Mental Health Week in WA for 2022 will be held over 8-15 October. Each year, the Western Australian Association for Mental Health, with support from the WA Mental Health Commission, uses MHW to highlight the importance of social factors and the impacts on our overall wellbeing.

Understanding how the body, mind and environment intersect is essential to overall wellbeing. Physical health – both inside of us and in the world around us – has a major impact on mental health. The nutrition we consume, movement of our bodies, the health of the planet and quality of our housing and neighbourhoods all play a part in building healthy communities and individuals.

WHAT IS HAPPENING AT MURDOCH DURING MHW?

FREE gym access at Murdoch Active – All week

To support our community, Murdoch Active are opening their services to all students and staff of Murdoch University for free for the duration of Mental Health Week.

If you’d like to make use of the Murdoch Active Gym or attend any of our Group Fitness Classes for free during Mental Health Week, please sign up for to our FREE Mental Health Week membership.

Make Your Own Succulent – Tuesday 11 October

To celebrate the 33^rd anniversary of National Coming Out Day, we invite students to join us out on Bush Court from 11am – 1pm, to let their identy shine through. Express yourself by decorating your own succulent pot to celebrate who you are, then plant your own succulent to bring home to nurture and watch grow.

The Den – Wednesday and Thursday

The Access, Wellbeing and Equity (AWE) Team provide a safe space on campus to promote a healthy mind, body, and spirit, which are the foundations for students to achieve their personal and academic goals. Each week we have a variety of free, fun activities for all students ranging from art workshops, gym classes, games, and more.

You will find us in the Geoffrey Bolton Library on Wednesdays and underneath the Student Hub on Thursdays with our trusty counselling dogs ready to greet you. Come and visit us during MHW or any week during semester.

Featured @The Den this week:

• FREE massages – Wednesday 12 October

Come and enjoy a 5-minute massages from 11am-1pm conducted by our Murdoch chiropractic students.

• Crafternoons – Wednesday 12 October

Come play with water colours and destress with Lorelee in the Library Foyer from 12-1pm.

• Prioritising your Wellbeing – Thursday 13 October

Join InStil Wellbeing for this workshop from 12:30-1:30pm to understand how to prioritise your wellbeing and not feel guilty about it. Come identify your unhealthy habits, how to overcome them, and creative ways to focus on taking care of you!

Fusion Festival – Thursday 13 October

Join us at Bush Court on 13 Oct, 10am – 2pm for our annual World Fusion Festival!

Celebrate our diverse student community and try something new! See what’s happening below!

• FREE Satay BBQ by one of our cultural clubs!
• Play traditional Philippine games with Murdoch Filipino Students Society (MFSS)
• Batik drawing workshop with Murdoch University Indonesian Students Association (MUISA)
• Japanese calligraphy workshop with our Japanese exchange students
• AKWAABA African Drumming from 11.30am – 1.30pm
• Show us where you’re from! Drop a pin on our World Map install
• Futsal, ping pong and volleyball pop-up

And more to come! Click ‘Interested’ on our Facebook Event Page to get more updates.

Mental health Mailbox – Thursday 13 October

“Take a message, leave a message” Visit the AWE stall at MarketDaze this week to share and receive some words of wisdom. Take the time to write your own message of kindness, advice, and support, or take a card home with you.

Mindfulness and Morning Tea – Friday 14 October

Start your day right, take a moment to focus your attention and be present, free from distraction or judgment. AWE will be hosting a morning mindfulness session in Bower Court from 9.30 – 10.00am, with a light morning tea to follow.

MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT SERVICES

It’s important to ensure our own minds are mentally healthy. Part of helping others, is also about learning how to help ourselves.

To look after your own mental health, it is important to know what resources are available to you and we encourage you to access the free Murdoch University Counselling Service on campus, if you are a currently enrolled student.

Below are some other services that are available to you: 

• Murdoch University Medical Service
• Caladenia Counselling
• Crisis Care Helpline: Call +61 8 9223 1111 
• Lifeline: Call 13 11 14 
• Mental Health Emergency Response Team: Call Metro region 1300 555 788 (local call) or Call Peel region 1800 676 822 (free call) 
• Samaritans Youth Line: Call Helpline 134 247or Call Youth line 1800 198 313 
• Beyond Blue: Call 1300 22 4636 
• headspace Fremantle (12-25 y/o only): Call +61 8 9431 7453