Help is as close as your local library
Mental Health Week 5 – 11 October 2008
Help with finding out more about mental health and wellbeing, as well as mental illness, is as close as your local library.
Tamworth City Library has more than 100 books, CDs, videos and DVDs in their mental health and wellbeing support resource collection, covering a wide range of topics.
In addition, a new information card is now available to make sure everyone in Tamworth knows about this handy resource.
The card will be launched during Mental Health Week at an informal gathering at Tamworth City Library on Friday 10 October at 10.30am. The launch will provide an opportunity for photographs and interviews.
The information cards include details on where the resources can be found, what is in the collection and where to go for help if you are concerned about your or someone else’s mental health.
Hunter New England Health Mental Health Promotion Officer Libby Wakeford said the aim was to increase the understanding of mental health and mental illness within communities.
“Having access to good quality information plays an important role in helping people take care of their mental health,” Ms Wakeford said.
“It can increase awareness of early signs and symptoms of mental illness to encourage people to seek help, and provides coping strategies for family members and friends.
“It also promotes a greater understanding of what it is like to have a mental illness, which can help counter the stigma that is often associated with mental illness.”
The cards have been produced with the generous support of the Tamworth West Leagues Club, and in partnership with the Tamworth and District Mental Health Support Group and Hunter New England Health’s Mental Health Promotion and Prevention Service.
The resource collection is part of the Hunter New England Health ‘Access to Mental Health Information’ Initiative, aimed at providing quality resources in local libraries that can be easily accessed by all members of the community.
Ms Wakeford said Mental Health Week was also an opportunity to enhance the community’s understanding of mental illness.
“It reminds people that mental health is not only about illness. It’s something for everyone to think about in ensuring overall good health.”
If you are concerned that yourself or someone close to you may be experiencing a mental health problem, please contact your local General Practitioner, Community Health Centre or Mental Health Service for professional assistance.
WHAT’S IN YOUR COLLECTION:
The mental health and wellbeing resource collection at Tamworth City Library includes more than 100 books, CDs, videos and DVDs covering:
• Mental illness such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder, borderline personality disorder and eating disorders
• Staying mentally well
• Suicide prevention
• Carers and families, and
• Resources for special groups such as young people, people from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds, farmers, Indigenous people and those already living with a mental illness.
Contact: Communication Unit
Phone: (02) 4985 5522