Contents
- Issue 46 December 09
- Money Well Spent
- Cannabis
- The Woolshed and After
- Peer Education
- HBVaccine
- Great Liver Food
- A Strategy for Hepatitis B
- Sharing Ideas in Beautiful Hobart
- Mascot Madness
- Vending Machine Trial
- Open Your Mind
- Love Your Liver Lunch
- eBox Update
Open Your Mind
Thanks to everyone who contributed to the postcards project that was organised by the Mental Health Coalition to commemorate Mental Health Week during October 4-10, 2009.
Mental health issues, like hepatitis C, are subject to stigmatisation that can hinder a person from seeking help and support. This can subsequently compound the effects of living with a chronic illness.
For many members of our community, being affected by hepatitis C and mental health are serious realities, and increasing awareness about people’s experiences is a way forward to improving health and quality of life.
We displayed the 18 postcards that we received back from our members on the HCCSA community notice board. The postcards depicted an array of differing perspectives and approaches to communicating views about mental health. Each postcard bought light to important mental health experiences, which I think was fun, creative and clever. Whilst we didn’t have an overwhelming response, it was always really exciting when we received another postcard from a member, embellished with their artwork and/or poetry.
Overall, the idea was to raise awareness and reduce stigma about mental health, and learn more about the relationship between hep C and mental health. I think that the response we received from our members contributed to this idea and that we ought to do the whole thing again next year in October 2010 for Mental Health Week.
In the meantime, we will be having fun building the Hep C Council’s float for the Adelaide Fringe Parade back—back again in February 2010!
Maggie McCabe
