Blue and yellow gratitude cards have been circulating throughout Ararat in recent days as part of a campaign to recognise Mental Health Month.
Led by Resilient Ararat, the ‘Painting the Town with Gratitude’ initiative has seen free greeting cards distributed to all local schools implementing The Resilience Program curriculum, as well as various locations in the community.
Central Grampians Local Learning and Employment Network (CGLLEN) Executive Officer, Jane Moriarty, said the cards were created to encourage residents to write a message to a friend, family member or colleague to let them know all the reasons they are appreciated.
“We have chosen gratitude as the theme for this year’s Mental Health Month campaign as it’s one of the three main principles upon which The Resilience Project is built,” she said.
“Gratitude is about being thankful for the good in our lives rather than focusing on the negatives, or the things we don’t have. ‘Painting the Town with Gratitude’ is designed to help our community practice this skill, while showing their appreciation for the important people in their lives.
Ms Moriarty said Resilient Ararat is urging the community to get behind the campaign and write out a card for someone they know.
“It’s a really nice way to make someone’s day while giving your own sense of wellbeing a little boost,” she said.
“Our annual campaigns are about bringing a sense of belonging and connection to the wider Ararat community and highlighting the importance of being proactive about our mental health.”
To complement the ‘Painting the Town with Gratitude’ campaign, Resilient Ararat has launched an art exhibition at Ararat Gallery TAMA. The exhibition features replicas of the new Resilience Art Trail panels which were completed by Resilient Ararat’s cluster schools. The panels have been designed in partnership with local artist, Alyshia McInnes, and represent what each individual school community is grateful for.
The Resilience Art Trail Exhibition is on display at Ararat Gallery TAMA until 22 November. Anyone visiting the exhibition is invited to make a contribution to Resilient Ararat’s Community Gratitude Wall which is located on site.
For further information please contact:
Jessie Newton on 03 5352 3266 or email media@cgllen.org.au.
PHOTO: Ararat West Primary School students (back); Charlie, Mihi, Lachlan, (front); Sophie and Eva and Central Grampians Local Learning and Employment Network Youth Project Officer, Penny Walton-Bourke, display the Resilient Ararat gratitude cards in front of the school’s Resilience Art Trail panel.