QPAC

It’s that month of the year when lederhosen and beer, freakishly early Christmas stock, and Winona Ryder (unofficial Queen of Halloween) reign supreme, but did you know October is also National Mental Health Month?

Acknowledging the importance of supporting each other’s mental health, our QPAC team recently got together to ‘take time’ in line with Queensland’s Mental Health Week.

Taking time is about the simple yet proven things everyone can do to boost mental wellbeing and break down the stigma associated with mental health so we can reach out to the communities that need our support.

Art can be a great way for us to connect more with each other and understand who we are, as well as how or what we might be feeling. And it was one of the key ways we were able to ‘take time’ for ourselves and our community this Mental Health Month.

One of our QPAC Producers, Kerrie Redfern, along with Facilitator, Maisie Crosdale, took creativity on the road making their way over to MacGregor State School for Metro South Child and Youth Mental Health Service’s Positive Mindset Festival. Kerry and Maisie took our Kindness Tree project with them, and inviting the students and teachers to make a commitment to kindness by contributing to the tree.

Debuting during our recent season of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, the Kindness Tree project encourages participants to think about the little things we can all do to make our world a little brighter. Our hope is participants feel a sense of being part of something positive and meaningful.

Closer to home, QPAC staff recently took part in a Here I Am Self-Portrait workshop lead by our Out of the Box Festival Director Brett Howe. The workshop allowed staff time and space to self-reflect, connect with colleagues, and be creative outside of the typical work environment.

Our team frequently run these Here I Am workshops for kids, asking them to reflect on questions like:

• How do I want to be seen in the world? 
• How is my face a reflection of who I am?
• How do I feel?

Check out more of the QPAC staff Here I Am portraits in the gallery below.

Whether you got involved in Mental Health Week/Month like us or not, there’s never a wrong date to take the time you need to look after your mental health. Discover more about how we can all take better care of our mental health and wellbeing here.

If this has raised any mental health concerns for you, or someone you know, there are a wide range of services and organisations who can help and support you. Find them here.