The Land and the Centre for Rural and Remote Mental Health (CRRMH) launch the seventh edition of the Glove Box Guide to Mental Health this morning, encouraging rural communities to work together and support each other during tough times.
This year’s Glove Box Guide to Mental Health, a partnership between the centre, the Rural Adversity Mental Health Program (RAMHP) and The Land, will be officially launched today at 10am at Orange City Library, during Mental Health Month.
This year the theme is Let’s Work Together and the centre is inviting members of the Orange community to participate in a joint activity showcasing how they work together with their communities to build good mental wellbeing.
RAMHP program manager Tessa Caton said the one of the key aims of the launch is to demonstrate collaboration and lift the community spirit during tough times.
“Community members will have the chance to share their ideas on a large banner about how they work together with their community to build good mental wellbeing,” she said.
“Following on from the launch, the banner will be displayed in the Orange City Library during Mental Health Month as a reminder to the community about the good things people are doing to support each other and how they intend to support each other in the future.”
This year’s Guide provides practical information and education including online therapies and information on mental well-being tools and apps, as well as tips and strategies on how to stay mentally healthy.
Readers can also find relevant stories and information on topics relating to youth, workplaces and communities.
Personal stories throughout the Guide touch on what it feels like to struggle with a mental illness and why seeking help is so important.
“We encourage people to share this resource and use it as a tool to strike up a conversation about mental health with their colleagues, friends and family,” Ms Caton said.
“We also want to make people aware of what to look out for, how to support someone who is struggling and how and where to seek help.”
Key sponsors of the Guide are SafeWork NSW, NSW Department of Primary Industries and iCare.
According to Ms Caton, securing the support of key sponsors demonstrates the importance of the Guide as a key communications resource in improving mental health and wellbeing in rural communities.
“Last year, our evaluation of the Guide showed that it is a unique, valued resource that encourages people to look after their own and others’ mental health,” said Ms Caton.
This year, a total of 38,500 copies of the Guide will reach almost 123,200 readers across NSW and beyond. An extra 30,000 copies will be distributed by the CRRMH and RAMHP workers in rural NSW.
You can receive the 2018 Glove Box Guide to Mental Health by purchasing this week’s copy of The Land from Thursday, October 4, during Mental Health Month.
- If you have any concerns about yourself or a loved one, contact the NSW Mental Health Line on 1800 011 511 (free call for landlines) or call Lifeline on 13 11 14.
