WoW Newsletter: April 2023

Welcome to the Wheel of Wellbeing (WoW) – a simple framework designed to improve people’s health, happiness and wellbeing by focusing on six areas – Body, Mind, Spirit, People, Place and Planet. This monthly newsletter provides a roundup of the latest wellbeing tips, activities, research and resources to inspire better health and wellbeing. Tap into them — for yourself, your families, workplaces, schools and communities — and help create a happier world for us all.

This month we focus on the importance of global health, celebrating diversity with Autism Awareness, protecting our planet and the benefits of dancing.

WoW Days of the Month

Why not use these inspiring international days to create a focal point for wellbeing activities in your school, workplace or community?

2nd April – World Autism Awareness Day

Illustration by United Nations on World Autism Awareness Day

The theme for World Autism Awareness Day this year is Transformation: Toward a Neuro-Inclusive World for All. This day is dedicated to sharing stories and opportunities to raise awareness and acceptance of people with autism. You can support this day by wearing blue on this day to help raise awareness or get involved in their social media campaigns.

7th April – World Health Day

Illustration by World Health Organisation on World Health Day

This year’s theme for World Health Day is: Health for All. The World Health Organisation celebrates this day by sharing resources and events to promote global health. There are many ways to get involved, including organising a World Day event for your community using the resources shared by the WHO. You could also organise events to encourage people to participate in sports such as an organised walk, marathons but also debates to facilitate conversations around healthy living. “Health For All envisions that all people have good health for a fulfilling life in a peaceful, prosperous, and sustainable world.” World Health Organisation.

22nd April – World Earth Day

Photo by David Clode on Unsplash

This years theme for World Earth Day is Invest in our Planet. The creators of World Earth Day highlight 6 ways to get involved in the movement: supporting climate literacy, fighting plastic pollution, planting trees, voting for green based parties, participating in global clean-ups and supporting sustainable fashion. “The environment is where we all meet; where all have a mutual interest; it is the one thing all of us share.” —Lady Bird Johnson.

29th April – International Dance Day

Photo by Ardian Lumi on Unsplash

This year’s theme for International Dance Day is: Dance · Future, Developing the Traditions and Expanding the Boundaries. Dancing is a great way to exercise and move your body to promote health and creative expression. Dancing can be beneficial for the health of your heart and lungs as a form of cardio, it can also support your mental health by reducing stress, but also boost your confidence and self-esteem (Fong Yan et al., 2018).

Watch and Listen:

Watch this inspiring video which depicts the art exhibitions of 43 artist with developmental disabilities in South Korea.

Watch a number of videos which can educate children and adults about: Polar regions, deforestation, the life cycle of plastic, wildlife diversity and rivers.

Great Articles & Websites:

Organise an event to improve climate literacy

Why not organise an event in your community to teach your peers or children about the importance of taking care of our environment? There are many resources to help you facilitate this, including this guide.

Reduce your plastic consumption
Not sure where to start? Use this plastic calculator to see how your family or workplace can reduce their daily plastic consumption.

Get planting

If you have the resources, why not plant a pollinator garden, you can use a variety of native species to support local populations of butterflies, bees, and other organisms that are critical to biodiversity. You might pick up a new skill on the way!

Move your body

Why not look through this list of types of dancing and identify an expressive form of dancing and type of music which suits you and give it a try. Can’t dance? You still enjoy the art of dancing from the comfort of your seat by watching a dancing movie. Examples include Billy Elliot (2010) and Footloose (1984).

Need help?

Image by skeeze from Pixabay

Concerned about the health and safety of yourself, family or friends?

If you suspect you or a family member has coronavirus you should call (not visit) your GP or ring the national 24-hour Coronavirus Health Information Hotline on 1800 020 080. You can get the latest updates here: government advice on Coronavirus
If you are experiencing a mental health crisis: Lifeline Australia or phone 13 11 14
visit Beyond Blue to access their Coronavirus Mental Wellbeing Support Service

Financial difficulties?

Click here for information on the government’s latest coronavirus financial support.

I’m FREE!

Please feel free to use all or parts of this newsletter for your websites, blog, social media, newsletter or other communications to inspire your group members

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Supported by the Queensland Mental Health Commission.

Certain links in this newsletter lead to websites which are not under the control of Implemental Worldwide CIC. Implemental Worldwide CIC has no control over and accepts no liability in respect of materials, products or services available on any website which is not under the control of Implemental Worldwide CIC. Any opinions expressed in these external links and materials do not necessarily reflect the view of Implemental Worldwide CIC. Some of these links may request additional information and it is at your sole discretion if you wish to provide this. Any advertisements or promotional material contained in the links to websites and other materials, are not endorsed by Implemental Worldwide CIC and Implemental Worldwide CIC makes no commercial gains through these links.Wheel of Well-being is owned by South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust (SLaM) and is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial Share-Alike 4.0 International License. Information on this license is available at www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0. Adaptations need to follow brand guidelines available at www.wheelofwellbeing.org and be signed off by SLaM. For permissions beyond the scope of this license contact hello@wheelofwellbeing.org.

WoW Newsletter: April 2023