Today (4 April 2022) a grant program totalling $100,000 has been launched to support Queensland Mental Health Week events that raise community awareness, foster belonging, and create connections.
Queensland Mental Health Week will take place between 8-16 October, providing an opportunity to promote positive mental health and wellbeing, reduce the stigma associated with mental illness, and celebrate the contribution of the mental health and community sectors.
This year's new theme 'Awareness, Belonging, Connection', reflects the important factors that help people maintain their mental health and wellbeing.
School P&Cs, community organisations, businesses, and councils across the state, from Cape York to the Gold Coast, are being called on to start planning events and activities to celebrate the week, incorporating the theme. Individual grants of $500, $1000, or $3000 are available to eligible organisations to support these events through funding provided by the Queensland Mental Health Commission and administered by CheckUP.
Queensland Mental Health Commissioner Ivan Frkovic said the Queensland Mental Health Week Community Events Grant Program contributes toward increased knowledge of mental health and connection among people and communities.
"These grants help increase the capacity of local communities to host events during the week that provide a focal point for awareness, education and understanding, and foster connection and inclusion for those living with mental illness, their families, carers and support people," Mr Frkovic said.
Mr Frkovic said one in every five Queenslanders was likely to experience some form of mental illness every year.
"Many Queensland communities have recently experienced loss and distress as a result of the floods, compounded by a challenging couple of years caused by the COVID-19 pandemic," Mr Frkovic said.
"This makes increased community awareness and understanding more important than ever."
"We need to ensure that people know where to get help when they need it, and that we focus on those things that sustain and maintain our mental wellbeing, to act as a buffer when life is challenging."
CheckUP CEO Ann Maree Liddy said while Queensland Mental Health Week events had a serious education and awareness purpose, they were also an expression of diverse and inclusive communities.
"The calibre and creativity of last year's events were incredible, and we can't wait to see the positive social activities that communities come up with to attract involvement, build resilience at the local level, and help people to feel connected," Ms Liddy said.
"Featuring two grant rounds - a Community Grant Round and Youth Grant Round - the grant program focuses on supporting broad community wellbeing initiatives, as well as promoting social inclusion for at-risk communities.
"The funding will enable communities to host more informative and effective events, offsetting event expenses such as engaging specialists for seminars or purchasing workshop supplies."
Ms Liddy said CheckUP hoped to see grant applications come in from every corner of the state, urging organisations in regional, rural, and remote communities to apply.
Grant applications for the Community Grant Round close on Friday 6 May and applications for the Youth Grant Round close on Friday 13 May.
