Brain Health Education

How To Stay Sane In A Crazy World

"This resource is a great overview of aspects that contribute to and help sustain good mental health. It is a very timely additional tool for our student welfare team during these challenging times when we are seeing a marked increase in anxiety.

The language and structure of the book is easy to follow and provides a good discussion starter for parents and students. It also compliments our other school initiatives aimed at building resilience and self awareness. It allows the readers to understand the key factors contributing to optimum mental health.

I am particularly appreciative of your community spirit by investing in our youth in a proactive way. Thank you again for this provision to value and empower our students".

Simon Done - Maryborough State High School Principal

The 'How To Stay Sane In A Crazy World' book, educator resources and training are being used by High School Guidance Officers and Wellbeing Teams to develop the mental and emotional resilience of students and their families.

Trevor and Annie Boulton, founders of The Brain Health Education Institute and producers of these resources are Rotarians located on the Fraser Coast of Queensland.

This simple handbook provides insight into the causes of mental health problems and how to avoid them. Mental Health and emotional well-being require a healthy brain, a clear conscience and a reason to live.

What we eat and drink, and how we sleep, greatly affects how we think, feel and behave. Guilt and shame can lead to anxiety, depression and addictions. Connecting with people and having a purpose provides us with a reason to live.

Initially, the book and resources were trialed at The Maryborough State High School, Queensland with a grant from their own club, The Rotary Club of Maryborough - Sunrise, with exceptional results.

Read The MBSH Request For Books

Read The Program Review Letter

Rotary - Supporting Mental Health Resilience

Due to COVID lockdown, Rotary Clubs were unable to earn income from events, so, Sunrise applied for and were successful with a Fraser Coast Regional Council Community Project grant for 530 books to provide more books to the school - and all of the other high schools in Maryborough.

This was followed up with a Rotary Foundation Grant for 331 books to meet the requests from more high schools - in the greater Wide Bay Region.

Rotary Mental Health Resilience Partnerships Are Born

As council community grants are only provided to 'local', not-for-profit organizations, Trevor and Annie met with The Hervey Bay City Rotary Club to help them apply for a grant for books and resources requested by 'Hervey Bay' High Schools. This was successful and 640 books were distributed to all of the Hervey Bay High Schools.

The news of this resource is spreading rapidly among the Queensland Guidance Officers who are now contacting Maryborough Sunrise to request books for their schools.

Most local councils offer regular $5000 community project grants for 'local', not-for-profit organizations.

A $5000 council grant will provide 640 books with classroom resources and training.

This funding source not only suits councils in meeting community needs, it preserves the limited funds that most Rotary clubs now have.

Maryborough Sunrise are now in a great position to help other Rotary Clubs replicate these grant applications to provide books for their High Schools.

We can look after the funding application and acquittal processes paperwork on behalf of your 'local' Rotary Club.

We offer short, Saturday afternoon ZOOM meetings to explain the program and the best council funding process to clubs.

www.desktopmeetings.com

After a club gets the grant, Trevor and Annie obtain the books and arrange with the club to visit (where possible) and be on hand for book presentations in the schools and to explain the resources package to the wellbeing staff.

The book presentations are a great promotional opportunity for clubs and councillors alike. See some of our presentation photos below.

When the club receives the funds from the council and after the presentations are completed, The Brain Health Education Institute invoices the club for the amount of the grant. This way the local club is not out of pocket at any time.