Similar story: Turn up in Blue Day 2016.
This week the wheatbelt, as well as the rest of the State are celebrating Mental Health Week with various events to raise awareness and break down communication barriers when discussing wellbeing.
In Northam, The Village Green on Fitzgerald Street will be host to the annual Turn Up in Blue Day this This Thursday.
This event is a collaboration between local organisations who work in the area of mental health, to celebrate mental health week.
The organisations taking part include the Wheatbelt Aboriginal Health Service, Holyoake, Wheatbelt Mental Health Service, Avivo, Mental Health Fellowship of WA, Keedac, WA Primary Health Alliance, Avon Youth, Share and Care and the Central Wheatbelt Primary Health Service.
It will run from 2-4pm and have a free barbeque, giveaways and competitions.
A 2016 regional profile of Mental Health by Rural Health West revealed that in 2009-2012, 13.4 percent of wheatbelt adults 16 years and over had suffered from a mental health problem.
Each year, one in every five Australians will experience a mental health issue
- Mental Health Minister Roger Cook
Despite this, only five percent had accessed mental health care services within the year.
Further, between 2006 and 2010 community mental health services were accessed at a significantly lower rate in the wheatbelt than the rest of the State.
For 50 years, Mental Health Week has been promoting mental health awareness in WA.
Mental Health Minister Roger Cook thanked the people in communities that have worked tirelessly to run events for mental health over the past five decades and emphasised the week’s importance.
“Each year, one in every five Australians will experience a mental health issue,” said Mr Cook. “There are so many fun and enjoyable ways to participate in Mental Health Week, and I encourage people and organisations across WA to embrace the spirit of the week.”
If you or someone you know is at risk you can contact the numbers listed below for free.
Lifeline on 13 11 14, beyondblue on 1300 22 4636, the Mental Health Emergency Response on 1300 555 788 (Metro) or 1800 676 822 (Peel) or RuralLink on 1800 522 002.
