Lats year’s WA Mental Health Week opening was held in Esperance. Photos: Escare
WA Mental health Week is from October 5-12 and in Esperance it is no small event, according to Escare family and community worker Meg Sims.
Last year, Esperance hosted the national opening of Mental Health week with a pop-up café she said drew in a crowd of nearly 500.
Although this year’s pop-up café will not be a WA recognised event, Ms Sims said she was sure it would have a positive impact on the community.
“The Idea is to provide an outdoor experience where people can interact with those that provide mental health services,” she said.
“Taking away that anxiety about people needing to step into buildings to find that information.”
A WA mental health week spokesperson said the week helped people and communities work towards mental wellbeing by:
- Encouraging each of us to support and look out for one another.
- Promoting mental health literacy – learning the “language” of expressing feelings, good and bad; and
- Continuing to raise awareness of mental health issues and reduce the stigma that can be associated with seeking help.
Ms Sims said it was important to acknowledge Mental Health week and the pop-up café as an opportunity to bring people together to show communal support for mental health related issues.
“It’s about working together and bringing the services together to promote this,” she said.
The free event is in collaboration with a range of local businesses and health services and will feature mindfulness activities run by different attending health services such as potting, beading and making suncatchers.
It will be held on Friday October 11 at the Museum Village Entrance from 10-1pm.
