With one in four young people in Australia experiencing a mental health issue each year, headspace Port Macquarie are inviting the community to come and say hello on headspace day, October 11.
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Donna Judge from headspace Port Macquarie said the community day is about the mental health organisation opening the doors and showing the wide range of services they can provide to young people.
“For us the open day is a chance for us to throw open the doors and show the community that we aren’t scary and we really just want to help as many young people as we can," Ms Judge said.
“The event has become an annual day for headspace and we have run events for the last three years.
“It is a chance for anyone who is curious about us to come and ask questions, have a look around and learn about our services.
“Even if they don’t need us now they might know someone who does or will do.”
Ms Judge said the open day will have lots of free activities and food available in headspace’s traditions bright green.
“It is a bit of a celebration for us, so we will have cupcakes and other food along with live music and activities,” she said.
“The theme for this year’s day is ‘add a little colour to your day’ and our major activity will be getting people to colour in a huge mural artwork.
“The idea is the work goes from black and white to a rainbow of colour and it is a metaphor for good mental health.
“The drawing itself is made up of images depicting seven tips to having good mental health.
“Exercise, eating good food and getting enough rest are all things we know we should do but can be easy to forget and headspace day is about talking about them again.”
Jules Jamieson, community engagement officer at headspace Port Macquarie said the youth reference group have been heavily involved in the open day process.
“At the heart of what we do is helping young people so our youth reference group have been vital to that and telling us what young people are talking and thinking about,” Ms Jamieson said.
“The youth reference group will be out around town on Thursday promoting the day and come along to our office on Short Street and say hello.”
Come along to headspace day on October 11, from 11.30am – 1.30pm at 12 Short Street, Port Macquarie.
For more information head to the Facebook event.
