Local residents are being encouraged to “Value your Mind’’ during Mental Health Month this October.
South Western Sydney Local Health District uses this month to focus on building awareness about the importance of mental wellness and effective mental health care as well as informing the community about available resources.
During the month, the theme will come alive through a number of events in the district.
SWSLHD Mental Health Service Director Claire Jones said the aim was to create conversation and reduce mental health stigma.
[social_quote duplicate=”no” align=”default”]“The brain is a part of your body and just like other health issues, mental illness is real,” Ms Jones said.[/social_quote]
“People should feel no shame in discussing or seeking help for mental illnesses that affect too many of the people we work with, live with and love,” she said.
There will be a number of local events that will provide resources targeted towards connecting people with ways to seek mental health assistance including wards decorating and urging individuals to wear blue and make the promise to listen without judgment to someone with a mental health illness.
“To show that help is available and recovery is possible, mental health professionals will be handing out pamphlets in Bankstown, Fairfield and Liverpool Hospital’s foyers,” Ms Jones said.
Additionally, the month will see Changing Minds return to ABC TV.
The three part series documents 11 mental health consumers at Campbelltown Hospital’s Mental Health Unit on their road to recovery, from breaking point to breakthrough.
The range of activities that aim to foster wellness include:
• October 4 – 11, Mental Health Services staff and consumers will wear blue in an effort to raise awareness.
• Changing Minds returns to the ABC (Tuesday, October 6 at 8.30pm), Wednesday, October 7 at 9.35pm, followed by the finale on Thursday, October 8 at 8.35pm.
• A ward decoration competition around the theme: “Value your mind”. The winner will receive a Christmas barbecue party catered for and served by Mental Health Service Executives.
The winners will be announced this Friday, October 9.
• Mental Health Services staff will also be putting their best foot forward by taking part in the annual 24 Hour Walk Against Cancer.
This will be the fourth year that the staff has been involved.
