IN BEAUTIFUL spring weather, the inaugural Walk With Us for mental health and suicide prevention started from the Bega River Reserve on Wednesday.
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Waving balloons and gerberas, more than 100 people walked along the bicycle path to the old Bega racetrack.
Many of those walking had been affected by the suicide of a family member, had mental health problems or were carers.
The walk was organised by Bega Valley's Suicide Prevention Action Network (SPAN) and before the start the chairperson and deputy mayor, Liz Seckold, said SPAN was established in September 2010 as a result of community concern about suicide.
“It hopes to raise awareness and de-stigmatise mental health and suicide and promote local and national support.”
Cr Seckold thanked the hard work of the SPAN committee and sponsors the Mumbulla Foundation, ABC South East, Design Post, the Bega Valley Shire Council, the Salvation Army and Richmond Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association (PRA).
SPAN had a stall at the reserve, as had Richmond PRA, Workability and the Far South Coast Family Support Service and those at the event were able to pick up brochures and chat to those on the stalls with all the different ways of helping those with mental health problems.
Dane Waites, who in 2016 will be walking from Perth to Pambula to raise funding for autism research, rang a bell to start the walk.
On the return of the walkers to the reserve, the Salvation Army provided a free barbecue and The Hoops entertained.
Guest speaker Faye Jackson said she might be bipolar, but she was determined not to let her condition rule her life.
Ms Jackson said one doctor told her that because of her condition she would never get a job or lead a normal life.
She is now general manager of Inclusion at Richmond PRA and is deputy commissioner of the NSW Mental Health Commission.
Inclusion is a PRA program to work in local communities to help people on their mental health recovery journey.
Ms Jackson and her team have travelled all around NSW holding forums and trying to find out the needs of those people who experience mental illness so that they can live satisfying lives in the community.
The Mental Health Commission has completed a report that has been sent to the NSW Government and has also written a strategic plan.
Ms Jackson said people should see what they can do to help people with mental illness and “sometimes just a cup of tea can save a life”.
She said once you have been diagnosed people tend to “write you off”.
“Don't see yourself as a victim and focus on strength not on deficit,” she said.
Ms Jackson also urged people to look after their physical health as well as their mental health.
She congratulated SPAN on organising Walk With Us, which was such a success.
“It was terrific,” she said.