Mental Health Awareness Week 2021
There has never been a better time in history to be focusing on mental health
11th – 15th October 2021
One Foot Forward – Walk for mental health awareness
Raising funds for the The Black Dog Institute
This October, during Mental Health Month, the Open Door Team is putting One Foot Forward for mental health. It’s our opportunity to show those living with mental illness that they’re not alone. And a great opportunity to raise funds for The Black Dog Institute.
You can track our progress and sponsor the Open Door Team here:
Together, we’re walking in solidarity for people in Australia living with mental illness.
Mental illness is very common. 1 in 5 people experience symptoms of mental illness each year. That’s more than 5 million people in Australia. The most common of these illnesses are anxiety and depression.
Unfortunately, less than half of all people in Australia experiencing the symptoms of mental illness will not seek professional help – often with tragic consequences.
In fact, suicide is the leading cause of death in people in Australia aged 15-44 years. As a community, we need to come together to support those living with mental illness.
Morning Mindfulness Practice – 8:30am – 9:00am
Elite sport stars, emergency service workers, members of our armed forces, senior executives and the list goes on…what is one thing that they all have in common to achieve high performance? They all practice mindfulness. And during Mental Health Awareness Week we want to give you the opportunity to do the same.
Whether you practice mindfulness regularly, want to get back into a routine or you are a curious beginner, every minute of mindfulness can make a difference to your mental health.
The sessions were super popular during International Coach Week and Mental Health Awareness week and people logged on from around the world. Join Natalie for this 15-minute morning mindfulness practice and we can (almost guarantee) you’ll feel more calm, centred, and ready to take on the day.
Presented by Natalie Ashdown from Open Door Coaching
Mental Health Essentials Webinar, 10:00am -11:30am
When it comes to mental health, there’s never been a more important time to have a solid understanding of what it is, and how it works. Having mental health skills is essential in today’s workplace.
The whole topic of mental health can be confusing and confronting, and there are many myths and misunderstandings. When we work with clients they often express how frustrating it can be to be worried about someone, but not know what to do. This is totally normal and very common.
With a little bit of knowledge, we can do a lot, and this session is designed to give you just that.
Over 90 minutes, we’re going to take a look at the facts and stats around mental health – and the facts might surprise you! We’ll bust the myths and break down the misunderstandings.
We’ll explore the signs and symptoms of common mental health problems (so you can spot them), and we’ll show you how to safely have a conversation with someone when you’re worried about them.
There will be plenty of time to ask questions and talk about mental health in your organisation, too.
What we’ll cover…
- Facts and stats about mental health
- Addressing myths and misunderstandings around mental health
- How to spot the signs of the common mental health issues (anxiety and depression)
- What to do when you are worried about someone
- Addressing hesitancy to engage in a conversation with someone about their mental health
- Plenty of time for questions and conversation
Nick is an experienced, skilled and approachable facilitator who skilfully presents this sometimes sensitive content in a very supportive and non judgemental style. He is a qualified coach, counsellor and a Principal Master Mental Health First Aid instructor.
Presented by Nick McEwan-Hall from Open Door Coaching
Morning Mindfulness Practice – 8:30am – 9:00am Melbourne time
Elite sport stars, emergency service workers, members of our armed forces, senior executives and the list goes on…what is one thing that they all have in common to achieve high performance? They all practice mindfulness. And during Mental Health Awareness Week we want to give you the opportunity to do the same.
Whether you practice mindfulness regularly, want to get back into a routine or you are a curious beginner, every minute of mindfulness can make a difference to your mental health.
The sessions were super popular during International Coach Week and Mental Health Awareness week and people logged on from around the world. Join Natalie for this 15-minute morning mindfulness practice and we can (almost guarantee) you’ll feel more calm, centred, and ready to take on the day.
Presented by Natalie Ashdown from Open Door Coaching
Mental Health First Aid Training – 1:00pm – 4:00pm Melbourne time
- Day 1 Wednesday 13th October
- Day 2 Thursday 14th October
Become a Mental Health First Aid practitioner
The Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) course teaches you how to:
• implement simple, practical first aid skills
• help a person who is experiencing mental health problems
• listen and respond to someone including a crisis situation
• offer support for the successful management of symptoms
• assist someone as part of their recovery journey.
• actively reduce stigma in your community and your workplace
• respond appropriately to myths and misunderstandings.
Presented by Nick McEwan-Hall from Open Door Coaching
Morning Mindfulness Practice, 8:30am – 9:00am Melbourne time
Elite sport stars, emergency service workers, members of our armed forces, senior executives and the list goes on…what is one thing that they all have in common to achieve high performance? They all practice mindfulness. And during Mental Health Awareness Week we want to give you the opportunity to do the same.
Whether you practice mindfulness regularly, want to get back into a routine or you are a curious beginner, every minute of mindfulness can make a difference to your mental health.
The sessions were super popular during International Coach Week and Mental Health Awareness week and people logged on from around the world. Join Natalie for this 15-minute morning mindfulness practice and we can (almost guarantee) you’ll feel more calm, centred, and ready to take on the day.
Presented by Natalie Ashdown from Open Door Coaching
Morning Mindfulness Practice, 8:30am – 9:00am Melbourne time
Elite sport stars, emergency service workers, members of our armed forces, senior executives and the list goes on…what is one thing that they all have in common to achieve high performance? They all practice mindfulness. And during Mental Health Awareness Week we want to give you the opportunity to do the same.
Whether you practice mindfulness regularly, want to get back into a routine or you are a curious beginner, every minute of mindfulness can make a difference to your mental health.
The sessions were super popular during International Coach Week and Mental Health Awareness week and people logged on from around the world. Join Natalie for this 15-minute morning mindfulness practice and we can (almost guarantee) you’ll feel more calm, centred, and ready to take on the day.
Presented by Natalie Ashdown from Open Door Coaching
Coaching your team through lockdown fatigue, 12:00pm – 12:30pm Melbourne time
Lockdown fatigue is a term that is becoming a part of our every-day discussions. It’s referring to the tiredness and strains that we are feeling because of the restrictions being placed on us, and the multiple demands that we are facing. With our largest states still experiencing lockdown, ‘lockdown fatigue’ is likely setting in for your teams. And if you aren’t in lockdown, chances are that you’re working with people or teams who are.
Humans are not designed to thrive in lockdown conditions, so it’s no surprise that the strain of lockdowns are influencing our mental health, including our approach to work and interactions.
Join Natalie and our mental health training specialist, Nick, for this coaching café, where we discuss recognising the signs of lockdown fatigue, how it affects our mental health and importantly how to have conversations or coach our team members through these times.
This is also a great opportunity to share your experience and how you are managing yourself and leading your team through lockdowns.
Presented by Natalie Ashdown & Nick McEwan-Hall from Open Door Coaching
Morning Mindfulness
Join us for a 15-minute mindfulness practice to help you centre and focus on the day.
Empowering caregivers around youth mental health and my mental health journey
Lance Piacione, CEO of Love Me Love You Foundation has a message for when we talk to young people. Try not to be annoying! Importantly, for young people, it is about knowing ‘who is in your crew?’. In summary, this is about the five people who a young person can turn to, when needed. To have a conversation and connect around their mental health. Without a doubt, more we can do to keep the communication channels open, the better.
Neurozone®: a holistic approach to health and wellbeing and building a strong foundation to support optimal brain performance.
Andy Gild from Synergy Global shares how understanding our brain functioning can improve our daily mental health. Andy talks about how we can all experience ‘brain fog’. Furthermore, we know that some experiences will send us into fight/flight mode. For this reason, our awareness of basic re-balancing techniques can make a difference.
Breaking down depression
Charles Hill, community speaker from the Black Dog Institute reminds us that is ok. Ok to ask for help, to see a GP, to take medication if needed to address mental illness. Importantly, Charles is sharing his lived experience with depression and anxiety. So that others might benefit and to reduce the stigma that surrounds mental illness. Whilst at the same time unpacking the signs that we can look for in others. In addition, focussing on our own mental health.
A Strategic Approach to Workplace Mental Health & Wellbeing
Tanya Heaney-Voogt from Wombarra Consulting and Georgie Chapman from HR Legal speak from a wealth of knowledge and experience. In this session, Tanya speaks about the importance of a strategic approach to mental health and well-being in the workplace. A fruit bowl and a yoga session in the workplace is not a strategy! Tanya talks about an integrated approach to strategy. Georgie speaks about the need for employers to be aware of their legal obligations. Particularly, around creating a psychological safe workplace.
Building trust to support mental health using Conversational Intelligence®
Miscommunication presents challenges for everyone, but for those with a mental health diagnosis it’s even more important to build trust and down-regulate stress related neurochemical reactions. Understanding the neuroscience of conversations offers a framework for supportive, healthy communication.
