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#Iamwhole Bendigo campaign videos put focus on youth mental health

: Tuesday 9 October 2018; Written by Rod

Check out these fantastic videos created by Bendigo YMCA to raise awareness around mental health for young people.

The videos are being rolled out this week as part of an #Iamwhole campaign we are running with Bendigo YMCA around World Mental Health Day on October 10.

The #Iamwhole campaign wants you to take an hour to do something good and positive for your mental health on World Mental Health Day.

A successful #Iamwhole campaign in the UK drew support from Ed Sheeran and James Corden.

There are five videos in the #Iamwhole Bendigo campaign series covering topics such as the issues concerning high school students today, advice for teenagers, caring for your mental health and young people providing advice on what to do if you're struggling.

The first video was launched on Monday with the rest to follow through the week.

Watch these great videos!

Video 1: What do high school kids worry about?

Watch now: https://youtu.be/SQpa5-zaKpM

Get links to more great videos from this #iamwhole series below.

: Tuesday 2 October 2018; Written by Rod

Bendigo Community Health Services is getting behind the #Iamwhole campaign.

We're excited to team up with the Bendigo YMCA for an #Iamwhole campaign encouraging people to take an hour for themselves on October 10 for World Mental Health Day.

If it's good enough for Ed Sheeran and James Corden to support the UK version of #Iamwhole, well, we're on board too!

Mental health has emerged as the biggest issue of concern for a generation of young people.

Did you know:

Suicide is the leading cause of death of young Australians.
Research shows 75% of all adult mental health conditions have emerged by the age of 24.
One in four young Australians meet the criteria for a probable mental illness.

Staggering statistics and proof something needs to be done to raise awareness and get people thinking seriously about their mental health.

After the great success of our #5ways to Wellbeing campaign in May and our R U OK Day partnership with Bendigo Marketplace last month, we grabbed the chance to keep the momentum going with this #Iamwhole campaign.

This is about getting you to think not only about your own mental health but loved ones, friends and workmates around you.

To watch some great #Iamwhole videos made by Bendigo YMCA highlighting mental health issues and youth click here

The #Iamwhole campaign is designed to tackle stigma by normalising conversations about mental health and encourage you and everyone else in the world to take a whole hour on World Mental Health Day to do something that's good for your mental health.

So we have partnered with the Bendigo YMCA to work with schools, businesses and community organisations to get involved in the #Iamwhole campaign.

: Thursday 27 September 2018; Written by Rod

Fun and games for all!

Bendigo Community Health Services has hosted more than 40 young people at our annual Refugee Youth Camp.

Camp Curumbene at Corop was the venue for the annual three-day camp with young people from the Karen, Afghan and South Sudanese communities attending.

The camp delivers important learnings around lifestyle and health choices, cybersafety, mental health and wellbeing in a fun environment.

Victoria Police Senior Sergeant Craig Gaffe paid a visit to talk about the role police play in the Bendigo community.

Fun activities included canoeing, rock climbing, giant chess and tackling a rope course.

Our Settlement Services staff and volunteers run the camp as part of the BCHS commitment to making young refugees feel welcome, included and giving them the opportunity to meet new friends.

The great thing about this year's camp is that planning was helped out by young people who attended our very first two-day Refugee Youth Leadership Program run with the help of the Centre for Multicultural Youth earlier in the year.

Well done all!

Learn more about our refugee services at www.bchs.com.au

#5ways to Wellbeing campaign: Stay tuned because there's something big brewing again in Bendigo

: Tuesday 25 September 2018; Written by Rod

We're running out #5ways to Wellbeing campaign in March.

The week will feature a photographic competition, movie night, workshops on mindfulness and a kidz party.

Yes, okay, they'll be free cookies again after we distributed more than 3000 last campaign.

Stay tuned for more information.

The #5ways to Wellbeing campaign will be the perfect lead up to World Health Day on April 7.

Here's some information on last year's #5ways campaign to give you an idea: https://www.bchs.com.au/blog/348-bendigo-5ways-to-wellbeing-campaign-to-raise-awareness-about-importance-of-mental-health

World Health Day is celebrated on the anniversary of the founding of the World Health Organisation.

It's the perfect time to raise awareness of the importance of health as a vital lifestyle choice and a passionate industry dedicated to looking after communities such as Bendigo.

Bendigo Health and Bendigo Community Health Services sign Memorandum of Understanding

: Tuesday 25 September 2018; Written by Rod

Bendigo Health CEO Peter Faulkner and Bendigo Community Health Services CEO Kim Sykes.

Bendigo Community Health Services and Bendigo Health have just signed a Memorandum of Understanding to work together on identifying opportunities and initiatives that will ultimately lead to better health and wellbeing for the community.

The organisations work together at many levels but this agreement paves the way for more indepth planning to identify models of care that can really make a difference.

Projects like a bulk-billing GP model that can help ease the demand on the emergency department at the hospital while utilising many of the great assets at Bendigo Health such as pathology and radiology.

Exciting times ahead!

The memorandum was signed by Bendigo Health chair Bob Cameron and BCHS chair Geoff Bowyer with CEOs Peter Faulkner and Kim Sykes.

Bendigo Community Health Services Board of Directors: Nomination pack

: Wednesday 19 September 2018; Written by Rod

Board of Directors members Dean McKay, Josh Pell and Vicki Pearce.

Bendigo Community Health Services is embracing the biggest change in focus in the organisation's 40-year history.

New strategic directions is seeing BCHS increase our focus on early years intervention to seriously challenge the cycles of disadvantage which have become entrenched in some Bendigo families and areas.

It's an exciting time for our organisation and here's the chance for you to play an important role in that change.

We are on the lookout for new members to join our Board of Directors.

Interested? A couple of quick questions to answer first!

Is improving the health of our communities important to you?

Are you keen to contribute to make a positive difference?

Do you have some experience in boards and governance?

Three ticks? Read on ...

: Monday 17 September 2018; Written by Rod

Bendigo Community Health Services chief executive officer Kim Sykes has resigned to take up a position in Melbourne closer to family.

“It’s always been my intention to return to Melbourne at some stage because that’s where my son and daughter live and this opportunity has made that possible sooner than I anticipated,” Ms Sykes said.

“My eight years at Bendigo Community Health Services have been enormously rewarding and I’m proud of the work our great staff and the organisation do for the Bendigo community. It’s been a privilege to be part of that.

“Now it’s time for the next CEO to take BCHS forward and continue that great work.”

Ms Sykes said the support of staff, partner organisations and community had been wonderful since joining BCHS in July 2010.

UPDATE: To see the advertisement for the CEO position click here

: Tuesday 4 September 2018; Written by Rod

It's truly remarkable that Margaret would drive all the way from Melbourne to support our new Fork In The Road community hub and Thursday Soup Kitchen with these awesome 'emergency packs' featuring a blanket, beanie, scarf, mittens and packet of Arnott's Tim Tam.

Margaret and the team of volunteers from Melbourne Winter Care Package spend the year fundraising and then use the money to buy new items to make up the emergency packs in the lead up to winter.

We'll use the packs to support people attending Fork In The Road and will also share some with our friends at Haven; Home, Safe who do a wonderful job in helping the homeless and providing emergency housing.

A massive thanks to Margaret and the Winter Care Package team - such a wonderful thing you do for the community. Please keep up the good work!

To learn more about our Fork In The Road community hub click here

Run For Dad Bendigo 2018 - all the times. Where did you finish?

: Monday 3 September 2018; Written by Rod

What a great day!

The 2018 Run For Dad Bendigo was a huge success with record entries and $6000 raised for men's health and prostate cancer.

There was a great atmosphere with children, families and plenty of superheroes turning out with Superman, Batman, Spiderman and Thor popular.

A massive thanks to everyone who supported the event.

In further great news from Sunday the fun run's new major sponsor Barry Plant Bendigo signed on for next year.

The Run For Dad on Father's Day at Bendigo Racecourse supports our men's health clinic and the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia.

So, where did you finish? To find out click on this link: pdf Run For Dad Bendigo - all the finishing times (142 KB)

Men's health message sets Garry on a new path in life

: Wednesday 29 August 2018; Written by Rod

The Run for Dad Australia Bendigo fun run on Father’s Day at Bendigo Racecourse is about promoting a men’s health message to save lives.

It’s a message that Garry Valente knows all too well and, thankfully, he listened.

“I had an unrealistic work/life balance which impacted my family life, my physical being and in turn my mental health,” Garry said.

“I didn’t make my nutrition and exercise a high priority so that had tapered off as well.

“I heard about a service offered at m...y workplace whereby staff and apprentices could make an appointment to see Peter Strange at the Bendigo Community Health Services men’s health clinic.

“Peter helped me realise I had to make some changes to my life and that was the start of me getting back on track.”

Garry made the decision to only work four days a week to find a better life balance.

“I also signed up for an eight week challenge and enlisted the help of Joe my personal trainer and John my physio.

“I lost weight, got my blood pressure under control and became more effective for myself and my family who have been very supportive.

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Men's Health Marathon

Bendigo Community Health Services runs the Men's Health Marathon in late August and early September each year - 11 days of activities designed to get men out, active and thinking seriously about their health.