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25.01.2022 From Mind Full to Mindful These Go Zen mindfulness printable cards can be used to help you and your kids to be in the here and now. Most of the activities on the cards take about 60 seconds and provide simple 1,2,3,4 breathing techniques. ... See link for instructions on how to best use the cards. It is suggested that you print them. # WAMIMS # GoZen # Mindfulness

23.01.2022 Youth services Free single session online counselling Hobsons Bay UP counselling team are offering free counselling online single session.... Weekly on Wednesdays 12-3pm. # WAMIMS # HobsonsBayUP # Onlinecounselling # FreeSingleSession

23.01.2022 $8500 total raised!!! An Amazing Effort!!! Thank you to everyone that generously donated to this years Walk (and run) A Mile In My Shoes event. ... $8500 is phenomenal effort particularly during a year of life in a pandemic. Unfortunately just over $500 goes towards the GoFundMe host fees. This is something we as a committee may need to look towards alternative options given the fees to host our page are reasonably high! On a positive note, this means 4 school will receive a cheque of $2000 each towards creating well being hubs. This Friday some WAMIMS committee members will attend two primary schools in the western catchment to hand over the 2 of the cheques. Newport Gardens P.S and Annunciation P.S in Brooklyn are two of the four school receiving a $2000 cheque this week. Both schools are highly motivated to create spaces within their school grounds for their students to be able to go to for some quiet time and reflection. Materials such as bean bags, books and artwork are some of the things that will go into these spaces for the indoor areas. Outdoor wellbeing areas may include a sensory garden, rocks/benches for seating and cover over the area for sun protection. The two remaining schools that will receive a cheque are St Mary’s Altona P.S and a school within the Eastern catchment. We are considering donating to a secondary college in the Eastern suburbs. The school is yet to be confirmed. St Mary’s Altona would like the handing over of the cheque to occur in early 2021 to enable a whole school assembly presentation. Well done and thank you again to our wonderful community that supports the WAMIMS initiatives. This is our third year of running a WAMIMS event and even the covid restrictions didn’t cease the ability for us to find a way to support and continue to promote mental health matters. We will send photos in the coming weeks and months of the handing over of the cheques to schools. Brilliant effort to all involved!!! # WAMIMS # WellbeingHubs # DonatingToSchools # SupportingStudents

22.01.2022 DONATE NOW --> LINK BELOW! https://www.gofundme.com/f/3ses2-walk-a-mile-in-my-shoes-wi Due to Coronavirus the annual WAMIMS large walk gathering can’t go ahead this year but we are still encouraging everyone to walk or run wearing the official colour GREEN within your local 5km radius on the day we would have have the event this year, Sunday October 18th.... The WAMIMS committee will be walking in twos wearing green on the morning of the Sunday 18th of October along the Strand in Williamstown where our walk event would normally occur. Meeting at the commonwealth reserve park. Justine WAMIMS founder will commence walking with the committee on the morning of the 18th but will then take off to do a run, a half marathon - 21kms in honour of mental health lived experience and to honour her mother that lived with a MH diagnosis for 22 years. Her mother passed away last October a week after last years walk. This October will mark the one year anniversary of her mother’s passing. The half marathon run of 21 kms will be aimed at Justine running 1 kilometre for each year her mother suffered with mental illness. Justine has been training regularly for the half marathon over several weeks, recently entering a virtual online running race 14km distance to prepare for the long distance. Donations for the walk and half marathon run this year in honour of mental health can be made to the GoFundMe page, see the top of the WAMIMS Facebook page to access the fund page. Money raised will once again go to one or possibly two more local primary schools for a wellbeing space to be created within the school for children experiencing anxiety or other emotional issues. These wellbeing hubs in schools will be ever more important as children transition back to school in term 4. #WAMIMS #HobsonsBay #WAMIMSWilliamstown

21.01.2022 Extending the Mental Health consumer and carer awareness message, GoGreen initiative and WAMIMS project into the East! Justine Brogna joins the FaPMI team (Families where a a Parent has a Mental Illness). It’s a Statewide initiative supported by the Bouverie Centre. In July this year Justine was appointed as a FaPMI coordinator/Grade 3 Senior Social Worker at Eastern Health Mental Health. See photo for article.... When her mother passed away last year she not only felt the loss and devastation of loosing her mother but also her identity as carer and her connection to the public system. Her mother had been a consumer of the public system for many years. This inspired Justine to return to work in the public sector part time along side her private practice work. Joining the wonderful and innovative team at Eastern Health MH is enabling Justine to contribute to important capacity building initiatives such as contributing to MH month of October awareness, MH policy reform for improved service delivery, secondary consultation to clinicians, family violence contribution and working directly with lived experience as the service has a strong emphasis on the importance of lived experience and indigenous MH. Justine has been asked to provide a short video for Eastern Health staff, sharing a little about her story, as well as encouraging the GoGreen concept and supporting people to prioritise looking after themselves. The theme for MH month is fitness and resilience, holistically mind and body. How are you looking after yourself at this time? Stay well and keep moving # WAMIMS # FaPMI # BouverieCentre # EasternHealthMH # GoGreen # MHMonth

21.01.2022 Tips on how to survive and also help your children to thrive whilst providing home schooling during COVID-19 As the announcement was made yesterday that home schooling will continue during term 2 many parents are experiencing a sense of heightened anxiety and feeling overwhelmed by the question of how to support children with their education whilst at home? Attached is a helpful tip sheet to assist parents to not sweat the small stuff and find creative ways for c...hildren to learn. Trying to reproduce a normal 6 hour 5 days a week structure the same as what school would provide is not the answer. Instead reduce the hours to approx 2-3 hrs each day including some literacy (reading and writing), some numeracy, this might be online maths like studyladder, prodigy or sum dog and also think creatively. What can children build, bake or do in the front or back yard of your home that can assist their learning about everyday life. Keeping children moving is also a great way to help children reduce anxiety and burn energy via dancing, music, skipping, deep breathing and also consider mindful meditation. See the On worry section in the tips sheet. This is a rare time in all our lives, one we may never experience again so let’s use this unique time to be extra present with our children and saviour the moment of producing learning in new ways. Our practitioners at TreeHaus are also available to provide support to people of all ages if things become tricky or too overwhelming at this time. Sometimes having an allocated session to speak with a professional mental health practitioner may be enough to take the worry away. Consider a Telehealth session via phone or video call. Contact TreeHaus Williamstown intake on 9397 4499. We are available to take your call. # WAMIMS # TipsOnHomeSchooling # TreeHausWilliamstown # SurvivingAndThrivingCOVID-19 @ Williamstown, Victoria, Australia

21.01.2022 This ones for the kids, print & put on the bedroom wall your welcome

21.01.2022 helpful ways to help your child de-escalate their emotions

20.01.2022 Congratulations to Georgie Labb, Speech Therapist at the TreeHaus Clinic in Williamstown for her trek of 60kms to raise funds for Mental Health!! Last week Georgie and her team took part in the Melbourne Coastrek 2021. This entailed her trekking 60kms to raise funds to support Beyond Blue. She has already raised over $1000 in funds towards supporting mental health and wellbeing from this event. Please see the link if you wish to donate towards this cause. ... Well done Georgie on braving the elements and trekking around Melbourne’s coast in honour of mental health!!! # WAMIMS # Coastrek # GeorgieLabb # TreeHausClinic # WalkForMH https://www.coastrek.com.au/fundraisers/GeorgieLabb13686

19.01.2022 Celebrate International Womens Day today Today the 8th of March is the official date for International Womens Day. Please celebrate this day in some way to signify the wonderful things women bring. Maybe you can give your sister, mother, grandmother, friend or girlfriend a card or message identifying to her what she brings to your life that is special. ... On Friday a group of us from WAMIMS walked at Cherry Lake Altona along with many others to recognise the importance of what this day symbolises in regards to the need for gender equality across the globe . Councillor Sandra Wilson from Hobsons Bay Council spoke of how significantly important this message is. # WAMIMS # IWD @ Cherry Lake (Victoria)

19.01.2022 Handing over of the cheques Today committee members Sarina Brogna, Rita Vinci, Natasha Ramantanis and Justine Brogna handed over two of the four cheques from the money raised for this years WAMIMS to primary schools in the western suburbs of Melbourne. Annunciation Catholic P.S and Newport P.S were the two schools that received a $2000 cheque each today. These cheques will go towards the schools development of wellbeing hubs for students to go to in times of need to retre...at. Annunciation Catholic P.S will set up an outdoor space for children to be able to go to in times of requiring a quiet space. The money will be used to cover over the outdoor area for sun protection amongst trees with outdoor seating area, rocks and outdoor games. Newport Gardens P.S will create an indoor space nearby to the well being teachers space with bean bags and books for children to sit, relax and have some reflection time. Congratulations to the first two schools this year to receive the donations. The WAMIMS committee are delighted the money is going towards supporting the well being of children. # WAMIMS # Donations # WellbeingHubs # AnnunciationCatholicPS # NewportGardensPS

19.01.2022 https://gostrengthsftp.s3.amazonaws.com//MindfulnessCards_

18.01.2022 Do you have a story to tell? Do you have a story about diversity or lived experience you’d like to share. ABC radio and SBS are calling for writer submissions. Go to;... sbs.com.au Or [email protected] for more information. WAMIMS committee member Jenny Hickinbotham submitted a story about her fond memories with her grandmother with abc radio, see link to her short story. Justine Brogna founder of WAMIMS will be submitting an entry to emerging writers SBS, a memoir of her mental health carer lived experience. Writing and telling stories is a great form of healing. It’s creative, productive and thought provoking. Whether you write a book, document experiences in a journal or share stories with others across a table, these are all important aspects of being human and ways of creating a social bond. During the Covid pandemic, this is ever important! # WAMIMS # story telling # writers # lived experience # diversity https://www.abc.net.au//thefridayr/postcard-jenny/12608018

17.01.2022 We can’t help but recognize the uncanny similarity to in this activity enjoy kids...

16.01.2022 Breast cancer support WAMIMS is committed to supporting mental health, mental health awareness and intiatives. However mental health cuts across many aspects of life. When physical illness occurs, such as breast cancer this also affects ones mental health due to side affects from medication, treatments or life changing surgery. WAMIMS committee member and official sponsor Rita Vinci is training to become a qualified areola pigmentation (nipple tattooing) paramedic to provi...de this service to women and men in the west of Melbourne and broader suburbs of Victoria that have had breast reconstructive surgery. Her interest in becoming a breast reconstructive paramedic is to offer those affected by breast cancer treatment the opportunity to restore an aspect of their body that may have been taken away and to assist in regaining their confidence. As a part of Rita’s training certification, Rita is required to work with 3 women or men volunteers that have had a Mastectomy as a result of breast cancer. The usual cost for this procedure is approx. $1000 but as this is a part of Rita’s training for accreditation the fee would only be $150 to cover the cost of materials but this is negotiable if costs are of concern. If this is of interest to you or if you know someone that may benefit from this opportunity please share this page or contact Rita directly on 0411 178 129. Rita will be conducting the service for her training with interested volunteers that fit the criteria described on Thursday 27th and Friday 28th of Feb in Altona North at Circle Health General Practice. # WAMIMS # BreastCancerSupport # AeriolaPigmentation # BreastReconstruction

16.01.2022 2020 Walk A Mile In My Shoes This year sadly due to the Covid pandemic the WAMIMS large walk event at the Commonwealth Reserve won’t be able to go ahead in the way that it previously has the last two years. The WAMIMS committee members that consist of approx 15 members hope to still be able to do a small group mental health honour walk during mental health week on Sunday 18th of October for people struggling with their mental health and well being during this pandemic an...d to those lost to suicide, particularly during this time. As well as honouring those with chronic mental illlnesses, recognising both consumers and carers. The committee will be wearing the green official t-shirts and hope to possibly raise a little money towards one primary school that could benefit from a well being space being created within their school for kids experiencing emotional or sensory difficulty. It’s tough times so we aren’t expecting large fund raising to be possible this year. However we might be able to bring together enough for one school to benefit. *We invite you all to walk in your local area!!! In fact, let’s all keep walking even if we can’t do it collectively, let’s aim at individually or with a friend or family member going for a walk on Sunday morning 18th of Oct wearing our pride colour green in honour of mental health in aim to reduce stigma. We are together in heart and spirit! # WAMIMS # GoGreenOct18th # WalkForMH

15.01.2022 $2000 donation to St Mary’s Altona P.S. towards the development of an outdoor sensory garden Yesterday, on the 24th of May, coincidentally being on World Schizophrenia Day WAMIMS committee members Justine Brogna and Wendy Kostraby along with FaPMI (families where a parent has a mental illness) coordinator Amanda Creswick from Mercy Mental Health handed over the final remaining cheque from last years WAMIMS half marathon fund raiser. School principal Sonia Riccardi accep...ted the cheque on behalf of the school which will go towards creating a sensory garden in the school yard. Students and families of the school will be invited by their Principal to contribute to the ideas and design of the outdoor space. The garden can assist children experiencing anxiety as well as benefitting kids with sensory processing difficulties. In addition, all the students will be able to enjoy and benefit from having such an enchanted outdoor space to be in during their school days. Thank you St Mary’s Altona for such a warm welcome to us yesterday when we attended your lovely school community. We can’t wait to see the sensory garden you create! Also thank you to Susan Spelic from Reading Mountain for her generous donation of a reading pack for the students to enjoy. Furthermore thank you to Amanda Creswick from Mercy MH for donating a range of mental health related story books and resources. # WAMIMS # StMarysPSAltona # FaPMIMercyMH # TreeHausWilliamstown # ReadingMountain # SensoryGarden

15.01.2022 Please remember to check in on the people in your life, particularly during covid with increased isolation it’s more significant than ever to find ways to let others know you’re thinking of them & stay connected; make a phonetext an emojis or reach out another way people need to know you care

14.01.2022 WJFC - Ladies Luncheon

14.01.2022 Now Melbourne homes we’re in the 2nd official wave Covid - 19 here’s a wonderful free resource for parents our kids need more than ever

14.01.2022 We who work in team TreeHaus with families who live & work in our community would like to offer this as a helpful guide to parents in an effort to support the wellbeing of your children during this hectic challenging time

13.01.2022 Supporting Families and children during COVID . This little virtual booklet is a simple way to engage your child in conversation around how they are feeling during a time when adults are wearing face masks whilst out in public. It’s called peek a boo FACES! It could be helpful to map out with your child questions about things that they don’t quite understand at this time surrounding covid, masks and lockdown. # WAMIMS # FaceMasks. # SupportingFamilies

11.01.2022 The story of 2020! Try to find the bright side at this time if you can. It’s not easy to do but your resilience is needed now more than ever, for you and your loved ones. Perhaps consider finding ways to turn a negative into some sort of positive during this time . This video highlights that we are living through history and sometimes in our darkest days creativity and new inventions are possible, they may even change the world for the better somehow. What creativity can you discover in you right now?

10.01.2022 COVID-19 has impacted all of us. Many people are anxious and some feel helpless. I will advocate for better mental health support services for our community. I will not rest until I have done all I can to take care of everyone impacted by this terrible pandemic. #LisaBentley2020 #StrandWard #hobsonsbaycitycouncil

10.01.2022 Good luck Lisa for your campaign as independent candidate for The Strand Ward in Hobsons Bay Wishing Lisa all the very best in her efforts to Put Hobsons Bay First by advocating for the people that live in the area by focusing on small business, improving infrastructure, increasing mental health awareness, and advocating for community and housing improvements. Lisa has been an involved committee member of WAMIMS over the last two years as a way to contribute to mental ...health awareness and assist in helping reduce stigma associated with it. Lisa joined the TreeHaus clinic in Willamstown last year as a Positive Mental Health Practitioner as well as Intake Worker for new referrals into the clinic. Lisa’s passion for mental health issues shows in her dedication to her work. Lisa is also a member of PACFA. We wish Lisa all the best in her advocacy to improve services and life for the people of Hobsons Bay. # WAMIMS # LisaBentley # TheStrandWard # IndependentCandidate # PositiveMHPractitioner

09.01.2022 Go on a bear hunt.......during COVID-19 During this difficult and trying time this wonderful initiative of Going on a bear hunt is a terrific way to lift the spirit by going outdoors on a walk in search of a bear in a home or shop window. This is a fun way to get some exercise, excite and distract ourselves and children during a time that is anxiety provoking for our community, our country and the world.... A fun way is to count all the bears found along the walk. Please also consider placing a bear in your front window if you haven’t done so already. The more bears to look for the more fun it evokes. Fun, laughter and also the great outdoors are some of the best medicines for our mental health. Please remember to practice safe social distancing whilst going on your hunt. How many bears can you find???? # WAMIMS # GoingOnABearHunt # COVID-19Support # ReduceAnxiety # Telehealth # TreeHausWilliamstown

09.01.2022 Lisa has been a resident of Hobsons Bay her entire life spanning across a few decades and therefore knows first hand the things that matter to the people in th...e west. ======================== Thanks for your endorsement Justine Brogna, the work you do with #walkamileinmyshoes is incredible #lisabentley2020 ======================== #hobsonsbay #hobsonsbaycouncil #hobsonsbay #williamstown See more

09.01.2022 International Women’s Day Walk Next Sunday 8th of March is International Women’s Day.... In honour of this Hobsons Bay Council are hosting their inaugural walk around Cherry Lake in Altona on Friday 6th of March at 11am. There is usually a coffee van, light morning tea and some music to enjoy and of course a walk around the lake. This walk was created from the Women’s Advisory Board at Hobsons Bay council some years ago by its members on the board. Justine Brogna from WAMIMS was a board member at the time of its creation. Member Rhonda Collins from Latitude was the founder of the IWD Cherry Lake walk which was supported by Councillor Sandra Wilson’s. Please come down to the walk to celebrate women and the wonderful things that women bring to the world . # WAMIMS # InternationalWomensDay # WalkCherryLake

09.01.2022 Yoga For Mental Health 4 Week Course @ TreeHaus Williamstown Take your commitment to wellbeing in 2020 to the next level.... This unique course at TreeHaus is delivered in two parts: A 2 hour Yoga and Mindfulness for Mental Health workshop ($170 - max 4 participants) 3 one-on-one personalised yoga therapy classes ($125 each) Total investment: $545 For enquires and registration contact: Christina Browning 0447 261 904 [email protected] # WAMIMS # YogaForMentalHealth

09.01.2022 Find your Silver Lining during COVID-19 How can you turn a negative into a positive...... Watch the video link ... During times of major adversity, one can feel lost but this is often the best time to truly find oneself. Also to appreciate the ones we love What will you continue to do different once this time of lockdown is over??? # WAMIMS # NegativeIntoPositive # BeStill # FindYou # Togetherness

09.01.2022 Walk or RunA Mile In My Shoes this October for Mental Health Month October is Mental Health Month, consisting of a series of important days and weeks throughout the month honouring Mental Health. World Mental Health day is on the 10th of October. We ask again this year that everyone wear a splash of Green on this day, the official colour for MH. The message is GoGreen for 10/10. Wearing the colour loud and proud for MH to aim at reducing stigma associated with mental... health issues. Due to Coronavirus the annual WAMIMS large walk gathering can’t go ahead this year but we are still encouraging everyone to walk or run wearing the official colour GREEN within your local 5km radius on the day we would have have the event this year, Sunday October 18th. The WAMIMS committee will be walking in twos wearing green on the morning of the Sunday 18th of October along the Strand in Williamstown where our walk event would normally occur. Meeting at the commonwealth reserve park. Justine WAMIMS founder will commence walking with the committee on the morning of the 18th but will then take off to do a run, a half marathon - 21kms in honour of mental health lived experience and to honour her mother that lived with a MH diagnosis for 22 years. Her mother passed away last October a week after last years walk. This October will mark the one year anniversary of her mother’s passing. The half marathon run of 21 kms will be aimed at Justine running 1 kilometre for each year her mother suffered with mental illness. Justine has been training regularly for the half marathon over several weeks, recently entering a virtual online running race 14km distance to prepare for the long distance. Donations for the walk and half marathon run this year in honour of mental health can be made to the GoFundMe page, see the top of the WAMIMS Facebook page to access the fund page. Money raised will once again go to one or possibly two more local primary schools for a wellbeing space to be created within the school for children experiencing anxiety or other emotional issues. These wellbeing hubs in schools will be ever more important as children transition back to school in term 4.

07.01.2022 Time to manifest good intentions & optimism for all during this new month of July

07.01.2022 As a local mental health practitioner I’ve seen first hand the impacts that COVID-19 restrictions have had on our community, especially our young people, but ou...r Headspace youth mental health centres in the west are located in Sunshine and Werribee. It’s time for change! It’s time to put Hobsons Bay first! #LisaBentley2020 #StrandWard #HobsonsBay See more

07.01.2022 Lest we forget Today’s ANZAC Day is like no other during COVID-19. Although we can’t physically gather together to remember our ANZAC’s this didn’t mean we couldn’t find ways to honour our soldiers. Young and old went out the front of their homes to light candles in remembrance. ANZAC reminds us of those that have served us at war and made many sacrifices in service to others. We thank our soldiers across the various wars over the many years. ... Post traumatic stress disorder - otherwise known as PTSD affects many people that have served in war whilst representing and protecting our country or the innocent people of other countries. The mental health of those that serve in the military and it’s post war affects can be significant. Often people experience upon their return to civilian life extreme difficulty with interpersonal relationships, mood disorders, an ongoing sense of heightened anxiety, nightmares, flash backs, constant sense of hyper vigilance and feeling unsafe or unrest to name a few. Counselling can assist war veterans to reduce the experience of symptoms in aim to enable them to live a full quality of life. At TreeHaus we offer counselling for PTSD and to those that have suffered trauma in order of service. Many of our practitioners are experienced in this area and are offering services via Telehealth during COVID-19. We are here for you and your families. Lest we forget # WAMIMS # ANZACDay # LestWeForget # PTSD # CounsellingServices # TreeHausWilliamstown

06.01.2022 Today the WAMIMS committee members and residents of Williamstown Walked A Mile and Ran a few more miles for Mental Health Thank you to everyone that dressed up in GREEN across Williamstown today and also in your other areas within your local 5km radius to support mental health and raise awareness to help reduce stigma. Some committee members that reside in Williamstown ‘Walked A Mile’ in twos (at a 1.5km distance from each other) along The Strand wearing their offici...al lime green t-shirts. Thank you to everyone that came out to cheer the committee along their way and to also support Justine (founder of WAMIMS) along her 21km half marathon running course in honour of her mother’s mental illness and to mark her mother’s one year anniversary this week. Jane (Secretary of WAMIMS) also walked the half marathon 21km distance in support of Justine, her late mother Lucy and Mental Health. A VERY BIG thank you to ‘The Kiosk Cafe by d’Asporto’ for their kind and generous donation of coffees, drinks and sweet treats for the committee members after their walk/run. It was greatly appreciated!!! Everyone did an amazing effort to support mental health today in so many varied ways! Also the funds raised by all your generous donations has been phenomenal!!! We cannot thank you enough! We have now raised $7645 and it’s continuing to increase each day. The GoFundMe page will remain open for another 10 days closing October 28th. Then we will distribute the funds raised across primary schools, potentially 3-4 schools will be able to obtain well being hubs with the funds raised. That’s amazing!! Well done everyone on a great day!! # WAMIMS # WalkRunEventForMH # d’Asporto # GoFundMe # InLovingMemory

06.01.2022 Starweekly article on Justine’s Lived Experience as a carer for her mother Lucy that inspired the development of ‘walk a mile’. Coincidently the article timely came out today on the day of her mother’s one year anniversary since her death. Please refer to photos to read the article. Article ‘My Place’ includes topics surrounding the background and inspiration for the walk, honouring lived experience, and coping in covid.... Remembering Lucy Kostraby today on her anniversary day and thanking her for leaving us an important legacy to honour mental health and her story highlighting the significance of needing much more understanding and accepting of mental illness! https://maribyrnonghobsonsbay.starweekly.com.au//my-place/ # WAMIMS # InLovingMemoryMUM # Starweekly # Acceptance # Understanding

05.01.2022 Walk to raise money towards mental health - Beyond Blue TreeHaus Speech Pathologist Georgie Labb will Walk 60km this May to support mental health and well being. Funds raised will go to Beyond Blue. You can support Georgie on her trek by donating on the link attached - Coastrek. # WAMIMS # Coastrek... # MentalHealthCharity #Beyondblue See more

05.01.2022 Take care of your mental health during COVID The anxiety many of us are experiencing during this pandemic is much to do with a sense of grief experienced of the loss of our liberties, a loss of connection to others and uncertainty for tomorrow. ... Things that can help us through these complex times are keeping a daily journal or note down some daily possible planning. Try to journal each day upon waking 3 things that bring you meaning and joy and that also a few things you are currently grateful for. Looking after your mental health is more important than ever during this difficult time. Do whatever you can to stay connected to others within the guidelines that have be set for us in this lockdown, such as; calling someone everyday or face timing, do a group zoom catch up with family or friends, play board games with the people you live with or game online, do an online exercise class such yoga, katate or dance. Outdoor sports such as walking, running, bike riding, golfing and fishing are still possible. Try to find an physical activity and social interaction that resonates with you. Please read the article sent in the link regarding the increased risks of suicide as a direct link to the impact COVID-19 is having on our mental well being. Many people have lost their jobs, their businesses are at risk and the social disconnect to others that people are feeling is related to the rise in suicide risk. A 25% rise in suicide has been predicted for the next few years related to the impact of this pandemic. Do what you can each day to stay connected, stay focused and keep a sense of meaning or purpose. Please watch the video that gives some tips on what is helpful during this time. Be safe - both physically and mentally and above all stay connected to others in some way everyday. # WAMIMS # StayConnected # RememberYourMentalHealth # SuicidePrevention https://www.news.com.au///b4154626a16c9cc25c3b79b7880041ef

05.01.2022 More wonderful resources to help young people navigate & regulate their emotions

05.01.2022 Donate to our GoFundMe walk/run project to support Wellbeing Hubs to go into more schools for children needing a space to retreat! We are doing great on our fundraising so far $2195 raised on our GoFundMe page which will go directly towards schools to develop a Wellbeing hub. These creative and relaxation space hubs give children the chance to retreat and have a space to reflect during times of anxiety, sensory over load or when kids are in need to... have some time to themselves away from things that may be troubling them. See the photos attached to this post of Altona Meadows P.S. who used last years WAMIMS donation to create their amazing Wellbeing hub/retreat. You can see the room has been filled with bean bags, board games, books and painted with creative patterns for children to enjoy and relax with. So far this year we have already raised enough to go towards one school. Each school requires approx $1500-2000 to create the Wellbeing Space. Please keep your donations coming to enable more schools to obtain the funding for one of these spaces. All donations are welcome. Every bit helps! # WAMIMS # WellbeingHub # GoFundMe # Schools # AltonaMeadowsPrimarySchool

03.01.2022 Children’s books that celebrate extraordinary women.

03.01.2022 Tomorrow Sunday 18th of October is the day! The WAMIMS walk run event!! The Walk A Mile In My Shoes committee members that reside in the 5km radius of the commonwealth reserve in Williamstown will come together to ‘walk a mile and back’ in twos at a 1.5m distance along The Strand for mental health awareness wearing green the official colour for MH to help reduce stigma associated with mental health related issues.... Justine WAMIMS founder will run a half marathon 21kms around Williamstown in honour of mental health and to mark the one year anniversary of her mother’s passing. Justine’s mother’s mental health diagnosis of 22 years was the reason she started the WAMIMS project. Justine will run 1km for each year that her mother experienced mental illness. Jane secretary committee member will also walk the distance of 21kms around Williamstown in honour of this cause. We encourage all in support of mental health to walk, run or do any form of exercise in your 5km radius tomorrow morning and to wear green. Please take a photo of your exercise in green and share it on your social media pages to help raise awareness. The map in the photo provided is the course Justine will be running tomorrow beginning at 9.15am with the committee at the commonwealth reserve and finishing at approx 11.15-30am on the Esplanade in Williamstown. If you are out and about tomorrow somewhere along this course please cheer her on. Also please cheer on the WAMIMS committee as they are walk a mile along the strand between 9.15-10.15am. The GoFundMe page has raised an amazing $7300 thus far. Thank you everyone that has contributed to the fund raiser for primary schools to obtain wellbeing hubs. Please keep the donations coming so that we can donate to more schools. Have a wonderful celebration of mental health tomorrow everyone!! # WAMIMS # WalkRunEvent # 18October2020

02.01.2022 Happy 2020 WAMIMS community What does this new year and new decade mean for you? ...Continue reading

01.01.2022 Williamstown Juniors Football Club WJFC - Ladies Luncheon On Friday 14th of May the WJFC hosted a Luncheon to celebrate Women with a particular focus of celebrating women in sport. The theme incorporated wearing a touch of pink Women across the west came together to celebrate, have a chat, share some food and drinks but also to listen to different stories of women excelling in their fields such as sports or doing important work within our local community.... The event was hosted by Hayley Sofranos Plumb a talented lacrosse player sharing her story of sporting success as well as the joys of playing in team sports and doing community work. There was a panellist of speakers that spoke about their own stories and contributions as women and their personal experiences. Panel speakers were Sarah Beagley, Samatha Cross, Mel McVeigh and Justine Brogna. Justine spoke in particular about the WAMIMS project and also about the benefits of team sports and physical activity upon child development and mental health. Please go to the videos on the WAMIMS FB to watch Justine’s full responses in relation to these matters. It was a great day enjoyed by all. Thank you to the WJFC team of committee members for bringing together a wonderful day focused on women. # WAMIMS # WJFC # LadiesLuncheon # CelebratingWomen # BenefitsOfPhysicalActvityOnMH