Live Wires participant and avid musician Paul Hender wows the crowd with a drum solo at Tuesday night’s concert. His musical pursuit has now been cut back to just once a month because mental health funds are tight.By Shaun Inguanzo
MENTALLY ill people are being denied friendships and creative expression because a local service provider can no longer afford a weekly concert.
Shattered participants and mental health volunteers who attend the Live Wires event are now calling on the community for sponsorship to keep the event running.
Live Wires is an event that encourages mental illness sufferers to take to the microphone or their favourite instrument and build confidence by belting out their preferred tunes.
But two months ago the weekly pastime for the region’s mentally ill was slashed to just one night a month.
Live Wires coordinator Darren Deland said Eastern Regions Mental Health Association (ERMHA) funded the program but could no longer afford the cost of a weekly event.
Mr Deland said paying ERMHA staff to be at the evening event was the most costly part.
Live Wires allows some of the region’s most isolated people an opportunity to socialise.
The secure Wirringga Unit at Dandenong Hospital has 20 patients who attend Live Wires – one of the few times they can leave the facility.
Dianne, 44, is a schizophrenia sufferer at Wirringga whose surname can not be printed due to privacy reasons.
She said she suffered “a lot of pain” due to her illness, but Live Wires was the one opportunity she had to enjoy herself.
“I wish it was back on weekly,” she said.
Ian Woods, who helped start the program at Dandenong’s Cornerstone, said he was saddened to see the event cut back to once a month and feared mental illness sufferers would lose the motivation to attend.
Fellow founder Anne Colville said the cutback meant she would see her Live Wire friends less often.
Mr Deland urged the community to pitch in and help Live Wires.
“We would like some other community service organisations and other welfare agencies to get involved with us,” he said.
To help rescue the Live Wires event phone Darren Deland at ERMHA on 9796 1000.
