Wellbeing
The term has been wonderfully busy as Wellbeing prepares to celebrate International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Intersexism and Transphobia, or IDAHOBIT, which is honoured annually on May 17th. This will be the 7th year Bairnsdale Secondary College has celebrated this event onsite and we are so excited to be able to continue recognising and honouring this date. Being able to collaborate with external community services to ensure that the day is fun and supportive, we send out a big thank you to Gippsland Lakes Complete Health’s Healthy Equal Youth initiative (H.E.Y), Bairnsdale’s headspace Unique but United Group, and Youth Ambassadors for communicating with us. We hope that LGBTQIA+ students and allies have incredible fun and enjoy our Friday 17th May IDAHOBIT festivities.
ABOUT IDAHOBIT DAY
On May 17, 1990 - the World Health Organisation removed homosexuality from the World Health Organisation Classification of Diseases. While we celebrate this milestone as well as other advancements in LGBTQIA+ equality, the unfortunate reality is that there's still more work to do! On May 17 we acknowledge IDAHOBIT as a day for our communities to go rainbow and stand up against discrimination. As recently as 1997, being gay was illegal in some parts of Australia – and until just SEVEN years ago, same-sex marriage was not recognised in our country! IDAHOBIT Day is still important because:
- 68% of LGBTQIA+ employees in Australia are not out to everyone at work
- 2 in 3 LGBTQIA+ youth experience abuse due to their identity
- 35% of LGBTQIA+ Australians have experienced verbal abuse in the past 12 months
What does LGBTQIA+ stand for? LGBTQIA+ is an evolving acronym that stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, queer/questioning, asexual.
Become a LGBTQIA+ Ally!
An ally is someone who takes action to support and advocate for the equal treatment of a community other than their own - especially when it’s challenging or uncomfortable to do so. If you don’t experience LGBTQIA+ discrimination yourself, then you’re in a unique and powerful position to use your voice to create a safe and welcoming environment for others who do. Even those of us who are LGBTQIA+ can be allies to others in the community. Here are a few DOs and DON’Ts:
TOOLS AND APPS FOR YOUR MOBILE PHONE
Did you know that there are a stack of professionally-reviewed mobile apps and tools designed to help you look after your health and wellbeing. Topics include:
- Anxiety, depression and stress management
- Boosting fitness
- Controlling panic attacks
- Checking in on friends
- Improving relationships
- Staying positive and increasing happiness
- Self-harm
- Achieving goals and embracing challenges
- Being healthier
- Eating disorders
- Being kinder and helping others
- Sleeping better
- Enhancing concentration
- Quitting smoking, drinking and vaping
- Learning new skills
- Overcome fears
Visit: https://au.reachout.com/tools-and-apps for more information
