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World Mental Health Day
20 October 2007
On Wednesday 10 October, the University joined in a global campaign initiated by the World Federation for Mental Health by hosting an event for World Mental Health Day. In recent years, mental health promotion has become a key priority for Local, State and Federal governments. This is not surprising when there is evidence that one in five Australians will experience some form of mental illness each year, with depression alone predicted to be one of the world’s largest health problems by 2020. However, an awareness of all this does not seem to be widely appreciated or accepted by the community.
For a university with a clear focus on the future of its region, this raises some interesting issues. We have a role in providing leadership in the way we address mental health issues on our campus and in lifting levels of public awareness. The Mental Health Day provided an opportunity to provide students, staff and the wider community with information regarding mental health and access to local mental health services. Local service providers generously donated their time and resources to attend the event and set up information stalls. Their participation was greatly appreciated. We also had the opportunity to enjoy, and learn from, some outstanding guest speakers: Professor John Mendosa (former CEO of the Mental Health Council of Australia); artist and author Greg Wilson (National Patron for Lifeline Australia); and Narayan Gopalkrishnan (Director, Centre for Multicultural and Community Development).
The program on the day was supported by a live band (talented local trio OKA), a BBQ and access to yoga and painting sessions. Together with the presence of local organisations allied with mental health, the event had a sense of community to it and was a lot of fun, in addition to focussing our university on a crucial community issue. The engagement that was clearly evident took a lot of us by surprise and judging by the comments on the day and those I’ve received since from students and staff it is the sort of thing we should be repeating.
At a different level, the University seeks to collaborate with the Sunshine Coast and Cooloola Health Service District (SCCHSD) in an effort to create a healthier future for the region by sharing research endeavours and providing workforce-ready graduates in a range of disciplines including Nursing Science, Social Work, Health Promotion, Sport and Exercise Science and Nutrition. Additional programs to be offered from 2008 in the fields of Psychology (including a Psychology Clinic) and Occupational Therapy will further expand these opportunities and the contributions our graduates will make to the Sunshine Coast of the future.
Professor Greg Hill is Acting Vice-Chancellor of the University of the Sunshine Coast.