PEOPLE young and old are being urged to be YOUnique as Mental Health Month gets underway this week.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
This year's national theme - beYOUnique - celebrates acceptance and individuality.
A series of community events will be held in Tenterfield aimed at raising public awareness of mental health and well-being.
“We are really trying to push education and awareness,” Gail Galloway from the Tenterfield Community Hub said.
Ms Galloway said rising bullying and suicide statistics were a cause for concern and urged people not to shy away from speaking about it.
“There is a toxic culture of bullying that is always impacting on our youth and in our community – it’s across all vectors and people need to be mindful,” she said.
Mental Health Month aims to raise awareness of those suffering and to improve support and wellbeing in our community.
The month provides an opportunity to work on ways to help remove barriers and stigma that prevent people from living their lives.
One in five Australians aged between 16 and 85 will experience difficulties from a mental illness in any year while nearly 50 per cent will suffer from a mental illness in their lifetime.
Two school children per week in NSW are self-harming or threatening to injure themselves as a result of bullying and mental health problems, latest statistics show.
“There is a toxic culture of bullying that is always impacting on our youth and in our community – it’s across all vectors and people need to be mindful."
- Gail Galloway, Tenterfield Community Hub
Child psychologists say there has been an increase in the number of children presenting with mental disorders such as severe anxiety.
Later this month the Tenterfield High School will hold a ‘Stress Less Day’ with Hunter New England School Link coordinator Bruce Winter coming to run the day.
Activities today include a volunteer tea at the Hub from 3pm and a time banking discussion.
On Friday, an afternoon has been organised for local kids to get along and blow off some steam.
Organisers will run an art in the park session from 4pm with a barbecue and music at Jubilee Park.
The month will conclude with a walk against domestic violence on Saturday 25.
“It’s an attempt to get people in Tenterfield to stand up and be counted,” Michael Moore from the Tenterfield Health Committee said.
For more information on other events throughout the month drop in to the Community Hub at 204 Rouse Street or phone 6736 4443.
