WITS

Mental Health Week falls between the 10th and 16th of October this year with many different activities scheduled right across Queensland.

Along with our good friends at Kyabra, Acacia Ridge Community Centre, Red Cross and Life Church, WITS Inc. is proud to be involved with a range of pre-Mental Health Week activities and workshops, as well as one big day on the 12th of October all about eliminating the stigma associated with mental illness.

Activities include yoga, arts and ...

Hi. This is an inititive that I thnk Pieta started so I hope we can keep it going for Wits members.  Shane

Hi all...

I'd like to challenge you all to participate in the 5 week program - Get going by giving it a go!

The idea behind the program is to make a short term commitment to trying new things!

Hobbies/ activites and fun only come by giving things a go! So join me and commit to trying one new thing/ activity each week.

Hi all!

Just wanted to pass on the info I just received - WITS Inc is now recognised as a PHI and will be endorsed as a deductible gift recipient!!! Yay!!!!

Pieta!

Looking for news within the area of mental health - check out the Governments 'Whats News' site below for links to the Discussion paper form the National Advisory Council on Mental Health and leave comments regarding the paper. Check out the Frouth National Mental Health Plan which came out in Novemeber for details of the governments focus areas and spending on mental health.

Get involved and up to date!

Follow this link:

Hi all,

Just wanting to gather feedback. I am thinking of attempting to organise an event/ expo day which includes stalls from mental health services and support groups in the Brisbane area (maybe just start small and go Brisbane South) where people can come for free to the one place and learn about all the available services and support groups...

Does that sound like something people would be interested to attend? I would try and get the expo info out th...

Hi All,

As our website has grown it appears that it has become the target now of scammers... We have few members who have joined who appear to be selling items or advertising websites (that are in no way linked with positive mental health).

Please send any other names through to me if you feel that a member is suspicious for being an internet scammer and their membership will be terminated. Please do not purchase items or follow the links of these scammer...

Anxiety online is a new development towards treatment online.

The program - partnership of Swinburne uni and The Australian Government offers an online assessment and treatment courses - Free.

The program is not intended to replace current face to face therapy, but to offer a self directed and paced online treatment also.

See further info at

http://www.anxietyonline.org.au/

The Black Dog Istitute is running a story writing competition for seniors to discuss their experiences of depression.

The 2009/10 competition invites entries from the Australasian region. Prizes will be awarded for the

three best essay entries. Essays are to be no more than 1500 words.

This writing competition seeks to learn more about how to best assist older people with depression

and to provide useful feedback and strategies for their care...

Taken from Beyond Blue - www.beyondblue.org.au

Free Carers Booklet and DVD

beyondblue: the national depression initiative is proud to announce the release of an important resource designed to help carers and family members while they care for their loved ones.

The beyondblue Guide for Carers - Supporting and caring for a person with depression, anxiety and/or a related disorder is available free t...

You're Invited!

For details of the Agents of Change Morning Teas please refer to the WITS website 'Upcoming Events' and Events Calendar.

Cheers, Shane

What is Horizons?

- A 10 week accredited program to improve reading, writing and mathematics,

- Every Friday during school term,

- Set goals for employment and/or education,

- Choose Literacy/ Numeracy or a combination of both,

- Supported by trained tutors.

Who is the program designed for?

- Adults wishing to enter the workforce or further education and training, who are interested in improving their literacy and numeracy skills.

&...

Hi all,

I am thinking of entering WITS Inc. into the Mental Health Week Achievement Awards 2009.
Not so much for the Award itself, but even a mention somewhere as being a nominee may help WITS Inc. reach more people!

The awards entries are accepted for individuals or organisations, and I would like to nominate WITS Inc. for an organisation award.

For this, it would be best to include quotes from people, therefore if you have someth...

Hi All,

For people who attend Pieta under the Mental Health Nurse Incentive Program-

Just wanting to let everyone know...

The deadline is fast approaching for the patient satisfaction surveys. If you have not completed this and do wish to take part then please send it through to the medical centre.

If you don't know what I'm talking about -

I am completing a small scale stu...

Hi All,

For people who attend Pieta under the Mental Health Nurse Incentive Program-

Just wanting to let everyone know...

The deadline is fast approaching for the patient satisfaction surveys. If you have not completed this and do wish to take part then please send it through to the medical centre.

If you don't know what I'm talking about -

I am completing a small scale study about patient opinions ...

WORKOUT Program - Exercise your potential!

A 10-week program develped for women seeking to enter or re-enter the work force. Program consists of theory and practical experience.

Areas - Hospitality, Allied Health, Children's Services, Retail, IT, Personal Development.

All partipants also gain the opportunity to obtain a Senior First Aid Certificate!

For Women of any age.

When?

Programs starti...

Hi there fellow WITS!

Good news, Beyond Blue have agreed to add WITS on their links page, which means that WITS may reach more Australians and more social networks may be built.

What this means for local WITS members is that unfortunately you may not get to meet all the members, as we have been meeting through the groups... But it does mean that your supportive and inspirational words will reach and help more people.

There have been a f...

24 July 2009

The Rudd Government will invest $5.1 million over three years to enable four specialist organisations to provide telephone-based support for women experiencing post or antenatal depression, or grief following the loss of a baby that will link to an enhanced 24 hour hotline for pregnant women and new mums.

The four organisations are Post and Antenatal Depression Australia (PANDA), SIDS and Kids Australia, Stillbirth a...

Evidence for the benefits of exercise in managing depression

Regular exercise can be an effective way to relieve some forms of depression and is often a neglected strategy for treatment of depression.

•  Numerous studies have shown that people who exercise regularly experience fewer symptoms of depression and anxiety than those who do not ...

Hi all and welcome,

It's great to see more and more members joining each day. For those members and visitors that know me, this will be old news, but I thought it is news worth sharing for those who may be unaware...

Did you know that you can have access to free or low cost treatment for your mental health disorder?

If you have a diagnosed mental illness (depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, bipolar and more) then could could get access ...

Hi all,

Now that this website is up and running I am wanting to move to the next step for improving mental health services and recources in Brisbane South.

I have a dream to set up a drop in centre type facility local to Sunnybank Hills as most of the current drop in centres are located much closer to the city. The drop in centre will be a place for people whom have mental illnesses to hang out, increase their social contacts, participate in act...