Triathlon NSW (TNSW) is Australia is reinforcing its support of mental health and wellbeing throughout Mental Health Week and beyond.
Mental Health Week is a national and international event held every October from the 9-15 of October. Its aim is to promote social and emotional wellbeing to the community, encouraging people to maximise their health potential, enhancing the coping capacity of communities, families, individuals – and increasing mental health recovery.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), mental health is ‘a state of well-being in which every individual realises his or her own potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to her or his community.’
Given that one in four adults will experience mental health difficulties at one time or another, Triathlon NSW (TNSW) notes that ‘it is highly likely that at some point you, a friend, a family member or someone involved in your triathlon club has battled anxiety, depression or contemplated suicide.’
Unfortunately, many people will receive little or no help when they present in an emergency. This is the reason that the theme for World Mental Health Week 2016 is psychological and mental health first aid.
“We as an organisation are proud to support Mental Health Week,” TNSW CEO Phil Dally said. “Mental illness is a serious issue and it is essential to prioritise mental health and wellbeing just as much as we maintain our physical and social health. For total wellbeing, a healthy mind is just as important as a healthy body.”
As part of the Triathlon NSW Community Sports Link Program (CSLP), unveiled earlier this year, TNSW partnered with beyondblue, a national, not-for-profit organisation working to increase awareness and understanding of depression, anxiety and suicide prevention in Australia.
“The support of mental health shouldn’t just be limited to a week,” Dally said. “Through our partnership with beyondblue we are committed to raising the awareness of mental health issues within our community throughout the year.”
To mark Mental Health Week, TNSW has announced the #TriBucketList campaign. The #TriBucketList campaign is derived from the Community Sports Link Program between beyondblue and TNSW and allows for anyone to raise money for beyondblue at any of TNSW’s sanctioned events.
“#TriBucketList is an exciting new way to not only encourage individuals to increase their regular physical activity participation to improve their physical and mental health, but to also fundraise for beyondblue. Anyone can do it; newcomers to the sport or seasoned triathletes,” said TNSW Sport Development and Community Programs Manager Chris Cunningham.
To make fundraising even easier, beyondblue and TNSW have partnered with Everyday Hero to give individuals the ability to create their own online fundraising page. This enables fundraisers to build and customise a page, then start sharing the link with friends, family and colleagues and asking them to make a donation. Every donation is then recorded on the fundraising page along with a message of support from individual donors.
beyondblue CEO Georgie Harman said she is very grateful to TNSW for working with the triathlon community to promote awareness of good physical and mental health, and raise funds for beyondblue. “Triathlon NSW is showing impressive leadership in its sport and we value this partnership,” she said. “Together, we can remind people that depression and anxiety can affect anyone, regardless of whether they’re very fit sportspeople or sports fans.”
www.triathlon.org.au
www.beyondblue.org.au
