General News
28 September, 2023
Walking for mental health
Taking steps towards promoting mental wellbeing in the region, the Maryborough Community House (MCH) has a big event planned for next month with hundreds expected to participate in support of the cause. Members from the community centre will mark...
Taking steps towards promoting mental wellbeing in the region, the Maryborough Community House (MCH) has a big event planned for next month with hundreds expected to participate in support of the cause.
Members from the community centre will mark World Mental Health Day on October 10 by organising their second iteration of Walk for Mental Health, with the program coming back to the town after seven years — held in 2016, the inaugural walk was a success with over 700 participants.
“Everyone at the community house was trying to come up with things we could do to focus on mental health and I thought a walk would be a great way to do that,” event organiser and Maryborough Community House member Tracey Smith said.
“When we had our first one in 2016, it was a big hit, we lost count after 700 people turned up. Over the years after that, people kept asking me to put the walk back on again.
“It’s always been about enhancing mental health and increasing awareness of all mental issues — and this walk will focus on the same.”
On the day, people undertaking the walk will gather at the Senior Citizen’s Club on Alma Street and will make their way along High Street till they reach the Community Hub next to the railway station, where they will finish up with a barbecue while getting the opportunity to interact with mental health service providers and experts.
“It’s so important for people to know that it’s okay to not be okay and what we’re doing next month is not only promoting that message but also showing people the services available to them,” Ms Smith said.
“Events like these can be so important for the community because there’s still a lot of stigma associated with mental health.
“Some people still feel it’s a bad thing to have mental health issues and so we really want to promote acceptance about it. It’s about bringing the community together to not only better understand things but to also respect each other.”
For the walk’s co-organiser, John Lelean, who is hoping to get hundreds of participants, the event is an opportunity for everyone in the community to come out in support of those suffering with mental problems.
“Through the MCH we’ve met so many people and we’ve come across a lot of mental health concerns, some of these people have never raised these issues with anybody at all,” he said.
“That’s why we want people to sign up for the walk because it’s important for us to let those affected by mental health problems know that it’s not just a private issue, it’s actually a public issue.”
MCH’s Walk for Mental Health, supported by the Bendigo Bank and other community groups, is free for all and will get underway on Tuesday, October 10, from 9.30 am onwards.
Registrations are required and can be done by visiting mchvic.org.au/?page_id=5872 — for any questions or to find out more contact MCH on 5461-4551.