Arriving at a crucial point of an already turbulent year, Mental Health Week is an opportunity to reach out and get involved as lockdown fatigue continues to set in.
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For people who already experience challenges with their mental health, the coronavirus pandemic has made things more difficult, while many other people are finding themselves needing help for the first time.
According to Ballarat's Mental Health Week Group chair Paul Hartwood, having an event to stop and take stock of one's own mental health, and talk about it, is an opportunity to improve the situations many people have found themselves in.
"I think it's a very important year to have our ears and our hearts open to the people around us," he said.
"All of us, in this time, have asked a neighbour, or a friend, or a relative, or an older person, can I shop for you? What can I do for you?.
"We quickly turn to what people might need physically - but just to ask the question, 'how are you doing', it's good to have that in the toolbox as well."
The working group has representatives from a host of Ballarat support agencies, services, and charities, dedicated to promoting conversations and positive outcomes around mental health and wellbeing.
On Saturday, the group will launch Mental Health Week 2020 with a livestreamed afternoon of performances and a panel discussion, which can be viewed on YouTube or Facebook from 1pm.
"It's a collection of performances, some poetry, some instrumental guitar songs written especially for the launch, there's some young people performing from plays, and there will be a panel of three people who will speak from specific perspectives about mental health," Mr Hartwood said.
"They'll come together for a panel, where the community who's watching can ask questions, and you can view that throughout the week."
There's also an art exhibition, available online for the first time, with winners of the art competition announced on Friday.
Last year, the event was a popular way for people who have a lived experience of mental illness, as well as other members of the community, to express themselves - this year, Mr Hartwood said there are 36 contributors, who made good use of the freedom a digital submission can offer by creating sculptures as well as paintings and drawings.
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"We ran digital this year because doing an opening in a public space was going to be too hard - as it turns out, we made the right choice because COVID has stopped things," he said.
Voting for the People's Choice award is also open, and several works are on sale.
To get involved, head to the Ballarat Community Health website, and check out BallaratMHWeek on YouTube for Saturday's launch.
If you or someone you know is in need of crisis support, phone Lifeline 13 11 14.
Help is also available, but not limited, via the following organisations. The key message is you are not alone.
- Beyond Blue 1300 224 636 or beyondblue.org.au
- Suicide Callback Service: 1300 659 467
- Mensline: 1300 789 978 or mensline.org.au
- Survivors of Suicide: 0449 913 535
- Relationships Australia: 1800 050 321
- headspace Ballarat (for 12-25s and parent support): 5304 4777
- Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800
- Soldier On: 1300 620 380
- Ballarat Community Health: 5338 4500
- QLife: 1800 184 527 (Support for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and intersex people)
- Family violence: 1800 RESPECT
- Veterans support: Open Arms on 1800 011 046 or openarms.gov.au
- Ballarat Mental Health Services: 5320 4100 or after hours on 1300 247 647
- For Aboriginal crisis support: Yarning SafeNStrong, 1800 959 563 (noon to 10pm)
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