THE link between kindness and good mental health was highlighted in Bega on Wednesday.
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Local Mental Health Week activities were officially launched at the Bega library.
For the third successive year, the Bega Valley Suicide Prevention Action Network (SPAN) is supporting Mental Health Month activities in October.
SPAN was formed in 2009 to help reduce community concern about suicide (see attached story).
Mental Health Month is funded through the Bega Valley Shire Council’s club grants.
This year’s theme is Kindness: Little Acts, Big Impacts.
The BDN visited the Bega library on Wednesday morning as organisers were setting up for the launch.
Among those in attendance were councillor and SPAN representative Liz Seckold.
Cr Seckold said the 2013 theme was very appropriate for Mental Health Week.
“Mental Health Month is supported and becoming more important,” she said.
“This October will be occupied with activities – there will be 32 activities in 32 days.”
At the launch, Cr Seckold presented six mental-health related books to Bega Valley Shire Library Services representative Ros Raward.
Cr Seckold said she hoped the message would get across about supporting Mental Health Month.
“The month is about recognising mental health and trying to destroy the stigma associated with it,” she said.
“It’s about bringing it out into the open and discussing feelings.”
A series of activities will be held across the Bega Valley over the coming weeks.
Cr Seckold said she expected big turnouts in 2013.
“This could possibly be the best yet, because the activities are more than they’ve been before.”
Highlights include the establishment of an Anxiety Support Group, mental health information stalls at the SCPA and Candelo Markets, and mental health first aid training.
On October 22 and 23, “Living Hope” suicide bereavement support training will be held at the Salvation Army, Bega.
“The best thing is most events are free, so it’s accessible to everyone,” Cr Seckold said.
For more information about Mental Health Month, visit www.mentalhealth.asn.au.
Bega Valley SPAN needs your support
THE Bega Valley Suicide Prevention Action Network is looking for more members.
The group has increased its membership in recent months, but isn’t satisfied yet.
Bega Valley Shire Councillor and SPAN representative Liz Seckold said the group needed more support.
“SPAN went through a bit of a lull and membership fell off, but that has increased in the last few months.
“But we are always looking for new members.”
SPAN will hold a community meeting on October 17 as part of Mental Health Month activities.
The meeting will be held at 15 Bass St, Eden, from 1.30-3.30pm.
Cr Seckold invited interested people to attend the event.
Community concern about suicide, particularly youth suicide, led to SPAN being formed three years ago.
Cr Seckold said there were already a number of mental health-related groups around the local area doing great things.
However, these groups were isolated from each other.
“SPAN brings it all together so everyone knows what they are doing,” Cr Seckold said.
“We are not a referral group, but we meet on a monthly basis.”