Spark Foundry will mark World Mental Health Day by closing all Australian offices, asking staff instead to take the day to reflect on their own mental health.
Spark asked employees to donate a minimum of $10 to 1010, the World Mental Health Day charity.
Staff members were also asked to make a “promise” via the World Mental Health Day website, eventually culminating in a feature “Promise Wall” at Spark Sydney and Melbourne offices.
Some of the Spark staff promises include, taking more time out for myself, spending more time fundraising to support our chosen charities and listening openly to family members.
“The mental health issues among our youth are becoming very serious. We work in a young dynamic, fast and sometimes very challenging industry, so it’s never been more important for our people to pause and take a day for themselves, to work on their own mental health," says Spark Foundry CEO Sue Squillace.
World Mental Health Day, 10 October, is a day for global mental health education and advocacy; an initiative of the World Federation for Mental Health to raise public awareness of mental issues worldwide.
According to published figures, one in five of Australians aged 16-85 experience a mental illness in any year.
Data from the 2014 Mission Australia’s Youth Survey showed that around 21.2% of young people (15-19 years old) met the criteria for a probably serious mental illness.
The World Health Organisation estimates that depression will be the number one health concern in both the developed and developing nations by 2030.
Mental Health Australia, the organisation leading the World Mental Health Day campaign in Australia are attempting to reduce the stigma surrounding mental health, thereby making it easier for those suffering to seek the help they need, without prejudice.
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