Thank you for your participation and support!
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Now that Northern Territory Mental Health Week (NTMHW) is officially over for another year, we'd like to say THANK YOU to everyone who got involved and helped raise awareness!
We were thrilled to see the overwhelming support and participation that happened across the NT – from the attendance of over 130 guests at the official Mental Health Week Launch and Awards Ceremony, including dignitaries, Elders, service providers, nominees and community members - to the wide range of events that promoted positive mental health and wellbeing. |
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2022 NT Mental Health Award Nominees
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The theme Awareness, Belonging, Connection and the colour orange were highlighted in a wide range of creative ways – we saw everything from beautifully designed mental health week cupcakes, orange-themed lunches and orange slippers to orange balloons and posters featuring the Mental Health Week logo. A special thanks goes to the Katherine City Council for lighting up their Government Offices in orange and for promoting Mental Health Week on their Activate Katherine website.
We also saw the Mental Health Week Facebook tiles, logo and other downloadable resources displayed across social media helping to get the message out about Mental Health Week and encouraging everyone to get involved. |
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Katherine Big River Government Centre lit up in orange
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Flinders University nursing and allied health students MHW cupcakes
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Flinders NT students getting into the MHW orange theme
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Galiwinku, East Arnhem - Miwatj Health Aboriginal Corporation MHW lunch event
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Getting the message out
With 28 award nominations, 11 mini-grant disbursements and over 2000 visits to our Mental Health Week website we celebrated some milestone achievements this year. We adopted a theme that we hoped would provide tangible ways that people could engage with mental health and wellbeing activities - driving the message that being aware of supports, staying connected and having a sense of belonging all contribute to happiness and good mental health.
The message was delivered widely to diverse audiences as events and projects unfolded across the State that brought people together, opened up discussions about mental health and provided a sense of safety, connection and belonging. Feedback from participants and organizers was overwhelmingly positive and highlighted a strong interest in wellbeing activities being adopted as a more regular part of workplace and educational environments, and many discussions were held about developing ways to stay connected and practice ongoing self-care. The level of participation and engagement showed us again the importance that Mental Health Week has as a catalyst for raising awareness, reducing stigma, promoting action and collaborating as a community to achieve better mental health outcomes for all. |
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Community events from around the NT - mini-grants provided by NTMHC:
There were so many outstanding projects and events this year - many that will become ongoing initiatives that continue to promote mental health awareness, reduce stigma and offer support through the year.
One such example is the Tangentyere Council's 'Men Can Get Support' Video Launch which took place during mental health week, promoting videos where men share their personal stories in English and in language to help break down the barriers around mental health and suicide ideation.
The stories provide a powerful way of letting men know that it's ok to get support when struggling. The videos are all written, performed and directed by TMFSG (Tangentyere Men's Safety Group) members and have been funded by the NT Government and produced in conjunction with the Mental Health Association of Central Australia (MHACA) with the further support of a small MHW mini-grant.
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Another noteworthy initiative launched during Mental Health Week was the NT Lived Experience Network's "Our Stories of Recovery and Healing" project, capturing lived experience stories of recovery and healing through interviews and photography. The photographs will be printed, each with a quote about healing and recovery, and then shared throughout the community. We look forward to seeing the release of these stories in the near future which will undoubtedly be a source of inspiration, hope and empowerment for others. Stay tuned for more info about the project on the NTLEN's website and Facebook page.
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NT Lived Experience Network's Noeline Armstrong with photographer Nicholas Walton-Healey
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A few more Mental Health Week highlights....
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CDU Alice Springs campus yoga session
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CDU mindfulness art class
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TEMCHO art exhibition, tea, crafts, music, bbq and other activities
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Carers NT art therapy workshop
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Getting better every year
Each year, we aim to expand our reach and to make Mental Health Week even bigger and better. We certainly achieved our goal this year, and it could not have happened without all those who organised activities and volunteered their time in an effort to provide opportunities for conversations on mental wellbeing and an increased sense of belonging and connection in our communities. Our sincere thanks goes out to all those who participated and to all of sponsors for their ongoing support of this annual campaign.
In addition to the many photos we have shared on the NTMHC website, we also shared them, along with profiles of our amazing award winners on our Facebook Page.
So we can make the initiative even bigger and better in 2023 we'd love to hear what you thought of NTMHW this year. If you would like to share any feedback, photos or stories about Mental Health Week then please get in touch with us at admin@ntmhc.org.au.
Thanks again to all who helped us make this year's Mental Health Week campaign a HUGE success, and we look forward to seeing you all next year!
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NTMHC team's wellness morning tea during Mental Health Week
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Thanks to our partners and sponsors for their generous support - without you we could not have delivered this campaign to the extent that we did.
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Acknowledgement of Country
The Northern Territory Mental Health Coalition acknowledges the Traditional Owners of country throughout the Northern Territory and Australia, and their continuing connection to land, sea and community. We pay our respects to them and their cultures and to their Elders both past and present.
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Acknowledgement of Lived Experience
We acknowledge those with a lived experience of mental ill-health. We recognise that we can only provide quality care through valuing, respecting and drawing upon the lived experience and expert knowledge of consumers, their families, carers, friends and communities.
For more information on the NT Lived Experience community, visit their webpage here.
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