Women's Health Week: positive change starts with confidence

Being confident and believing in yourself can have significant health benefits. Large numbers of women struggle with confidence which may negatively influence their health.

Building awareness of the connection between women’s confidence and their health is the focus of the 2014 Jean Hailes Women’s Health Week.

Women’s Health Week is a celebration for all women to make their health a priority, and is supported by women’s health experts and high profile ambassadors. During the week Jean Hailes will provide a range of useful online tools such as videos, podcasts, articles and social media engagement opportunities all about confidence and ways to help women improve their health.

Taking place online at www.womenshealthweek.com.au and at community events across Australia from 1-5 September, the week will kick off with an exciting launch at Federation Square, Melbourne CBD on Monday 1 September from 7am.

Jean Hailes is particularly proud of this year’s line-up of high profiles ambassadors including: Senator the Hon Michaelia Cash, the Minister assisting the Prime Minister for Women; Deborah Hutton, TV presenter and founder of balancebydeborahhutton.com.au; Elizabeth Cambage, Australian professional basketball player; and Shelley Ware, presenter on NITV’s Marngrook Footy Show.

Each day of Women’s Health Week will focus on a different area of confidence including learning what confidence is, taking opportunities for your health, understanding how to keep your mind in top condition, learning the importance of engaging and connecting and on the last day, putting it all together to move forward with newfound confidence.

“Confidence is all about believing in yourself,” says Jean Hailes psychologist and Head of Translation Dr Mandy Deeks. “Studies show that people who believe in themselves have less sickness and better mental health. When you feel in control of your health you are more likely to have the confidence to make good choices.”

“Everyone lacks confidence at some stage in their lives. The good news is that confidence is a skill that can be developed with the right support,” she says. “Building confidence is a process that involves time, practice and patience.”

Senator Michaelia Cash believes that “women's confidence, and the need to have more of it, means that women can make the most of life’s opportunities that come their way, including improving their health.”

To celebrate the importance of your health, join thousands of women across Australia to share what confidence means to you with the hashtag #WHW2014.

“We are blown away by what people are sharing on our social wall,” says Mandy. “We can’t wait to hear more from women across Australia.”

“We encourage women to get involved in this year’s Women’s Health Week as this is something you can do to make your own health a top priority,” she says. “You can learn about confidence, join a community event or even host your own.”