The past few years have taken their toll on everyone’s health and wellbeing, especially for health professionals responding to COVID-19. This year, we are asking community members to prioritise their mental health and refocus on managing longer-term, chronic conditions. We want to ensure that health professionals in our region also make 2023 the year to prioritise self-care and wellbeing.
Healthy Body
Chronic conditions are the leading cause of illness, disability and death in Australia, and statistics show that nearly half of Australians have at least one chronic condition[1]. Western Sydney is a diabetes hotspot with disease rates higher than the New South Wales average, but our community also faces higher rates of other common chronic conditions. Many of us spend long days in front of computers, treating patients and commuting. This inactive lifestyle can have a huge impact on our risks of heart disease, type 2 diabetes or joint and back pain.
Sign Up To Live Life Get Active
Exercise not only helps improve physical health and reduce the risk of chronic health conditions but also has mental health benefits, such as improving sleep quality, building relationships and reducing the symptoms of depression and anxiety.
Live Life Get Active (LLGA) is a free initiative that offers a series of outdoor and online exercise classes in Western Sydney. Boxing, cross-training and yoga classes are all provided for free in local parks so that people can enjoy exercising outdoors, and LLGA also offers free online programs such as home workouts and nutritional guides with daily live streams and on-demand videos.
LLGA fitness camps are available in the following locations:
- Kellyville
- Lidcombe
- Merrylands
- Parramatta
- Rouse Hill
- Toongabbie
- Telopea
Find out more about LLGA or register to attend a class.
Healthy Mind
Over two in five Australians aged 16-85 years will experience a mental illness during their lifetime[2], and last year, 16,989 people in Western Sydney were diagnosed with a mental health condition[3].
After the impact of COVID-19 and the stress this has placed on the health sector, prioritising your wellbeing this year is important. We commission a range of mental health services in Western Sydney to support all ages, cultural backgrounds, genders, sexualities, occupations and lifestyles. Find out more about the mental health services in our region or try one of the specific resources for health professionals below:
- Start the year with a Mental Health Check. Mindspot offer a confidential 20-minute check-in of your mental health
- Arrange a confidential telehealth appointment. DRS4DRS offer three free counselling sessions specifically for doctors and medical students through the Doctors’ Health Advisory services (DHAS)
- Read up on self-help techniques for health professionals from Black Dog Institute
- Reach out to Head to Health to connect to local services tailored to your needs
[1] Australian Bureau of Statistics (2022), The National Health Survey 2020-21
[2] Australian Bureau of Statistics (2022), National Study on Mental Health and Wellbeing, available from: https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/health/mental-health/national-study-mental-health-and-wellbeing/2020-21
[3] WentWest Health Intelligence Unit, GP Diagnostics Data
19 January 2023