Last week Souths Cares hosted an Employment and Wellbeing Expo at the Whitlam Leisure Centre. The purpose of the Expo was to provide Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and community from the Liverpool LGA with information and linkages to employment, training and tertiary education pathways whilst also promoting health and wellbeing.
With over 200 guests participating in the day and 35 stallholders supporting the Expo, the event provided a perfect opportunity for Souths Cares to showcase their Mental Health video which was developed to reduce stigma and promote early help-seeking.
The video was screened on Souths Cares custom trailer which enables workshops and video content to be delivered from any location. Guests at the Employment and Wellbeing Expo had the opportunity to watch the video and start some informal conversations about mental health whilst having a BBQ lunch.
With one in five Australians experiencing mental illness each year and 45% of Australians experiencing mental illness in their lifetime, there is a significant need to support mental health.
Within Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, mental health outcomes are substantially poorer with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people having more than 2.7 times higher rates of psychological distress and a suicide rate more than double the rate of other Australians.
There is also a strong need for workplaces to better support employees’ health and wellbeing, with mental health costing Australian businesses $17 billion per year in sick days and reduced productivity.
Souths Cares mental health video includes interviews with Rabbitohs five-eight Cody Walker and Rabbitohs women’s Centre Monique Donovan, as well as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander workers from key industries including health, community, construction and hospitality.
The message is clear; mental health impacts many people and there should be no shame or stigma in asking for help.
If you or someone you know is dealing with mental health issues, please contact:
Lifeline on 131 114 or visit their website www.lifeline.org.au
Beyond Blue on 1300 22 46 36 or visit their website www.beyondblue.org.au
