Bunbury mental health consortium bringing children’s wellbeing into spotlight for Mental Health Week events

Mental health will be brought out of the shadows and into the light next week as local organisations encourage residents to help break the stigma and encourage conversation. This year’s theme is “mental wellbeing starts with our children” to raise awareness of how a person’s mental health reflects the combination of individual and lifestyle factors they experience over their lifetime. Pathways SouthWest chief executive Steve Blackwell said Mental Health Week was shaping up to be the biggest held in Bunbury yet. “The more we can make mental health and wellbeing a conversation in our community, the less stigma will be attached to those seeking help or living with mental health issues,” he said. “In current times, looking after ourselves and our children has never been more important and being involved with Mental Health Week activities is a great way to feel supported.” Activities kick off on Saturday with a family fun day event at Big Swamp followed by almost 40 events across the rest of the week. The official program launch will be at Bunbury Regional Art Gallery on Monday before the opening of the Mental Health Art Exhibition. Events include mother-daughter dance for connection at South West Women’s Health and Information Centre on Sunday, GP Down South building resilience in kids workshop at Bunbury Bowling Club on Monday, Connecting with families — Activities for children at Hudson Road Family Centre on Tuesday, Mindful for mental health session at South West Women’s Health and Information Centre on Wednesday, Helping your children learn how to manage anxiety at Carey Park Primary School on Thursday and Pathways SouthWest Mental Health Week ball on Friday evening at the Quality Hotel Lighthouse. The Mental Health Week exhibition at BRAG and Act Belong Commit Home in the Making exhibition at the Stirling Street Arts Centre will both run throughout the week. Bunbury Rotary clubs are also helping to lift the lid on mental health by holding “hat” fundraising meetings this week, in which Rotarians wear a unique hat to raise money to be donated to mental health research. The clubs will also take part in the Big Swamp Walk and Community barbecue on Wednesday. Visit mentalhealthweek.org.au.