A super effort was put into breaking down barriers during Mental Health Week on the Sunshine Coast this week.
STEPS Link In team members donned their best and brightest spandex for a week of super hero themed events aimed at promoting mental well being in the community.
Events were held across the entire Sunshine Coast as community organisations banded together to raise awareness and reduce stigma attached to mental illness.
[su_pullquote]“Shaking the stigma attached to mental illness is vital for achieving healthy communities”[/su_pullquote]STEPS Link In Mental Health Case Worker Laufoli Tulisi said the week was a huge success and a lot of fun for all.
“We had such a great turnout at all of our events, I’m really happy that so many people came out in support of promoting such a worthy cause”, Mr Tulisi said.
According to SANE Australia 45% of the population will experience some kind of mental disorder in their life time with 1 in 5 Australian’s experiencing mental illness during a single 12 month period.
Managing Director of STEPS Group Australia Carmel Crouch said that while she was impressed with the amount of community support the events received, Australia still has a long way to go in terms of our attitudes towards mental illness.
“Shaking the stigma attached to mental illness is vital for achieving healthy communities”, Ms Crouch said.
“I think we all underestimate how many of us are touched by mental illness in our lives in some way or other, whether it be ourselves, a family member, friend or colleague”.
