Background

Mental Health Week is an annual national health promotion event. The aim is to raise awareness of the importance of mental health and well-being in the wider community, to increase community awareness and education about mental health issues and to encourage participation in life enhancing lifestyles.

Key activities associated with health promotion activity include:

• training health mental health professionals in the concepts and practice of health promotion
• working in partnership with other organisations and the broader community to develop and implement strategies which in improve health and well-being of communities
• Identifying and implementing effective evidence-based health promotion programmes and strategies
• Raising awareness of the whole community about the causes and effects of health and illness.

WAAMH's Role in Mental Health Week

WAAMH has undertaken a co-ordinating role in Mental Health Week in WA, facilitating activities and events state-wide by providing information and support to those planning events. We also develop and distribute a calendar of events as well as devising promotional materials. In addition WAAMH has responsibility for co-ordinating the Opening and Closing events.

Dates for 2009

Mental Health Week is always the week that World Mental Health Day (10 October) falls within. National Stress Less Day always falls on the Wednesday of the designated week.

• Mental Health Week : 4 - 10th October 2009
• World Mental Health Day : Saturday 10th October 2009
• Stress Less Day : Wednesday 7th October 2009

To find out what's on during Mental Health Week, go to the Calendar of Events. If you'd like to register your own event, click here to download an Events Registration Form.

Other Resources Available - Downloads (Go to: Mental Health Week Info & Resources)

• Bulletins
• Guides
• Promotional Resource order forms
• '10 Tips to Stress Less' Bookmark Order Form

Join the Mental Health Week Mailing list

For regular updates on what's happening in Mental Health Week in WA, subscribe to the mailing list communications@waamh.org.au or regularly check both the Latest News and Mental Health Week Events links of this website, to access information as it becomes available.