Veterans’ Health Week is an annual initiative to promote positive health and wellbeing for veterans and families.
This year, we’re celebrating a fresh new theme that reflects how wellbeing is multi-dimensional: connection, movement, nourishment, and thriving are all part of the journey.
Thrive 365. Connect. Move. Nourish.
Each word represents a vital pillar of health:
- Connect: Social and emotional wellbeing
- Move: Mobility and physical wellbeing
- Nourish: Mental and nutritional wellbeing.
And Thrive 365 highlights how wellbeing isn’t limited to one week, it’s something you can focus on every day of the year.
This year we’re encouraging veterans to consider the many ways that they can take small, meaningful steps towards supporting their wellbeing every day.
Throughout this week, we’ll be sharing resources that can help support wellbeing across the theme pillars, starting with ‘connect’.
Connect
Connection is an important part of social and emotional wellbeing. People with good social networks have been found to manage stressful situations more effectively, be physically healthier and live longer.
Social networks can be a circle of friends, people you share a hobby with, former colleagues, community members, extended family or something else!
There are so many ways to create and maintain social connections. This could include peer support groups, volunteering, attending commemorative and local events, book clubs, walking or exercise groups and much more. A great place to start is by visiting your local council (or its website) to ask about community groups and events.
The Open Arms Social Connections tool can help you identify the people in your life who you can spend more time with and who can offer you different kinds of support. You can also learn about ways to stay connected and build social networks at the Open Arms Be Social page.
A range of ADF member specific programs and events can help you build connections with people who understand your service experience. For example, Soldier On offers a range of social connection activities and programs to encourage current and former service personnel and their families to reconnect with themselves and build links with the wider community. Mates4Mates also host a range of meaningful social activities through their centres.
DVA’s Veteran Support and Services Guide
This guide provides information about how DVA can assist veterans and their families to live and age well through a range of services and support. To browse the guide or download a copy, visit the Services Guide page on the DVA website.
Keep an eye on DVA’s website and social media channels during Veterans’ Health Week for resources and support to help you Connect, Move, Nourish and Thrive 365.