South Australian mental health week is Targeting mental illness stigma

 

Reposted from a story in the port lincoln times on Oct. 1, 2012, 11:30 p.m.

 

• OPEN YOUR MIND: Mental As Anything Community Talent Show music entrants Amelia and Felicity Graham, comedy entrant Adam Pearce and Puyu Wanti tobacco action worker Christina Lake.

ONE in five Australians will experience a mental health problem in the next year.

Port Lincoln’s third Mental Health Expo this Sunday aims to help address this by raising awareness of mental health issues and wellbeing and provide access to information and support.

This year Mental Health Week runs from October 7 to 13 with the theme Open Your Mind.

Carers SA Eyre Carers mental health and young carers worker Glenys Nowak said the local event aimed to reduce stigma about mental illness and promote local health services.

Mental Illness Fellowship of South Australia (MIFSA) team leader Peg McCann said the event was part of a national awareness campaign.

“A critical part of reducing stigma is to support those with a mental illness and their carers, with increased public awareness and an understanding that mental illness, like mental health, is part of the human condition.

“One in five Australians are affected by a mental health condition in some way, which in the workplace means a loss of productivity and profits due to absenteeism and reduced work hours.”

The free expo will be held at the foreshore on Sunday from 11am to 3pm.

There will be a barbecue, live music, children’s rides and activities, the Mental As Anything Community Talent Show with acts from juggling to music with lots of prizes to win, a merry-go-round and information stalls from local health services.

A treat for the whole family will be the Yellow Brick Road, with free prize draws and lots of activities.

Grab a show bag of information or just enjoy the music.

For more information telephone Peg McCann on 8683 0082.

The event is a joint initiative by the Mental Health Coalition of SA and supported by many local service providers.

The Mental Health Coalition of SA has launched a blog site, Country Promotions, which lists posts, information and details about events being held in regional SA.

This includes My Dog Has Stripes at Cleve, Streaky Bay, Port Lincoln and Lock, a Tumby Bays men’s breakfast at Tumby Bay, Mental Health in the Bush at Ceduna and Don’t Worry be Happy at Cleve.