MEDIA RELEASE

Mentis Assist and Peninsula Hot Springs have joined forces in an exciting community partnership to promote better mental health on the Mornington Peninsula.

The alliance was celebrated on Wednesday night with a special evening at Peninsula Hot Springs, with the partnership officially launched via video message by Federal Member for Flinders and Minister for Health, The Hon. Greg Hunt MP. 

The night also included speeches and performances from the two CEOs, a former Mentis Assist client turned staff member and actor/filmmaker Steve Bastoni, who showed his moving short film on mental health, 'The Gift', which has won several awards. 

It is estimated that 45 per cent of people on the Mornington Peninsula will experience a mental health disorder in their lifetime. In any one year, around one million Australian adults have depression, and over two million have anxiety.

Mentis Assist is a Mornington Peninsula-based community mental health support organisation, providing specialised mental health support in the region, with a mission of enabling opportunity for people living with mental illness and/or complex needs to enjoy a meaningful life by strengthening self-identity, personal responsibility and hope.

Mentis Assist CEO, Terry Palioportas said: "We're excited to expand our reach through the partnership and assist more individuals on their road to better mental health."

"Mental illness affects a significant number of people on the Mornington Peninsula. With our common goal to improve mental and physical wellbeing, we aim to improve access to services and increase awareness about how to get help", he said. 

"Peninsula Hot Springs', soothing, meditative environment combined with Mentis Assist's specialist knowledge and community programs work hand-in-hand," Mr Palioportas said.

Peninsula Hot Springs founder and CEO Charles Davidson described the partnership as "a natural connection, one which we hope encourages all health and wellness tourism operations to further consider their place in and contribution to their region."

"At Peninsula Hot Springs we measure and define our success as a major health and wellbeing destination by the opportunities we create for people to connect with the environment, each other, their community and themselves."

"The partnership with Mentis Assist enables us to support the important work they do in our community; to raise awareness of the significant mental health issues in our region and country; and to learn how we are able to do more for those affected by mental health issues," Mr Davidson said.

Peninsula Hot Springs is Australia's largest commercial geothermal mineral springs destination, employing over 240 people on the Mornington Peninsula and attracting more than 440,000 visitors each year.

Now in its 12th year of operation, PHS has more than 30 pools and bathing experiences which Mr Davidson described as, "opportunities for visitors to take time out from their busy lives to slow down, relax and enjoy a moment to themselves, to nature and to the ones they love and enjoy."

In July 2015 Peninsula Hot Springs began its community engagement initiative with a specific focus on mental and physical health "and how we are able to help build a better place in which to live" Mr Davidson said. 

Initial Mentis Assist and Peninsula Hot Springs partnership projects include specific wellness activities created at Peninsula Hot Springs for community members affected by mental ill-health including yoga/meditation sessions and mindful hot springs bathing experiences. Mentis Assist will also provide mental health training to PHS staff. 

The partnership will work to reduce stigma by hosting collaborative events such as RU OK Day and World Mental Health Day events and mental wellbeing forums.

The partnership project’s aims also include further supporting collaborative research to investigate the therapeutic benefits of hot springs bathing for medical conditions including stress/anxiety, depressions and insomnia, building on 2017 published research conducted at PHS.

Mentis Assist and Peninsula Hot Springs will meet regularly to further develop projects and strategies to build on the partnership.