To raise your awareness or encourage some better approaches to your health and wellbeing, here are some free activities, webinars, podcasts, TV series, and wellbeing tips for you to try.

ABC Australia

During October, you might consider delving into some of the excellent content published by the ABC. Explore podcasts, shows and special analysis focused on improving mental health and wellbeing. 

Plug in and go for a walk with Sana Qadar, an award-winning podcaster, journalist and host of the All in the Mind podcast - an exploration of the mind, brain and behaviour.

If you're looking to escape the daily grind, take a road trip around idyllic Greece with the lovable comics Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon in The Trip To Greece, or settle into Infinitely Polar Bear, a feel-good drama with Mark Ruffalo and Zoe Saldana.

Looking for more practical tips? Learn how to enhance your wellbeing with these helpful resources:

• top creative activities to boost your mood, according to new research reported by ABC Arts.
• 40 practical things that can help your mental health with ABC Everyday.
• The Truth About Improving Your Mental Health, a documentary team-up between a clinical psychologist and former England footballer. Take a look at this documentary plus more in ABC iview's Mental Health collection.
• Sign up to the ABC’s mental health newsletter for personal stories and expert perspectives that can help you feel connected, inspired and supported.

Mental Health Foundation Australia

National Mental Health Month is an initiative of the Mental Health Foundation Australia. The 2021 campaign theme is “Mental Health: Post Pandemic Recovery Challenges and Resilience”. Events happening throughout Australia in October 2021 will be published on the MHFA website and include:

• 15 October 2021 - Virtual Carers' Mental Health Forum
• 16 October 2021 - Virtual Truck Drivers' Mental Health Forum
• 17 October 2021 - National Walk for Mental Health  - https://www.walkformentalhealth.com.au/ 
• 18 October 2021 - Virtual Youth Suicide Prevention Forum
• 19 October 2021 - Virtual Universities and Mental Health Forum
• 20 October 2021 - VIRTUAL - Police Personnels' Mental Health Symposium
• 21 October 2021 - Sport and Mental Health Forum in Queensland
• 22 October 2021 - Symposium on the Mental Health of Mental Health Professionals' in Western Australia
• 23 October 2021 - VIRTUAL Paramedics' Mental Health Symposium
• 24 October 2021 - Virtual Parenting and Mental Health Forum 
• 25 October 2021 - VIRTUAL Pharmacists' Mental Health Symposium
• 26 October 2021 - VIRTUAL Indigenous Mental Health Symposium
• 26 October 2021 - VIRTUAL Food and Mood Forum
• 27 October 2021 - Virtual LGBTIQA+ Mental Health Forum
• 27 October 2021 - VIRTUAL Finance and Mental Health Symposium
• 28 October 2021 - Mental Health Symposium on Post Pandemic Recovery Challenges, Resilience and Religion in South Australia
• 28 October 2021 - Defence and Mental Health Symposium in Queensland
• 29 October 2021 - Virtual Future Leaders' Forum
• 30 October 2021 - Virtual Seniors' Mental Health Forum
• 31 October 2021 - National Mental Health Month 2021 Closing Ceremony

Black Dog Institute

The Black Dog Institute has a series of free webinars during October. For high school-aged students they are offering:

Insights During this 30 minute presentation, our presenter will share their lived experience of mental illness, along with signs and symptoms of depression, anxiety and bi-polar disorder. This presentation aims to increase mental health literacy, reduce stigma and promote help seeking for young people.

Mental Fitness In this 30 minute presentation, students will learn practical positive psychology strategies to help them build mental strength, resilience and endurance. During this interactive presentation students will practice these strategies which can be used to improve their wellbeing. Mental Fitness is very closely linked to our 6 Week Mental Fitness challenge on BITEBACK

For parents and carers there is also:

Navigating your teen’s mental health This 45 minute presentation is for parents and carers of young people. Parents and carers will learn how to spot early warning signs of mental health issues, when and where to seek help and how to support a young person they care about.

Breaking Down Depression During this 40 minute presentation a presenter shares their lived experience of mental illness, either they experience mental illness, or they are a carer. The presentation covers causes, signs and symptoms of anxiety, depression and bipolar disorder, when and where to seek help and practical strategies for helping a friend or family member

Tim Battersby - School Counsellor