From the CEO

Welcome to the Spring edition of headspace’s eNewsletter.  

This week is Mental Health Week, a time to celebrate good mental health and well-being.  headspace centres across Australia will be conducting a range of events and activities this week to raise awareness and encourage young Australians to seek help early.  With the theme of World Mental Health Day (this Friday) being 'Making Mental Health a Global Priority: Scaling Up Services Through Citizen Advocacy and Action'  I urge you to get involved in local community activities and help spread our important message.

In August I attended a meeting with headspace’s National Youth Reference Group (HYNRG) – 25 young people from various backgrounds and experiences who together provide input into the strategic direction of headspace.   From both a personal and professional perspective I found this interaction invaluable – it certainly brings you back to why our work is so crucial.  Equally I am encouraged that we are on track.  As of March this year headspace has assisted 5000 young people.

It is great to see our group of young people are so passionate about helping others and contributing to headspace initiatives.  At headspace we are lucky to have the support and dedication of many key media and commercial partners such as M&C Saatchi, Eye, Network Ten, Channel 7 and Austereo who have all played a crucial role in the development and implementation of our new advertising and social marketing campaign that will officially launch later this month. 

I hope you enjoy reading this edition and please look out for headspace over the coming weeks on billboards, the web, radio and television.

You can find out more information on Mental Health Week by visiting www.headspace.org.au and also checking out the article below about headspace Barwon.

Regards,
Chris Tanti
CEO headspace

Want a sneak peak at headspace’s new social marketing campaign?

Snails... Daisies... Avocados... Porridge...

No it’s not ingredients for the latest health shake, nor is it the Table of Contents for a headspace cookbook, but rather a recipe for success!

headspace is preparing to embark on an exciting new advertising and social marketing campaign – headspace centres: Someone else to go to.  We would like to extend a huge thank you to our Creative Agency M&C Saatchi, who have dedicated a huge amount of time, passion and creativity into producing a unique and cutting edge campaign for free, that not only will raise awareness for headspace centres but help young Australians access the help they need. Make sure you get to know one of the creative gurus behind our campaign by reading our ‘Big Heads at headspace’ interview with Colin Jowell from M&C Saatchi.

So, how do snails, avocados, daisies and porridge relate to youth mental health?

Well, it is all about receiving unhelpful advice. We can all relate to someone – a friend, family member or work colleague providing advice on a matter that made you think ‘why did I even bother asking?’….

headspace’s new campaign  ‘headspace centers: Someone else to go to’ is designed to make people aware that there is a lot of unhelpful advice out there and that headspace centers can provide someone else to go to – a place where you can talk through your problems.

Come mid October you will not only be hearing about snails, daisies, avocados and porridge, but there may also be a touch of sunshine, rainbows and waterfalls or to put it simply ‘happiness buddies’.  Yes we’re sure by now you’re confused, but it will all become clear very soon – headspace’s campaign will be the latest thing to hit television, radio, outdoor billboards and the web come mid October. 

If you can’t wait any longer – click here for a sneak peak!

Who are the big heads at headspace?

M&C SAATCHI’s Colin Jowell:

What was the best advice your mother and father gave you?
It wasn’t so much advice as it was a principle: Integrity. People will probably laugh at that, given that I work in a profession renowned for its lack of honesty, but I’ve always looked for a way to tell the truth, whatever that truth is, no matter how hard it is to hear. It’s confronting to others, but at the end of the day, people will trust you.

What would you never do again?
Fly for 20 hours for a three hour meeting and fly back immediately afterwards. It’s not as glamorous as it sounds.

Who is the most inspirational person in your life?
Cheesy answer, but Nelson Mandela. A glowing example of fairness, wisdom, acceptance and forgiveness: all the qualities I truly value in people. In my direct circle, it would be my Gran. She’s loving, devoted, brutally funny, and I’d love to know what she would have achieved if she’d been born today…

What quote do you live by?
“I’d rather be happy than right.” Or rather, I have to remind myself of that daily

If you were not a Planning Director for M&C SAATCHI what would you be doing?
Everyone who knows me knows this one: I’d be a DJ.

What are you renowned for cooking?
My Chicken Liver Pate is legendary. As is my herb crusted lamb rack. And I have just mastered the family recipe for chocolate mousse. “Coronary at table six”.

What three words would you use to describe yourself?
Passionate, Perfectionist, Pedantic. (and the three P’s only proves that!)

If you could have lunch with anyone in the world, who would it be and why?
Anyone who is polite to the waiter can have lunch with me. That was my first job, and it’s still a great test of character. Not nice to waiter = not nice person. Fact.

What is your most memorable travel experience?
When I was 21, after Uni, I bought a backpack and a round the world ticket. I was gone for nine months by myself, and took in 8 countries. I often wonder if I am as brave now as I was then…

How do you relax?
Listening to music,

What is the latest addition to your ipod?
The Blue Pill and the Red Pill (My own trance and house mixes). And Damien Rice’s 9 Crimes. Up, and down.

What tip would you give aspiring young advertising professionals?
Be curious. You may learn the theory in Uni, and the trade on the job, but unless you are constantly curious, you’ll never develop a point of view that’s original and interesting. The world is your research group.

Contributing to Mental Health promotion on a global level

Making Mental Health everyone’s business was the overriding theme of ‘From Margins to Mainstream - the 5th World Conference on the Promotion of Mental Health and the Prevention of Mental and Behavioural Disorders’.  The conference held at the Melbourne Convention Centre from 10th to 12th of September explored new ways that individuals and organisations from a range of sectors could promote mental health and prevent mental illness.

Over 700 experts from around the globe spent two days hearing about new research, programs and priorities from a number of well respected speakers including representatives from headspace.  In addition to several speaking engagements headspace also hosted a booth at the Mental Health and Wellbeing Marketplace showcasing the crucial work that has been done to establish 30 headspace centres throughout metropolitan, regional and rural Australia.

A significant outcome of the conference is the development of a Melbourne Charter, a statement of global principles designed to influence activity in the promotion of mental health and prevention of mental illness.  The steps and recommendations gathered from the conference and abstracts submitted will be discussed and the resulting information will become the ‘Melbourne Charter for Mental Health Promotion and Prevention of Mental Disorders’.  For more information on the charter please click here.

headspace Barwon – giving young people a voice!

In the lead up to Mental Health Week headspace Barwon launched a competition inviting young people in the Geelong region to ’voice’ their thoughts about mental health.  Young people were asked to enter a written piece (in the form of a song, spoken words, or a poem) about their experiences with mental health or how to maintain good mental health. 

With the Top 10 entries being given the opportunity to record their piece in a professional recording studio, headspace Barwon was swamped with entries from some very talented local writers. The winning entries were selected, recorded and produced into a compilation CD called ‘Voicing it!’.  Not only is the CD made by young people but the CD cover has been designed by a young person who is living with mental illness.

The ‘Voicing it’ CD will be launched this week to mark Mental Health Week and distributed to local secondary schools, youth agencies and community organisations to use as a resource to increase awareness of the importance of good mental health. 

To find out what else is happening at our 30 headspace centres this week visit www.headspace.org.au.

headspace centres continue to open

headspace’s first centre in the ACT officially opened in Canberra on Tuesday 9 September with a bright, colourful and fun-filled event at the University of Canberra hub.  David Crosbie from the Mental Health Council of Australia officially opened the service by unveiling a beautiful vibrant piece of artwork specially created for headspace ACT by young people. After the unveiling and official opening guests were given tours of the centre and entertained by musicians and circus performers.

Meanwhile other centres that have opened across the country include:

• headspace Southern Downs launched on 29 July
• headspace Mid-North Coast’s Coffs Harbour site launched on 1 August
• Fremantle headspace launched on 22 August
• Riverland headspace launched on 4 September

Central Sydney headspace will launch Thursday 9 October and the Hunter headspace will officially launch on World Mental Health Day – Friday 10 October.

To find the headspace centre closest to you visit www.headspace.org.au

Getting the help-seeking message out…

September has been a busy month in the area of youth mental health on the community and media agenda. No less than four major reports, studies and surveys being released all containing new insights into key issues on youth mental health, binge drinking and help seeking.

headspace has been a leading voice in the debate with responses made on the release of the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) report ‘Making Progress –The health, development and wellbeing of Australian children & young people’ and the release of the’ Pathways from infancy to adolescence: Australian Temperament Project 1983-2000’.

Professor Patrick McGorry appeared on television, radio and in newspapers to offer important messages of how young people can seek help if they are having trouble with their mental health and wellbeing. headspace is a key solution to the issues raised in these reports including a higher prevalence of youth mental health issues, and we are working hard to ensure that the community and young people know we are here to help.

More than 50 media articles and interviews featured a profile of headspace, our services offered and contact details in response to the coverage of the ‘Making Progress’ Report. headspace regularly engages the media to help us communicate important help-seeking messages to the community.

You can access the Reports and headspace’s response by visiting our Media Centre on our website or by clicking here.

Bullying forum a success!

Bullying is consistently one of the top issues of concern for young people visiting headspace’s website.  That’s why on Thursday 21st of August 2008, we facilitated our first ‘Ask an Expert’ online forum on bullying. Panelists, Andrew Fuller and Tom Wood were kept busy answering questions from young people, parents, friends and teachers.

Some of the great tips that were provided by our 'experts' included:

Tom:
‘If someone is cyber-bullying you, first you should make sure they're aware that you feel bullied - and ask them to stop. If they don't, you should not respond to them, but instead save all the evidence for future reference, block and delete them as much as possible from the website/service, and report the abuse to the administrator. Most websites and services, such as mobile companies, have reporting abuse functions - to make the bully face consequences. Finally, you should tell someone you trust, like a teacher or parent.’

Andrew:
‘…social exclusion is the worst, most hurtful form of bullying and it always feels that the world is leaving you out. I generally ask people to list the names of people who like them, those who actively bully and those who are neutral. Then we devise strategies to befriend the neutral ones - building up allies. It is a sad fact of life that not every one is going to like us so we have to be adaptable in friendships and learn to make more than just a few good friends if we can. By widening your social circle you make yourself less of a target and you may also meet a few great people too.’

If you missed the forum you can still view our 'experts' responses to your questions on bullying and cyber bullying by clicking here.

headspace is also developing a ‘Bullying’ Fact Sheet which will be available on www.headspace.org.au shortly – so stay tuned!