Indigenous yoga training program part of Curtin mental health campaign

Curtin University has been awarded $1.1 million from Healthway to continue its Act Belong Commit mental health promotion campaign for the next two years, with an Australian-first Indigenous youth yoga training program among the initiatives on offer.

Campaign co-director and Associate Professor Christina Pollard from Curtin’s School of Population Health said the Act Belong Commit campaign was recognised worldwide for successfully promoting mental wellbeing, which was essential for overall health.

“Good mental wellbeing is linked to learning, creativity, productivity, successful relationships and physical health,” Associate Professor Pollard said.

“The latest National Study of Mental Health and Wellbeing found 43 per cent of Australians aged 16 to 85 years had experienced a mental health disorder at some point in their lives, and 39 per cent of 16 to 24-year-olds experienced a disorder in the past year.”

Associate Professor Pollard said Curtin had run Act Belong Commit since 2008 and partnered with more than 400 organisations to encourage Western Australians to take action to improve their mental wellbeing through a wide range of activities.

“Act Belong Commit’s Mentally Healthy Schools Program focusses on helping students to build resilience, manage stress and foster friendships and integrates mental health promotion into the whole school community,” she said.

“We have also taken stewardship of Deadly Minds, Australia’s first Indigenous youth yoga teacher training program, which has been part of health promotion charity Yogazeit.”

“Co-developed with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people from remote communities this program trains participants in how to teach others practical ways to manage stress, improve their social and emotional skills and boost mental, cultural, physical and spiritual health and can be adapted to suit community need.

“The in-person training will soon be complemented by an innovative online Deadly Minds Digital program enabling skills development anywhere, anytime.”

Healthway CEO Colin Smith said Healthway was pleased to see the joining together of successful projects that strengthen community outcomes.

“It’s fantastic to see the Deadly Minds program, developed by Healthway partner, Yogazeit, continue to grow by working with Act Belong Commit and Curtin,” Mr Smith said.

“This unique training program gives more people the opportunity to take part in wellbeing activities no matter where they live, while also improving their understanding of what good mental health looks like, and how to seek help when needed.”