Be Kind to Your Mind

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Local activities

Activities in Innisfail are focusing on opportunities that build a sense of connectedness and promote participation and social support for individuals and communities:

• Babum Yumal Project is an inclusive Indigenous initiative that aims to build a supportive social environment by incorporating traditional approaches to encourage healthy eating habits and enhance physical activity. Sets of eight-week programs have been developed in partnership with Mamu Health Services, Active Gym, the Police and Citizens Youth Club, Healthier Great Green Way and Nutrition, Innisfail District Health Service, Physical Activity and Mental Health Promotion staff from the Tropical Population Health Unit in Cairns. Activities commenced in June 2006 and are conducted across five days and include cooking and nutrition information sessions, gym activities and walking groups, aqua aerobics, health information sessions, mediation and healthy kids' activities.
• The Volunteerism project has a number of strategies and is a collaborative partnership between the Police and Citizens Youth Club, FNQ Volunteers and the Tropical Population Health Unit, Cairns to promote social connectedness and sense of belonging.  Volunteers' contribution to the community will be acknowledged through family fun days and activities.  A series of workshops are also being conducted to support individuals and groups who manage volunteers as well as volunteers themselves. The workshops focus on volunteer recruitment and management and enhancing the skills of volunteers. Additionally, outdoor activities are being conducted by Certified Outdoor Activity Coordinators, focusing on team building and mental health and wellbeing issues. The workshops will be a joint initiative with Volunteering North Queensland and the Police and Citizens Youth Club.

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There are also a number of projects that have taken place in Innisfail to support some of the Be Kind to Your Mind objectives including:

• The Farmer's Information Night Forums which aim to promote social support, connectedness and help seeking behaviours amongst farmers and their families. The forums provide information about Commonwealth farming initiatives, local health services and the importance of being proactive in maintaining positive mental health and wellbeing. This has been a joint initiative with the Department of Primary Industries and the Mental Health Team from the Innisfail Health Service District.
• PitStop is a men’s health program and aims to address the disparity in men's health issues and reduce the incidence of preventable illness amongst men by raising awareness and reinforcing health and wellbeing messages. The screening program is modelled on a vehicle service centre with several check points set up to check amongst key health areas:
       - 'chassis' or hip to waist measurement ratios
       - 'exhaust' or smoking or lung function
       - 'oil pressure or blood pressure'
       - 'duco' which is a skin cancer check. 

Information was also provided on keeping mentally healthy.

The program was conducted in Innisfail on November 21st, 2006 and was a joint initiative with Ergon Energy, Healthier Great Green Way and the Innisfail Health Service District. Another workshop is planned for 2007 for Indigenous groups and people from culturally and linguistically diverse communities.

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