Each year, Central Highlands Rural Health celebrates Women’s Health Week. In 2021 the campaign runs from September 6 – 10 and is a time for women to put themselves first, consider their health so they can support others. The following resources have been put together to ensure that every other week of the year, women in our local community know where to access information and support. Women’s health is important, every week of the year.
Staying physically active is great for our overall health and wellbeing. Moving your body, helps to pump up endorphins (the happy hormone) and boost your mental health. Regular activity is also great to help with stress and anxiety and can even help you sleep better.
Adult women should aim to do 30 minutes of physical activity every day, in whatever form you like. That could be a bike ride, a gentle walk, a workout or even a dance around the lounge room. Check out the following links if you’re stuck for ideas to keep your body moving.
Book that Check-Up
Prevention is always better than a cure. Women, who may think they are feeling fine, can neglect regular check-ups and screenings. They are busy taking care of children or caring for elderly relatives or simply can’t find the time between the demands of their personal and professional lives. Let this serve as your reminder to book in that appointment you’ve been putting off for weeks or months.
The following booklet is a ‘road map’ for busy women, with essential physical health checks, at every life stage. It’s simply a guide, but can be a great place to start to ensure you are taking care of your body.
Our local GP clinics offer a range of services for women of all ages; from general health checks to comprehensive women’s services:
Community Health and Wellbeing
Central Highlands Rural Health offers a range of services across our campuses including planned activity groups, social work and welfare, Speech Pathology, Dental Services and Oral Health, Dietetics, Maternal Child Health, Delivered Meals, Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy and Podiatry. To find out more, visit our Services page.
Your Mind Matters
In what has been a challenging year for many, it’s more important now than ever before, to consider your mental health.
Around 1 in 6 women in Australia will experience depression and 1 in 3 women will experience anxiety during their lifetime.
Women can often find themselves taking on everything for their family and loved ones. Whether it be the extra pressures of remote learning, a stressful job or missing out on seeing loved ones, we’ve all heard it before but we need to remember:
You can’t pour from an empty cup.
We can’t give the love and support to those closest to us, if we are feeling depleted and overwhelmed ourselves.
The following is a list of supports that you can reach out to. Otherwise it might be a call or a text to a loved one to let them know you need a little extra help.
Head to Health
Beyondblue
Black Dog Institute
Touch Base
Lifeline – Call 13 11 14
Liptember
R U OK?
If you need more information or would like to access face to face professional support, speak to you GP. They can arrange a Mental Health Treatment Plan which will allow you to access further services.
Good Nutrition
It is helpful to know what foods are healthy and what you can do to ensure you eat the healthiest diet you can. Having a variety of foods, eating regular meals, including wholegrains, fibre, fruit and vegetables, and limiting the amount of fat, sugar and salt you eat are all recommended for good nutrition.
The following links have great resources to help support a healthy diet.
Eat for Life includes the Australian Dietary Guidelines and advice about the amounts and kinds of foods that we need to eat for health and wellbeing.
Healthy eating and what to put on your plate
6 steps to creating long term healthy habits
If you are finding difficulty in accessing healthy and nutritious food, the following resource provides a list of businesses and organisations which may be able to support you.
Get Some Shut Eye
Getting a good night’s sleep can be challenging for anyone. Sleep is essential for our physical, mental and emotional wellbeing. Adults over the age of 18 generally need 7-9 hours of sleep every night, however this can vary for individuals based on personal circumstances.
If you are finding it difficult to get to or stay asleep, Namita, a Psychologist here at CHRH, gives some great advice on how we can get a deep and restful sleep.
Tips for a sound and restful sleep
Sleep hygiene is the habits that we put in place to ensure we have a good night’s sleep. The following links can help you to dive deeper into sleep hygiene and help to build a routine to get higher-quality sleep.
In celebration of Women’s Health Week 2020, a dedicated women’s health newsletter was distributed. In it you will find a detailed list of resources and information which may be beneficial.
2020 Women’s Health Newsletter
Women’s Health Grampians aims to improve women’s equality, health and wellbeing in the Grampians region and beyond. Key areas of work include; violence against women and sexual and reproductive health
Women’s Health Loddon Mallee address health, wellbeing and equity for women of the Loddon Mallee region and also have a range of resources.
Multicultural Centre for Women’s Health is a voice for migrant and refugee women’s wellbeing in Australia.
Women’s Health Victoria women living well – healthy, empowered and equal.
The Population Health Team also have a range of videos showcasing the importance of looking after your own health and wellbeing. You can view the videos HERE.
Pop in your headphones and take a listen. The Jean Hailes podcast series brings together a selection of guests and experts across a range of health topics, for you to listen to.
Women’s Health Grampians has developed a series of great videos to promote COVID vaccination among migrant women in the Grampians women.
We want you to be looking after your mind and body every day of the year. To stay up to date with the latest health and wellbeing information across our community sign up to our Population Health & Wellbeing Newsletter.
