Please join us for morning tea at the Mental Health Family & Carers Podcast & Carer Guide Map Booklet Launch at our Port Macquarie Library on Monday 18th March at 10.00am.

This event brings to the community two valuable resources for family members and carers of loved ones who experience mental illness. The resources have been put together by the Family and Carer Mental Health Program (Mission Australia) Education Coordinator Claudia Richardson in collaboration with these family members and carers who have much lived experience and hard won wisdoms to share with others on a similar journey.

Over 2 in 5 (44%) Australians aged 16–85 were estimated to experience a mental illness at some time in their life (about 8.6 million people).  It is also estimated that over 1 in 5 people (21%) experienced a mental disorder in the previous 12 months (about 4.2 million people) (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare NSMHW 2020–21).

Along with the families, mental health and community services are invited to the launch along with any interested members of the public who care about mental health in our community and how many people’s lives are touched by mental illness and what might be helpful.

We are a group of people on the NSW mid north coast who care for our friends and family members with a mental health condition or mental distress. Some of us have been meeting and talking together for many years. Others have joined in more recently. We often come together and talk about our lives, who we care for and how we care. We talk about other things too. We acknowledge that we have been through hard times with our loved ones. We share what has helped us through those challenging times. We share that there are many moments of love and joy in our journeys. Plus moments when we sought out and found sustenance and renewed our love and courage. Writing, taking photos and making art has been part of that journey. Our hardships and experiences have helped us to develop hard-won knowledge, skills and values, even wisdoms, that we would like to share with you through this Carer Guide Map and podcast.

The Carer Guide Map Booklet and podcast access information will be available at the launch.

We look forward to seeing you there – all welcome!