Healthy Bodies Support Healthy Minds Project

MHACA is a signatory to the Equally Well Consensus Statement, a national initiative to improve the physical wellbeing of people living with mental illness. MHACA developed a Healthy Bodies Support Healthy Minds Strategy to provide a focus on improving the physical wellbeing of our participants and received a Healthy Lifestyles Grant from the Northern Territory Government to implement a program of activities over the course of a year.

Beginning in 2022 and continuing in 2023, MHACA delivered the Healthy Bodies Support Healthy Minds Project with our participants in partnership with community agencies.

It provided weekly activities with a focus on exercise and nutrition activities, including education on sugary drinks and increasing water consumption. The project included a weekly healthy cooking activity for participants followed by a shared lunch, and an all-abilities community walk.

The Healthy Bodies Support Healthy Minds Program had specific participant-focused objectives including:

  • Increase MHACA participant engagement in regular exercise.
  • Increase MHACA participant engagement in the cooking and eating of healthy meals utilising the Australian Dietary Guidelines.
  • Decrease the consumption of sugary drinks by MHACA participants and increase water consumption.

The Program also had the specific objective of engaging local community service stakeholders in the delivery of program activities and building stronger community awareness of the importance of the physical health of people living with mental health conditions.

Cooking activity

MHACA delivered a healthy cooking activity for participants every Monday for 40 weeks. The meal that was cooked during the session was then shared for lunch with all participants at the Drop-in Centre. Each week 2-5 participants engaged in shopping, meal preparation, cooking and serving and up to 20 participants each week enjoyed a healthy meal.

Exercise

MHACA delivered 40 physical activity sessions throughout the year which rotated between:

  • Low-intensity gym workouts in partnership with the Alice Springs Town Council Healthy Communities Program at the Alice Springs Aquatic and Leisure Centre.
  • Gentle exercise in the pool at the Alice Springs Aquatic and Leisure Centre.
  • Basketball (including low-intensity stretching and drills) at the Alice Springs Basketball Association courts.
  • Footy 4 Life low-intensity exercise in partnership with AFL NT and No More Campaign – Catholic Care at ANZAC Oval.

Up to 10 participants participated in the weekly sessions. In particular, participants enjoyed basketball, Footy 4 Life and swimming – these activities will continue on in MHACA’s monthly group activities calendar.

A new water filter

A water bubbler was installed in MHACA’s Drop-in Centre to encourage increasing water consumption and reducing sugary drinks. This is to complement educational signage in the Drop-in Centre demonstrating how much sugar are in juices and soft drinks.

Community Walk

An all-abilities community walk was held at Anzac Oval in partnership with AFL NT and the Catholic Care No More Program, which included participation from clients of Central Australia Supported Accommodation and Life Without Barriers. 40 participants and their support workers enjoyed and a football session and then joined in the walk around the oval. This included an obstacle course, and then people joined together to share a healthy meal.

Health promotion educational sessions

MHACA also facilitated health promotion educational sessions for our participants as part of the project. These included:

  • Central Australia Aboriginal Congress (CAAC) – Podiatrist Team (Looking After Your Feet program)
  • CAAC Tackling Indigenous Tobacco Team
  • Vision Australia – Eye health education

 

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Mental Health Association Central Australia
17 hours ago
Mental Health Association Central Australia

Trigger warning: this post contains information on domestic, family and sexual violence and could cause distress.

#16DaysOfActivismAgainstGenderBasedViolence

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women are disproportionately impacted by domestic, family, and sexual violence (DFSV). In the Northern Territory, the victimisation rate for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women is 18 times higher than in other parts of Australia, with domestic violence related assaults occurring at three times the national average.

The drivers of violence against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women include:
• Ongoing impacts of colonisation for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, families and communities
• Ongoing impacts of colonisation for non-Indigenous people and society
• The gendered drivers
o Condoning violence against women
o Men’s control of decision-making and limits to women’s independence in public and private life
o Rigid gender stereotyping and dominant forms of masculinity
o Male peer relations and culture of masculinity that emphasise aggression, dominance and control

By challenging harmful myths and understanding the drivers of DFSV for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women, we can work together to create meaningful change and build safer, stronger communities.

For more information go to www.ourwatch.org.au/preventing-violence/aboriginal-and-torres-strait-islander-women

If you are feeling unsafe or would like to talk with someone you can call:

Sexual Assault Referral Centre - SARC (Free, confidential support services to people who have been sexually assaulted) Office hours and 24/7 crisis support phone: 8955 4500

WoSSCA (Women’s Safety Services of Central Australia) (Crisis accommodation and support for women and children experiencing domestic or family violence) 24/7 phone support: 8952 6075

1800RESPECT (National sexual assault, domestic and family violence counselling service). 24/7 phone support: 1800 737 732

13YARN (Crisis support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples). 24/7 phone support: 13 92 76

In case of an emergency call 000. ... See MoreSee Less

Trigger warning: this post contains information on domestic, family and sexual violence and could cause distress. #16DaysOfActivismAgainstGenderBasedViolence Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women are disproportionately impacted by domestic, family, and sexual violence (DFSV). In the Northern Territory, the victimisation rate for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women is 18 times higher than in other parts of Australia, with domestic violence related assaults occurring at three times the national average. The drivers of violence against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women include: • Ongoing impacts of colonisation for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, families and communities • Ongoing impacts of colonisation for non-Indigenous people and society • The gendered drivers o Condoning violence against women o Men’s control of decision-making and limits to women’s independence in public and private life o Rigid gender stereotyping and dominant forms of masculinity o Male peer relations and culture of masculinity that emphasise aggression, dominance and control By challenging harmful myths and understanding the drivers of DFSV for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women, we can work together to create meaningful change and build safer, stronger communities. For more information go to https://www.ourwatch.org.au/preventing-violence/aboriginal-and-torres-strait-islander-women If you are feeling unsafe or would like to talk with someone you can call: Sexual Assault Referral Centre - SARC (Free, confidential support services to people who have been sexually assaulted) Office hours and 24/7 crisis support phone: 8955 4500 WoSSCA (Women’s Safety Services of Central Australia) (Crisis accommodation and support for women and children experiencing domestic or family violence) 24/7 phone support: 8952 6075 1800RESPECT (National sexual assault, domestic and family violence counselling service). 24/7 phone support: 1800 737 732 13YARN (Crisis support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples). 24/7 phone support: 13 92 76 In case of an emergency call 000.Image attachment
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Mental Health Association Central Australia
2 days ago
Mental Health Association Central Australia

A big congratulations to MHACA's Craft and Music Connection groups for being recognised by the Alice Springs Town Council for their outstanding work in the mental health sector as part of the International Day of People with Disability Mayoral Awards.

Both groups have been running at MHACA's Drop-in Centre for many years providing a therapeutic and supportive space where participants can connect, create, and learn from one another. These groups offer participants the opportunity to express themselves through art while promoting mental, emotional and social wellbeing.

Well done team! ... See MoreSee Less

A big congratulations to MHACAs Craft and Music Connection groups for being recognised by the Alice Springs Town Council for their outstanding work in the mental health sector as part of the International Day of People with Disability Mayoral Awards. Both groups have been running at MHACAs Drop-in Centre for many years providing a therapeutic and supportive space where participants can connect, create, and learn from one another. These groups offer participants the opportunity to express themselves through art while promoting mental, emotional and social wellbeing. Well done team!Image attachmentImage attachment
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Congratulations, keep up the good work MHACA.

Congratulations 🙌 MHACA, LUVYA WORK!!!

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