Corin Jacka
Community Ambassador Smiling Mind
Introducing Smiling Mind
Corin Jacka is a Community Ambassador for not-for-profit group Smiling Mind in a volunteer capacity.
My goal as an Ambassador is to build awareness and use of the Smiling Mind program in local community schools, businesses and sporting clubs.
What’s the problem?
Here is some of what we know.
Research into happiness and wellbeing showed some of the following results:
- 35 per cent of Australians report having a significant level of distress in their lives;
- 26 per cent of Australians report above normal levels of anxiety symptoms;
- 26 per cent of Australians report having moderate to extremely severe levels of depression symptoms
People who report higher levels of anxiety and depression symptoms and distress are also more likely to gamble, smoke cigarettes, drink alcohol and take recreational drugs:
- Of those reporting severe levels of distress, 61 per cent drink alcohol, 41 per cent gamble, 40 per cent smoke and 31 per cent take recreational drugs to manage stress;
- Of those reporting extremely severe levels of depression symptoms, 57 per cent drink alcohol, 46 per cent gamble, 41 per cent smoke cigarettes and 38 per cent take recreational drugs to manage stress; and
- Of those reporting extremely severe levels of anxiety symptoms, 66 per cent drink alcohol, 54 per cent gamble, 47 per cent take recreational drugs and 45 per cent smoke cigarettes to manage stress.
Research into young people and adolescents shows:
- One in 16 young Australians is currently experiencing depression
- One in six young Australians is currently experiencing an anxiety condition
- One in four young Australians currently has a mental health condition
- Suicide is the biggest killer of young Australians and accounts for the deaths of more young people than car accidents
- Evidence suggests three in four adult mental health conditions emerge by age 24 and half by age 14
- Young people are most concerned about coping with stress, school or study problems and body image in that order
- Concern about mental health among young people is growing
- Young people see mental health as a more important issue than things such as the environment, bullying, education and employment
- A quarter of young Australians say they are unhappy with their lives
Why Smiling Minds?
Smiling Mind exists to help build individual mental health and wellbeing through positive, pre-emptive tools based on mindfulness meditation. Co-developed with psychologists and health professionals Smiling Mind is accessible to everyone, irrespective of geographic location or socio-economic status.
Smiling Mind is a unique web and app-based program to help bring balance to people’s lives.
Just as we eat well and stay fit to keep our body healthy, meditation is about mental health and looking after the mind.
Smiling Mind for Education
The Smiling Mind Education Programs are mapped to the curriculum and designed to support educators to bring mindfulness into the classroom. All lesson plans are tailored to each age level across primary and secondary school levels.
The Smiling Mind Education Program has been proven to help students with sleep, wellbeing, managing emotions, concentration and school behaviour including reductions in bullying. The Program also assists with:
- stress management,
- increased resilience,
- increased creativity,
- better decision making, and
- a sense of calm, clarity and contentment.
Smiling Mind for Business
1 in 5 Australian employees has taken time off in the past year due to feeling mentally unwell. Mindfulness meditation is a clinically proven technique that helps staff manage stress, improve productivity and achieve a good work-life balance.
Research shows that every dollar spent on identifying, supporting and case-managing workers with mental health issues yields close to a 230% return in improved productivity and reduced leave time.
The Workplace Program allows Smiling Mind to offer the free app to schools and the broader community, and support the vision to have mindfulness meditation on the Australian National Curriculum by 2020.
Smiling Mind for Sporting Clubs
Give your players the mental edge. This program was developed in partnership with Cricket Australia to complement regular sports training for individuals, clubs, amateur and elite athletes.
Smiling Mind for the Community
Smiling Mind builds, supports and develops healthy minds at all stages of life. Developed by psychologists, and based on mindfulness meditation techniques, the Smiling Mind program can be tailored for your needs.
Logon to Smilingmind.com.au for yourself, your school, your workplace or local sporting clubs. I am available to provide presentations on the use and benefits of Smiling Mind as a user of the app to groups and can also assist with facilitating implementation.
For more information, contact:
Smiling Mind