Festival features something for everyone

ART OF the Minds annual Mental Health and Wellbeing Festival launches today (Thursday, October 1) and organisers are inviting everyone
to attend.

Coinciding with National Mental Health Month, the festival brings together industry experts to provide educational workshops and resources that will encourage discussions and offer guidance to help community members better manage in these unprecedented times.

There is something for everyone in this year’s program, which features a virtual art exhibition, educational workshops, the annual Surf Coast Song Contest, wellness events for children and adults and many more opportunities to connect with friendly locals throughout October.

“While as a community, we have learned to adapt to the ‘new normal’, there are a host of issues people are struggling with every day that affect our mental wellbeing,” Art of the Minds president Jules Haddock said.

“COVID-19 has exacerbated our worries and stresses, as we continue to face an uncertain future that includes, for some, financial concerns, working from home, supporting our children’s education, lack of social contact, loneliness and more. On their own and combined, they have the potential to have a detrimental impact on our physical and mental health.”

The festival will explore a variety of topics including the latest evidence linking diet and mental health, depression, substance use, how we can support families and communities in the region, how to find a mental health practitioner, music therapy and more.

The line-up of speakers includes mental health educator and president of Art of the Minds Jules Haddock, Wayne Wigham from the Black Dog Institute in Breaking Down Depression, Dr Tetyana Rock from Deakin University, Jeanine Bailey from Empower World, and Clinical Psychologist
Chris Mackey.

As a strengths-based festival, organisers are proud to have sourced highly renowned international coach and speaker Jeanine Bailey to join the event. Her virtual workshop ‘Creating Personal Resilience’ on Tuesday, October 6 will help attendees gain a deeper understanding of how they can cultivate courage and embrace whole-hearted living.

The festival also offers activities for children, including a colour-in campaign – guaranteed to brighten up our neighbourhoods, while Wildlife Xposure will run a free virtual encounter with our local Biscuit Sea Star. Primary and secondary aged students and their parents can join a mind, yoga and music workshop facilitated by world-renowned violinist, educator, yogi and mindfulness advocate Dunja Lavrova.

Finally, for those wishing to escape the daily grind to indulge their body and soul, Art of the Minds will offer a guided mindfulness walk along the beach, QiGong/TaiChi in the park, beach walks for men and themed dinners.

“We are living through extremely stressful times at a local, regional and global level,” Mrs Haddock said.

“Never have we seen an event like COVID-19 unfold. So now, more than ever, people need hope, knowledge, and support. As we move towards eased restrictions, an uncertain future, we must understand, acknowledge, and communicate about the stresses and struggles we experience in the face of this new reality. Nobody should feel alone in this conversation.

“Thanks to the generosity and goodwill of our speakers and partners, we are able to host this festival, and we are looking forward to welcoming attendees to this wonderfully empowering and positive wellbeing festival.”

The event is run by a group of dedicated community volunteers and supported by the Surf Coast Shire Council, the Geelong Community Foundation and the RACV. The Art of the Minds Festival is a not-for-profit event and will be accessible to all with free entry to most events.

For the full program and to register for an event, head to www.artoftheminds.org.au