Diocese invitation to Upper Hunter info session on mental health

October is Mental Health Month in NSW and it is a timely reminder that nearly half of all Australians (45%) will experience some form of mental illness during their lifetime - and those that don’t will most likely know someone that does.

In recognition of the importance of this issue, the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle will be hosting an information session and morning tea on 25 October at St James Primary School, Skellatar Stock Route in Muswellbrook.

People from the Upper Hunter community are invited to join us in a spirit of sharing the journey. As our guests you will be treated to morning tea, free of charge, and be able listen to the following presenters:

Noeleen Osborne, community member, who will discuss her mental health journey.

Marcus McDonnell, a pastor, who in his ministry has assisted people affected by drugs and mental illness.

Kelly Pavan, registered Psychologist at CatholicCare Social Services, who has worked internationally assisting people with mental health.

Following the presentation there will be an opportunity to ask questions and make new connections.

The theme is How to Share the Journey, when things are a bit tough.

Teresa Brierley, Director of Pastoral Ministries, explains that the main message of this theme is to encourage individuals and communities to connect with others and recognise how important this is for our mental health and wellbeing.

Good social connections are important for our health and survival – they help us with our journey to better mental health and our ability to cope with life’s struggles. They not only improve our overall wellbeing; they also build our resilience. This in turn helps communities to be good places in which to live, and people thrive when the environment is positive and supportive.

Share the Journey means many different things including telling your friends and family when things are a bit tough, finding others who have been through something similar, connecting with your community, finding a health professional you trust, connecting on social media, giving your pet a cuddle, organisations working together for the best possible wellbeing of everyone, sharing your stories with others, creating a sense of security within families and communities, reaching out to someone who might need your help, and/or decreasing the isolation people feel when things aren’t great.

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