Our solution is to implement initiatives that will enable improved health outcomes.

To do this, we will:

• Establish and implement trials using current best practices for the purpose of evaluation in selected communities to best utilise current resources and improve linkages between these resources.

• Partner with community to develop, where necessary, improved practices to achieve better or desired outcomes, and to identify the most relevant criteria for evaluation.

• Encourage participation by community to ensure sufficient data is collected to enable the drawing of valid conclusions.

• Develop, support and encourage community activities that have, as a bi-product, improvements in physical and mental health, and community building outcomes.

Belmont Alliance Against Depression

We will begin by establishing the Belmont Alliance Against Depression, implementing the European Alliance Against Depression in the City of Belmont, Western Australia.

The European Alliance Against Depression framework is evidence-based and is the world’s best practice for the care and treatment of people living with depression, and suicide prevention. It is implemented within a community, by a community. Its implementation can be monitored and evaluated.

The European Alliance Against Depression framework works to align and integrate activities at a community level. The aim is to provide care and treatment for people living with depression and to ensure there is support for their families and carers. It strives to build a community which does not stigmatise mental health but instead is better informed and enabled to identify and guide affected people towards receiving the support they need in the community in which they live.

6degrees4communities

6degrees4communities is not an evidence-based construct. It was developed to inspire people to engage in self-care to manage their mental and physical well-being particularly in the time of social and physical distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is simply a tool that brings together known activities that can help reduce stress and support general wellbeing. It is a tool any individual may use, wherever they may be and whatever their personal circumstances.

The #6degrees4communitieschallenge is our way of showing how these activities can readily be built into an individual’s regular routine. We encourage others to ‘challenge’ themselves to adopt some form of each of these activities into their daily lives to optimise their health. We provide links to reputable resources which can support people on their individual journey.