A new Logan City community mental health and wellbeing hub will be established by Relationships Australia (Queensland), courtesy of $100,000 in funding from the Queensland Mental Health Commission.
Queensland Mental Health Commissioner Dr Lesley van Schoubroeck said the mental health and wellbeing hub would also cater for communities living in the Southern Moreton Bay Islands.
An action arising from the Early Action: Queensland Mental Health Promotion, Prevention and Early Intervention Action Plan 2015-17 released late last year, health and wellbeing hubs will also be established in Townsville and Central Queensland.
The $100,000 funding awarded to Relationships Australia (Queensland) is for the first year of operation, which will see the hub established, formal planning undertaken, the project implemented and evaluation undertaken.
“We know that good mental health and wellbeing underpins the development of flourishing individuals, families and communities,” Dr van Schoubroeck said.
“It brings benefits in terms of improved physical health and life expectancy, better learning outcomes and educational achievement, creativity, increased productivity and community engagement, and in general a higher quality of life.
“It also builds resilience in individuals and communities, who are more able to cope in those challenging times that we all face at some time,” she said.
“All three regional mental health and wellbeing hubs aim to build and embed awareness, knowledge and capacity for improved mental health and wellbeing in key groups and the broader community.”
Relationships Australia (Queensland) General Manager Operations, Natasha Rae said: “We are a vibrant and diverse community, and the hub initiative is a great opportunity to build our community wellbeing.
“As part of this initiative we will work towards creating a strong regional mental health and wellbeing network, so we can share resources, learnings and skills across the many groups and partners who cover the different areas of need and interest,” Ms Rae said.
The Logan Hub will also give access to mental health and wellbeing training and skill development, to put in place tried and tested approaches to improve the wellbeing of the whole community.
Ms Rae said she believed these actions would help nurture community wellbeing.
“Through this hub, assistance will be delivered to help members of the community to realise their potential, deal with everyday life, play a productive role in 2016/640 Page 2 of 2 the workforce, and be able to confidently contribute to and participate fully in their community,” Dr van Schoubroeck said.
Service planning, together with key partners, for the Logan and Southern Moreton Bay Island hub is underway, and sharing of resources, learnings and skills across the community will begin later this year.
