A community forum on young people and anxiety will be held in July in direct response to a genuine community need for information on this important public health issue.
Member for Macquarie Fields, Anoulack Chanthivong MP, has joined hands with our community’s own highly respected mental health advocate, Sandra McDonald, of Beautiful Minds and One Door Mental Health to present the forum.
The forum will feature a number of guest speakers from One Door Mental Health and Headspace Campbelltown.
Two young people with lived experience of anxiety will share their personal stories.
The forum will also include a question and answer session.
Parents and carers of young people are particularly encouraged to attend.
Mr Chanthivong said that mental health was a genuine issue in the community and one of the key issues presenting itself in his Ingleburn electorate office on a daily basis.
“The message we want to send people is that mental health matters,’’ he said.
“I look forward to working with Sandra, One Door Mental Health, Headspace and other partners on this important information evening,” Mr Chanthivong said.
Sandra McDonald said the forum was particularly pertinent given recent reports that highlighted mental health was one of the most pressing issues in the community, especially for young people.
[social_quote duplicate=”no” align=”default”]“The forum is a fabulous opportunity to start a conversation about mental health, and specifically young people and anxiety, while at the same time raise awareness of the support services available in the local community,” Ms McDonald said.[/social_quote]
“I’m very grateful to Anoulack for highlighting this important issue and for his continued support of mental health.”
A report by the Black Dog Institute and Mission Australia released in April found that almost one in four young Australians are at risk of serious mental illness.
It also found the proportion of young people likely to have a serious mental illness rose from 18.7 per cent in 2012 to 22.8 per cent in 2016.
Research shows that 75 per cent of mental health disorders emerge before the age of 25.
The forum will be held at the Greg Percival Community Centre in Ingleburn on Tuesday, July 25, 7pm to 8.30pm (refreshments from 6.30pm).
The event is free, however, bookings are essential. Register your interest at macquariefields@parliament.nsw.gov.au or phone 9618 2077.
