Hundreds of posters are going up across the Camden area to help residents connect with Lifeline Macarthur if the need arises during the Christmas season.
The posters are being installed in both the male and female toilets in every Camden Council owned community and administration facility.
They provide a QR (quick response) code to Lifeline Macarthur’s online crisis support chat and its phone number and web address.
Lifeline Macarthur suicide prevention team leader Anne Rogers says the messaging was particularly important at this time of year.
“A lot of services close over the Christmas and New Year period,” Ms Rogers said.
“And, while many people look forward to this time of year to relax and spend quality time with family and friends, others find Christmas to be a very stressful time. It can heighten feelings of loneliness and anxiety.
“It’s vital people know that Lifeline is here when they need to reach out for help, or if they need someone to listen to and support them.
You can call Lifeline or visit our website 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including
Christmas Day and throughout the holiday period.”
Lifeline Macarthur toured Camden Council’s administration building yesterday to see a few of the newly installed posters.
At the same time, Mayor of Camden, Cr Theresa Fedeli, presented the organisation with a cheque for $60,000, raised from the sales of the incredibly popular Camden Monopoly.
“I’m so proud to support this new initiative and Lifeline Macarthur in its entirety,” Cr Fedeli said.
“Council has already implemented a range of strategies to assist staff suffering from mental health issues and these posters are an extension of this commitment.
“Having this information available for our residents is council telling our community there is no shame in needing help – in fact, reaching out for support when you need it is the best thing you can do for yourself.
“I know the money donated will really make a difference in so many people’s lives. One in every five Australians are affected by mental illness and, in 2018, more than 3,000 people in Australia took their own lives.
“We place so much emphasis on eating right and exercising to keep ourselves physically healthy, but our mental health is just as important and requires the same about of care and time.”
For more information about Lifeline Macarthur, including how to find support, visit lifelinemacarthur.org.au
