The North West Hospital and Health Service Mental Health and ATODS team is inviting the Mount Isa public to help launch 2016 Qld Mental Health Week (9 – 15 October).
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Members of the public are invited to a morning tea held from 10 am on Tuesday 11th October, 2016, with cake and balloons, under the Healing Tree outside Mount Isa Hospital on Camooweal Street.
The aim of Qld Mental Health Week is to ‘value mental health’, promote mental health and wellbeing and tackle the stigma of mental illness.
Executive Director of Medical Services Associate Professor Alan Sandford said everyone can help shatter the stigma of mental health locally.
“We are taking the opportunity to highlight the value of mental health because mental ill-health can affect anyone, with about half of all Queenslanders experiencing mental illness at some point in their lives,” Professor Sandford said.
He stressed that everyone has a role to play in improving the mental health and wellbeing of Queenslanders.
“Our morning tea will kick off a week of local activities hosted by different service providers to showcase how we can build resilience as well promote the help available when it is needed.
“The North West HHS Mental Health and ATODS have a multi-disciplinary team spread across the North West with a mix of psychiatrists, psychologists, mental health nurses, indigenous health workers, social workers, occupational therapists, a consumer consultant and administration support,” Prof Sandford said.
“Together our team deliver consultancy, assessment, intervention and treatment for those in more acute need of specialist support.
“We absolutely value our partnerships with more than 20 other local services that help with emotional crisis and support.
“However valuing mental health can be as simple as sharing our experiences and hopes and respecting each other’s stories and differences.”
Federal Minister for Health Sussan Ley said that it was important for everybody, no matter the background, age or circumstances, to support each other in identifying mental health issues to seek support.
“Mental health is a top priority for the Turnbull Government – and we are tackling it on a range of fronts, through our ongoing mental health reform package,” Ms Ley said.
“We are profoundly committed to preventing people living with mental health issues from falling through the cracks, being shunted from GP to emergency department and back again, or, worst of all, giving up altogether because it’s all too hard to get help,” the health minister said.
