fbpx Skip to content

Archives

Next Tuesday, Gippsland Lakes Complete Health (GLCH) will be teaming up with several local agencies to host a barbeque in the Nicholson Street Mall to promote mental wellbeing in conjunction with Mental Health Week 2016.

“Mental Health Week is about promoting social and emotional wellbeing to the community, encouraging people to maximise their health potential, enhancing the coping capacity of communities, families, individuals and increasing mental health recovery,” said Kerstin Bichel, family, youth and children’s services manager.

“We’re inviting people to join us next Tuesday for a barbeque lunch, live music; and learn more about mental health,” added Ms Bichel.  Everyone’s welcome, so come along – grab bite to eat, stay for a chat and enjoy some live music.”

The World Health Organisation defines mental health as: “a state of well-being in which every individual realises his or her own potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to her or his community.

So rather than being about ‘what’s the problem?’ it’s really about ‘what’s going well?’ Mental health is about wellness rather than illness.

“Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being, “explained Ms Bichel. “It affects how we think, feel, and act; and helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices.  Mental health is important at every stage of our lives, from childhood and adolescence through adulthood.”

“It’s important to remember that mental health is complex,” Ms Bichel added. “The fact that someone doesn’t have a mental health condition doesn’t necessarily mean their mental health isn’t suffering.  It’s also possible to be diagnosed with a mental health condition while feeling and coping well.”

GLCH offers counselling and support services for people who are experiencing a range of issues and problem that may alter a person’s mental health such as anxiety, depression, grief, and relationship issues.  Talking things through with a counsellor may help you become clearer about what you want or need to do, and help you find new ways of dealing with your issues and help you feel more in control of your mental wellbeing.

counselling-staffPictured: some of the counselling staff at Gippsland Lakes Complete Health who are gearing up to next Tuesday’s (11 October) Mental Health Week BBQ in the Nicholson Street mall.