Media release: 2023 WA Mental Health Week

WA Mental Health Week will commence on Friday 6 October 2023 in Esperance, followed by over fifty events across Western Australia between 7 – 14 October 2023 aligned to the theme Mind, Body, and Environment.  Most of the activities will bring communities together to try new activities while learning about mental health in a positive and inclusive atmosphere.

Some of the unique events include a colour run, laughter yoga, forest bathing, art workshops, a mega dance class, toddler yoga, barista training, surf therapy, public talks, and more. The activities are designed to improve understanding of how the mind, body and environment intersect and inventive ways people can take care of their mental health.

“The breadth and creativity of events this year is inspiring. We are proud to partner with a range of community mental health organisations and volunteers who believe in holistic, recovery-oriented, and person-centred mental health care.” Said Taryn Harvey, CEO of WAAMH.

To strengthen community initiatives during WA Mental Health Week, WAAMH & Lotterywest awarded eighty community grants for equipment, education, or events.  Some of the inspiring awardees include Quin from Self Made Indigenous Corp. who will purchase art supplies for workshops with Indigenous youth at juvenile detention; and a barista workshop for crisis accommodation tenants who have complex mental health needs to build social skills, hosted by Jaryd from 55 Central’s Grow and Grind. 

WA Mental Health Week encourages Western Australians to host engaging events that promote positive wellbeing practices, but also raise awareness of local mental health services, which are particularly important since research suggests high levels of distress and low wellbeing across regional WA.

“As the peak association for community mental health in Western Australia, we are acutely aware that mental health is impacted by a range of factors such as life circumstances, social cohesion, access to resources, and more, and our research with the Centre for Social Impact at UWA on regional community mental health supports this.

“The 2023 chosen theme of Mind, Body, and Environment for WA Mental Health Week recognises mental health as a holistic concept that covers many aspects, and the planned events inspire positive action.” Taryn said.  

As part of WAAMHs mission to improve mental health, the team regularly produce reports to identify gaps where systemic improvements may lead to better mental health outcomes. During WA Mental Health Week, WAAMH & Anglicare WA will publish an issues report identifying key recommendations in relation to poverty and mental health.

WA Mental Health Week has been coordinated by the peak body for community mental health, the Western Australian Association for Mental Health for more than 50 years, with support from the WA Mental Health Commission in more recent years to ensure its far-reaching success.

On World Mental Health Day (Tuesday, 10 October) the Western Australian Association for Mental Health (WAAMH) will announce the finalists across nine categories for the WA Mental Health Awards.

WA Mental Health Week Events by region

Perth metro

Events aligned to the theme ‘Mind’

Events aligned to the theme ‘Environment’

Events aligned to the theme ‘Body’

Goldfields-Esperance

  • Escare and local community services will host the opening event for WA Mental Health Week featuring live music, free food, and free activities such as a bouncy castle, dodgeball and more (Esperance, Museum Reserve, 6 October, 10am – 2pm). View the full media release.
  • Ravensthorpe Community Resource Centre art event (Ravensthorpe, 10 October, 11am – 2pm).

Great Southern

Mid West

Geraldton fitness challenge and colour run along the foreshore followed by a festival with live music, food trucks, games, performances, and a silent auction, with all proceeds donated to Lifeline (Geraldton, 14 October, 3.30pm – 7.30pm). For media enquiries, contact Louis Marcel-Jones, Headspace Geraldton on 0437 699 147.

Pilbara

Peel

  • Estuary Womens Wellness Walk (Erskine, 9 October)

South West

Augusta: The Jungle Body with Alicia and The Augusta Abalones Football Club 30 minute KONGA session, raffles, food, challenges and prizes. fun, fitness and fundraising with a bright / fluro colour event 30 minute KONGA session, including challenges, followed by food cooked by the Abalone's FC and raffles draws(7 October, 4.30pm – 5.30pm).

Busselton

Over twenty agencies will host an expo featuring free training in Mental Health First Aid, walks, yoga, youth and children's activities, music and sport.

Bunbury

Collie

Wheatbelt

Gascoyne

  • Leeman Mental Health Awareness and Resource Fair (14 October, 2 – 5pm)

About WAAMH

The Western Australian Association for Mental Health (WAAMH) is the peak body representing the mental health and wellbeing needs of all Western Australians and community organisations that provide mental health services.   WAAMH’s membership comprises community-managed organisations providing mental health services, programs and supports and people and families with lived experience of mental health issues and suicide, with whom WAAMH engages in genuine partnership.

Enquiries 

Michelle Kelly
Communications Specialist
Mobile: 0499 007 383
Email: communications@waamh.org.au