Queensland Mental Health Commission

Welcome to the Queensland Mental Health Commission's LinkedIn page 👋 🩺 Please note this page is not monitored by health professionals and cannot provide counselling or emergency assistance. In an emergency, please call 000 or go to your local hospital emergency department. If you need someone to talk to, support is available. For mental wellbeing support you can call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or beyondblue on 1300 224 636 at any time, any day. For 24/7 alcohol and other drugs support you can call the Alcohol and Drug Information Service (ADIS) on 1800 177 833. You can also find further support services via our website here: https://hubs.ly/Q02FpH9V0. The Queensland Mental Health Commission drives reform of the mental health, alcohol and other drugs and suicide prevention systems in Queensland. We use our social media to inform and educate the public about the work of the Commission, and mental health, alcohol and other drugs, suicide prevention, and related topics. The Commission's social media pages are intended to be a safe, supportive and friendly discussion forum, and it is important that comments do not offend, stigmatise or traumatise our audiences. You can take a look at our social media comments policy here: https://hubs.ly/Q02FpGpv0

Research tells us that participating in the arts, especially through singing, can have incredible benefits for mental health and wellbeing, which are fundamental to us all 🌻 On Saturday, the Commission attended Sing Sing Sing’s Silver Screen Serenade, to celebrate the remarkable power of the arts in enriching the lives of people living with dementia, as well as their families, friends, carers, and communities. When voices come together, it's not just music that’s created—it's a community, a sense of belonging, and a shared experience that uplifts and strengthens everyone involved 🎶🎤 Sometimes it is believed, or feared, that people living with dementia may not be able to keep doing the things they love. This choir is helping to shatter this misconception, break down barriers, and reduce stigma around dementia. The Commission is proud to be a supporter of this important initiative and incredible talent 💜 #DementiaAwareness #AgedCare #TimeToActOnDementia #Community #MentalHealthMatters

On 10 September the Commission hosted a breakfast to mark World Suicide Prevention Day. The breakfast offered a space for meaningful discussion, aiming to raise awareness on changing the narrative around how we talk and think about suicide 🎗️ Minister Shannon Fentiman opened the event, emphasising that changing the narrative requires systemic change and the need to shift from a culture of silence and stigma to one of understanding, openness, and support. Rahim Mohammadi and Rosiel Elwyn, co-chairs of the Commission’s Suicide Prevention Lived Experience Advisory Group, provided an inspiring lived experience welcome to the event. We also heard from John Allan, Queensland Health, and Bronwen Edwards AM, Roses in the Ocean, who provided their insight into how we can collectively change the narrative of suicide at the system, community, and individual-level. After the breakfast, we headed down to Queen Street Mall to support Roses in the Ocean’s annual event. This year, they handed out roses to members of the community as symbolic reminder that they are heard and cared for 🌹 #WorldSuicidePreventionDay #WSPD2024 #MentalHealthMatters #changethenarrative #suicideprevention

A lot can happen in a year, a month, a week. Whether it’s your friend, family member, colleague, partner, or teammate, the people you care about go through life’s ups and downs every day. By having regular, meaningful conversations, you build trust and normalise talking about what’s really going on, so when the people in your world find themselves struggling, they know you’re someone they can talk to. So while today is R U OK? Day, our National Day of Action, we encourage you to ask R U OK? any day of the year because a conversation could change a life. Video supplied by R U OK? #RUOKDay2024 #ruokanyday #MentalHealthMatters

Suicide can affect every one of us and we all have a role to play in preventing it. In Australia, nearly 10 million people have been affected by suicide which equates to almost half our nation. 10 September is World Suicide Prevention Day, and we encourage you to join us in starting compassionate conversation, building a sense of safety, connection and understanding, and strengthening hope. Together we can all help to prevent suicide. You can read more about the Queensland Government’s commitment to reduce suicide and its impacts in the Every Life 2019-2029 plan 👉 https://hubs.ly/Q02NWBWN0 #WorldSuicidePreventionDay #WSPD2024 #MentalHealthMatters

In case you didn’t know, the Commission is offering grants of up to $150,000 for initiatives to enhance mental health and wellbeing outcomes for Queensland communities! If you’re interested in, or considering, applying, the Commission is hosting a briefing session tomorrow, Tuesday 10 September at 12pm, to answer any questions about the grants and the process. The grants are open to non-government, not-for profit, and community organisations that have initiatives that: 📢 Support and promote mental health and wellbeing, 🛡️ Prevent the impact of mental ill-health, 👍 Encourage early help-seeking, 📖 Improve mental health, wellbeing, alcohol and other drugs, or suicide prevention literacy and understanding. Register your spot now 👉 https://hubs.ly/Q02N76680 #BeHere4Qld #MentalHealthMatters #Community

It’s International Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) Awareness Day! Held every year on 9 September since 1999, the day was chosen so that on the ninth day of the ninth month of the year, the world would remember the importance of being alcohol-free during the nine months of pregnancy. FASD is a lifelong disability that affects the brain and body of people who were exposed to alcohol in the womb. FASD Awareness Month is an expansion of International FASD Awareness Day, celebrated in September to raise awareness of FASD. Why get talking about FASD? 👉 Do it for all those who were born affected by prenatal alcohol exposure. 👉 For those who have yet to be diagnosed with FASD. 👉 For the individuals who have a lifetime of medical and chronic illnesses because of FASD. 👉 For the communities who don’t know how to help families affected by FASD. 👉 For the medical and mental health professionals who want to know more about FASD. 👉 For the researchers who are trying to find answers to help those with FASD. 👉 For the world to wake up to the knowledge about FASD! Eager to be part of the conversation? Visit NOFASD Australia‘s website for resources to use and events to attend: https://hubs.ly/Q02N72zw0 #FASD #FetalAlcoholSpectrumDisorder #FASDMonth

Get your tickets now for the musical event of the year!🎶🎤 On Saturday 14 September, the Bulimba and Redland Sing Sing Sing choirs are joining forces for a Silver Screen Serenade. ⭐ Join us for a magnificent morning full of musical movie memorabilia and morning tea and support those living with dementia, their carers, family members and friends. 📆10am, Saturday 14 September 📍Redland Performing Arts Centre (RPAC), 2-16 Middle Street, Cleveland 🎟️$5.50 - $10.00 Sing Sing Sing connects people affected by dementia through song. Singing together in a choir can positively impact mental wellbeing and quality of life for people with dementia and their carers. Tickets are selling fast, book yours now at 👉 https://hubs.ly/Q02NgWqj0 Supported by Redland City Council, Bulimba Community Centre. #DementiaAwareness #AgedCare #TimeToActOnDementia #Community #MentalHealthMatters

Did you hear? The Commission is offering grants of up to $150,000 for initiatives to enhance mental health and wellbeing outcomes for Queensland communities. The grants are open for non-government, not-for profit, and community organisations that have initiatives that: 📢 Support and promote mental health and wellbeing, 🛡️ Prevent the impact of mental ill-health, 👍 Encourage early help-seeking, 📖 Improve mental health, wellbeing, alcohol and other drugs, or suicide prevention literacy and understanding. Interested? Applications close 5pm, Thursday 10 October. To apply and find out more visit 👉 https://hubs.ly/Q02N76l70 To assist your application, the Commission will also be hosting a briefing session on Tuesday 10 September at 12pm to answer any questions. Register your spot now 👉 https://hubs.ly/Q02N76690 #BeHere4Qld #MentalHealthMatters #Community

Tomorrow is International Overdose Awareness Day and the 2024 theme is “Together we can”. This highlights the strength of coming together and standing in support with: • people who use drugs • friends and family members of lost loved ones • policy and system reform • healthcare and harm reduction workers • advocates who work tirelessly to facilitate change. Overdose is a public health emergency and is preventable. Since 2001, International Overdose Awareness Day has campaigned to end overdose, remember without stigma those who have died and acknowledge the grief of family and friends left behind. You can read more about the Queensland Government’s commitment to alcohol and other drugs reform in the Achieving balance 2022-2027 plan 👉https://hubs.ly/Q02M-wv70 Overdose can affect anyone and by working together we can end overdose. #TogetherWeCan #IOAD2024 #EndOverdose