Pandemic draws mental health campaign

The Morrison government is urging Australians to take care of their mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic, launching a new campaign from Sunday.

The "How's you head today?" campaign urges people to prioritise their mental health, raise awareness about how to identify when something is wrong and encourage people to seek help.

The campaign will be launched on TV, radio, in shopping centres and venues, online and through social media and will continue through to next year.

"Through this campaign, Australians are encouraged to make their mental health and wellbeing a priority," Health Minister Greg Hunt said.

"We want them to know support is available, when and where they need it."

He said COVID-19 has had a significant effect on the mental health and wellbeing of many people across the country, particularly in his home state of Victoria.

The pandemic has caused isolation, job losses and financial stress for many families, with crisis organisations and suicide prevention services experiencing higher demand.

The campaign will be provided in 15 languages across radio and print including Vietnamese, Arabic, Mandarin, Cantonese, Greek, Italian, Korean, Spanish, Punjabi, Hindi, Khmer, Thai, Turkish, Persian and Macedonian.

More broadly, Australia's progress against coronavirus has given cautious states the confidence to loosen their borders.

Queenslanders have overwhelmingly given Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk's handling of the pandemic a thumbs-up.

Travel restrictions will ease from 1am on Tuesday, with the border open to everyone but those in Greater Sydney and Victoria.

Western Australia will ease off on its hard border from November 14 when interstate travellers will no longer be required to hold exemptions.

For the past six months, the only people allowed into WA have been required workers and those granted limited exemptions on compassionate grounds.

Under the new regime, anyone will be let in so long as they complete a declaration of their health and recent whereabouts, and adhere to testing and temperature checks.

People who have been in NSW and Victoria in the preceding 14 days will be required to enter self-quarantine at a suitable premises and undertake COVID tests.

Arrivals from all other states and territories - deemed "very low risk" jurisdictions - will not be required to quarantine but must undergo health screening, a temperature check and prove they haven't recently been in NSW or Victoria.

Meanwhile, Melburnians have been urged to remain within the rules ahead of Melbourne Cup Day.

Tuesday's public holiday is on the radar for Victoria's Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton as many relax into the eased COVID-19 restrictions that now allow greater social freedom.

Victoria recorded no new infections or deaths on Sunday.

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