MENTAL health, drug and alcohol services are available to people in regional areas and a forum in Culcairn is aiming to teach residents how to access them.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Health advisory committees from Culcairn, Henty and Holbrook have joined forces with Lions clubs and the Greater Hume Shire to hold the event from 7.30pm Wednesday.
Residents will hear from professionals from Murrumbidgee Local Health District including its health promotion officer Adelle Kennedy and rural adversity mental health coordinator Helen Sheather.
Albury Police Inspector David Cottee will also speak at the event alongside Albury father Stuart Baker who will give a personal presentation about his family's history with mental illness.
The forum comes off the back of one held for teenagers at Billabong High School earlier this year.
Culcairn advisory committee chair David Gilmore said they wanted to follow up the issue with the entire community.
"We are trying to address youths and the rural communities, especially in areas where it has been tough on the land," he said.
"Mental health affects the farming community and in fact the whole of the community.
“Up until now there has been a bit of a stigma attached to it and it has been hidden.
“It's a good idea to get people talking more about it so people aren't frightened to come forward and seek help if they need it.”
The forum will be held at the Culcairn Sports Ground Pavillion.
The four speakers will make up a panel at the end of the presentations where people will have the opportunity to ask questions.
Mr Gilmore said he hopes people walk away at the end of the night knowing it's OK to speak to professionals about mental health.
“This forum gives people something close to home, usually these events are organised in bigger regional centres,” he said.
“The speakers are very good, Inspector Cottee has been fairly prominent in the fight against ice and Stuart should be very interesting to hear things from a personal perspective.
“We are hoping to give people a general understanding of mental health issues in our area and what services are available.
“At the end of the day, we've tried to get as many community organisations involved as possible to help spread the word.”
Organisers are hoping for 200 people after putting pamphlets in the letterboxes of most households within the three towns.
Tea coffee and biscuits will be provided at the free community event.
