August 2016
BIG Newsletter
Special points of interest:
Inside this issue:
2
August Activities
3
Mindfulness
Island Wellbeing groups
4
Diabetes and mental
health
5
News from the office
7

Mindfulness
page 4

Diabetes and mental health P5
3.
The 6 M’s in an emergency P6
PAGE 2
Have a history teacher explain this if they can.
Abraham Lincoln was elected to Congress in 1846.
John F Kennedy was elected to Congress in 1946.
Abraham Lincoln was elected President in 1860.
John F Kennedy was elected President in 1960.
Both were particularly concerned with civil rights.
Both wives lost a child while living in the White House.
Both Presidents were shot on a Friday.
Both Presidents were shot in the head.
Now it gets really weird.
Lincoln’s secretary was named Kennedy.
Kennedy’s secretary was named Lincoln.
Both were assassinated by Southerners.
Both were succeeded by Southerners named Johnson.
Andrew Johnson, who succeeded Lincoln, was born in 1808.
Lyndon Johnson, who succeeded Kennedy, was born in 1908.
John Wilkes Booth, who assassinated Lincoln, was born in 1839.
Lee Harvey Oswald, who assassinated Kennedy, was born in 1939.
Both assassins were known by their three names.
Both names are composed of fifteen letters.
Now hang on to your seat.
Lincoln was shot at the theatre named “Ford”.
Kennedy was shot in a car called “Lincoln” made by “Ford”.
Booth and Oswald were assassinated before their trials.
And here’s the “kicker”:
A week before Lincoln was shot, he was in Monroe, Maryland.
A week before Kennedy was shot he was with Marilyn Monroe.
PAGE 3
August Activities @ BIG - open 9am to 2 pm
Sun
Mon
9am-2pm
9am-2pm
4
5
BIG open
Mind In Art
BIG open
BIG open
Art & craft
12am to 3 pm
$5
Outreach at
Yugaipa
Hamburger/
BBQ $5
8
9
10
Public holiday
Mind In Art
BIG open
16
17
Workshop
10.30 am
11
12
BIG open
Mind In Art
BIG open
Art & craft
12am to 3 pm
$5
22
Hamburger/
BBQ $5
Outreach at
Yugaipa
BIG open
23
24
25
26
BIG open
Mind In Art
BIG open
Art & craft
12am to 3 pm
$5
Music with
Symphonics
FSG
Hamburger/
BBQ $5
29
30
31
BIG open
Mind In Art
BIG open
Art & craft
12am to 3 pm
$5
With Monica $5
13
BIG open
19
Wellbeing
Group
Russell Island
6
Hearing Voices
18
With Monica $5
Sat
Hamburger/
BBQ $5
15
with Monica
28
Fri
3
Wellbeing
Group
MacLeay Island
21
9am-2pm
Thu
2
12am to 3 pm
$5
14
Wed
1
with Monica $5
7
Tue
Hamburger/
BBQ $5
BIG open
20
27
PAGE 4
How Can I Practice Mindfulness?
It’s very simple. Here’s 3 short exercises you can practice to get an idea of mindfulness;
Mindful Breathing
Find a comfy spot and sit with your eyes closed. Your mind is probably racing with a hundred
different thoughts, and that’s ok. But for now, try and focus your attention to your breathing. Let
the air come in and out of your nostrils/mouth and try and notice how this feels. Is it cool or
warm? Are there any smells in the air? What is happening to your body as your breath? Is your
chest or stomach moving as you breathe the air in and out? Let all other thoughts slowly start to
drift away as you focus solely on your breathing. Is the air fresh? How does it feel in your lungs?
Enjoy this moment, in a second it’ll be gone forever. When you feel ready open your eyes and
finish your first mindful exercise.
Congratulations
Mindful Eating
Find a piece of food you enjoy and sit down at a table or a quite spot. Make sure your get rid of
all distractions. Turn off the TV, radio and computer and put your phone on silent, face down.
Now take the food and examine it. What do you see? Is there a wrapper or a skin? What colour
is it? Is there any writing on it? Now take the wrapper off or peel it. What does it look like now?
Was this what you expected? Examine it closely, what can you see that you haven’t noticed
before? Take a sniff, what does it smell like? Is it nice? If you feel ready, take a bite but don’t
swallow. Move it around in your mouth, how does it feel? What does it taste like? Is it good? Is
it how you remember? Chew it and see how the texture is. Is it rough or smooth? Enjoy this
piece of food and ignore everything else. When you’re ready, swallow it.
Mindful Walking
By now you’re starting to get the hang of mindfulness. This time we’re going to find a nice spot
to walk. Focus on the ground under your feet, is it bumpy or smooth? Soft or hard? Now for
your legs, try taking long strides and then small steps, how does that feel? Now try swinging
your arms. Can you feel the air moving against your skin? Is it nice? Maybe you want to try out
a new walk you’ve never tried before? Maybe you want to walk like a model. Or maybe you
want to march like a soldier? Focus on your walking and let all your other thoughts just slip
away. Maybe you want to walk fast, or maybe slow. Enjoy this moment, it’s yours.
So there’s a little bit about mindfulness. What do you think? Did you enjoy the exercises? By practicing
these, and other mindfulness techniques you can start to improve your wellbeing right now. You’ll be
changing the physiology of your brain, lowering your stress levels and
fighting depression and anxiety without using anything but your own brain.
So start living for the moment!
Sam xxx
PAGE 5
This month I was at the Bay Islands Multicultural Festival promoting the
Bay Islands Wellbeing Group with Shannon from Open Minds and
Shalene from headspace. We did a wonderful rock painting activity for
the kids and let everyone know about the wonderful work we’re doing
out on the islands. It was a really fun
day, we ate Lángos and watched
Brazilian dancers and Mayor Karen
Williams even had myself and Lilly
from council up on stage yodelling!
The lovely Leesa facilitated the
Russell Island Group on the 26th of
July as I was away at Peer Zone
training with Monica. She did an amazing job and everyone
loved having her lead the group.
This August we’ll be looking at journaling and expressive
writing and how we can use these tools to enhance our
wellbeing. Plus micro-actions, vision boarding and more!
~ Samuel Walker - Group Facilitator, Bay Islands Wellbeing Group
Executive Director Addiction and Mental Health Services Professor David Crompton has urged
diabetes patients to seek medical help for mental health concerns.
Prof. Crompton said the medical conditions of diabetes and depression could go hand in hand.
“One in five Australians are affected by mental health problems at some time in their life, and people with diabetes can be vulnerable because of the challenges they face managing a chronic illness,” he said.
“Monitoring blood glucose levels, taking medications and injecting insulin can lead to increased
anxiety and depression.
“People with diabetes should be on the lookout for mental health warning signs.
“Feeling worried, guilty or worthless for no reason, having difficulty concentrating on tasks or decisions, sleeping badly, weight gain and other symptoms can all be signs of depression,” he said.
“Early intervention is key and helps the recovery process for people with mental health illness.
“ Make sure you seek advice from your GP if you have concerns.”
Prof. Crompton said Metro South Addiction and Mental Health Services is committed to providing
great care to every person, every day.
“At Metro South Addiction and Mental Health Services we are committed to delivering great care
for every person, every day.
“We have a team of professional medical, nursing, allied health and administrative staff and I encourage people to contact 1300 MH CALL (1300 64 22 55), a centralised phone number where
you can access information and assistance in times of mental health crisis 24 hours a day,” he
said.
For more information visit the 1300 MH CALL
https://metrosouth.health.qld.gov.au/mhcall ) web page. Mental health consumers and the wider
community requiring assistance should continue to use 000 in an emergency.
AUGUST 2016
PAGE 6
The 6 M’s in an emergency
MAKE A PLAN- Plan ahead where you would go in an emergency- have a Plan B. Always try to keep your gas
tank at least half full. Each family member can pack a small duffel bag with extra underwear and changes of
clothes. Underwear is most important. Recently, trucks of donated clothing went down to our hurricane victims,
but no one thinks of the underwear needed.
MEDICATIONS- Obviously take your medications with you. If your meds need to be refrigerated have a small
ice chest and cold packs available. Ask your doctors for copies of your prescriptions that you can keep in a file.
MEDICAL HISTORY- It is important for you to have a medical history written up, in case you need to see another doctor who is not familiar with your case. Include a list of all your doctor’s addresses and phone numbers.
Place these in your emergency file.
MONEY- It is important to keep some “mad money” at home and available. In the event of power outages, you
will not be able to use your trusty and reliable nearby ATM machine.
MEMENTOS AND MEMORIES- Think now about what you would take if you had to leave your house quickly, so
that there is no waste of valuable time in trying to make decisions. Most people would grab not only expensive
but heirloom jewelry- perhaps you would just grab your entire jewelry box. Many would want to have old photos
that could never be replaced. If you are like my family- we have so many photo albums that they alone would fill
our trunk, so I would grab the wedding albums and those that had the older pictures. Make a list of things you
don’t want to forget- any treasured hand me down, and put that list in your file. It is hard to think clearly under
stress.
MEALS- Who wants to be caught in an emergency evacuation, without something to eat and drink? No one, but
especially not someone who might need to eat or drink on a regular basis while taking medication. In an emergency bag, stock up on bottled water and snacks that will not necessarily go bad quickly like; dried fruit, peanut
butter, crackers, etc. They should be changed every six months- mark it on your calendar.
These six M reminders are important. Hopefully you will never have to use an emergency file and an emergency
kit, but being prepared will give you a certain peace of mind.
PAGE 7
Bayside Initiatives Group has been operating for approximately ten years. Over this time we have seen many
changes of the organization and the people involved.This
is always a sign that the organization is growing and not
BAYSIDE INITIATIVES
GROUP INC
staying still and stagnating.The Board has read all the
suggestions that its members have placed in the sugges-
Unit 8, 37 Veronica Street,
Capalaba,
Queensland 4157
P.O.Box 998
tion box, told them personally and where possible will
implement these. Please continue to submit your suggestions. The Board is looking at ways that we can enhance
Phone: 0733901116
E-mail: [email protected]
Mobile: 0499 747 000
the services that we currently supply at BIG to assist the
current and future users of this service.
You don’t have to go it alone
http;//www.big-inc.com.au
Members of BIG hold a monthly Base meeting about
upcoming activities that they would like so if you wish to
partake in these sessions please see our calendar of
events for the meeting date, (see you there).
NEWS FROM THE OFFICE
BIG ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
WHEN:
Wednesday 21st September, 2015 @ 11am
WHERE:
Unit 8, 37 Veronica Street, Capalaba.
The meeting will be followed by a short presentation and a BBQ lunch at 12md.
VOLUNTEERS ARE WELCOME AT BIG
If you ever feel as though you can help in any way or if you would like to join
the Board of Management you are most welcome. Just let us know in the office.
We are always happy to assist our members to skill up in areas which help promote
their self-esteem and knowledge base.
The environment here provides conditions for healthy growth and recovery and can
be described as inclusive, and a space which creates connections and a sense of
belonging.
We are a peer driven service with professional staff who are able to liaise with people
living with a mental illness effectively and with respect.
“Closing the gate on her oldest fears as she had closed the gate of her own fenced
yard, she discovered the wings she'd always wished she had." - Natalie Babbitt.
Kind Regards
Margo, Monica, Sam, Leesa and Bill.
Bayside Initiatives Group
wish to acknowledge our funders and agencies that are assisting B.I.G. in other collaborations. Queensland Health
Department, Open Minds,
Bayside Mental Health Service, Redland City Council,
Brook Red and individual donators.