Photo Credit: Western Australian Cricket Association
WA Cricket is pleased to announce a three-year major partnership with Healthway, which will focus on supporting the mental health and wellbeing of the cricket community.
WA Cricket and Healthway have a track record of driving positive community change and will be transitioning the partnership to focus on mental health through the Think Mental Health program.
Healthway and WA Cricket’s previous nine-year partnership, which centred on Alcohol. Think Again, has made significant gains in preventing harm from alcohol in the WA community.
The Think Mental Health program aims to build mental health and wellbeing and reduce mental health issues. Its latest campaign, ‘Find your way to Okay’, promotes mental wellbeing among young adults aged 18 to 24 years by encouraging them to discover new ways to increase and maintain mental wellbeing.
Recent data revealed young adults in Western Australia aged 18 to 24 years were significantly worse-off among a range of mental health and wellbeing indicators compared with other age groups.
WA Cricket and Healthway will be working together to strengthen mental health and wellbeing among cricketers of all ages and levels, and across all programs and competitions.
WA Cricket CEO Christina Matthews says it is wonderful to be moving into a new phase of the major partnership with Healthway and Think Mental Health.
“We are thrilled to be continuing our relationship with Healthway and after seeing the positive impact the Alcohol. Think Again message had, we feel now is the right time to transition to Think Mental Health so we can assist in spreading that message,” Matthews said.
“We are proud advocates of mental health, so we want to help raise awareness on how to maintain positive mental health, seek support, and reduce the stigma for people experiencing mental health issues.
“By talking and listening you can create opportunities for mental health and wellbeing, and this is the type of mentally healthy culture we will be creating at WA Cricket.
“We look forward to continuing our journey of education and role modelling positive behaviours in partnership with Healthway via Think Mental Health.”
Lotterywest and Healthway CEO Ralph Addis says that over the next three years, Healthway and WA Cricket will work together to strengthen environments that support the mental health and wellbeing of the cricket community.
“We will also build WA Cricket’s capacity to provide mental health education programs, establish cricket ambassadors, respond to mental health issues and promote the Think Mental Health message through clubs and cricket events across the state,” he said.
For more information about Think Mental Health’s latest campaign, click here.
Immediate crisis support providers
Contact Think Mental Health
• If you or someone you know is in a life-threatening situation or is at risk of harm to themselves or others call 000
• If you are seeking immediate support, please contact one of the following helplines available 24/7
• Mental Health Emergency Response Line: 1300 555 788 (Perth Metro) or 1800 676 822 (Peel)
• Lifeline: 13 11 14
• Beyondblue: 1300 224 636
• Kids Helpline: 1800 55 1800 (for children and young people aged 5-25 years old)
• Rurallink: 1800 552 002
• Alcohol and Drug Support Line: (08) 9442 5000 or 1800 198 024 (country callers toll-free)
• Parent and Family Drug Support Line: (08) 9442 5050 or 1800 653 203 (country callers toll-free)
• Call Triple Zero (000) if it is an emergency
Name of Author: Western Australia Cricket Association
WA Cricket, formerly known as the Western Australian Cricket Association (WACA), is the governing body for cricket in Western Australia. Established on November 5, 1885, the WACA opened its iconic ground, the WACA Ground, in 1893.
