general. It will normalise the conversation and hopefully educate our community on the recovery process,”
“Achieving the above is only possible with the whole community’s participation through submitting stories, anecdotes, experiences with positive outcomes or learnings or words of support.”
How to submit to Our Stories Our Community
Cr McPhee said story submissions were now being taken here.
“Some submission ideas include ‘what would make it easier for me to go about my daily life in community?’ or ‘what have I learnt through my struggles or experience with mental health?” she said.
“Once submissions are collated, they will be made available online for the community to read and provide positive responses to.”
Cr McPhee said the second part of the project included an exhibition at Hinkler Central during Queensland Mental Health Week.
“The exhibition will feature 40-word submissions capturing your main message, which will then be showcased on postcards at Hinkler Central Shopping Centre to encourage more conversation,” she said.
“With these experiences, stories and heartened words of support we hope to build a sense of belonging and community connections while reducing stigma and discrimination.”
To find out more or to submit your story or message click here.
This project is funded partially by the Queensland Mental Health Commission through the Queensland Mental Health Week Community Events Grant Program.
Read the full Bundaberg Now story here.
Who's Listening
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Phone 07 4130 4150 Email ComDev@bundaberg.qld.gov.au