By CASEY NEILL
MORE than 130 people came together in Dandenong last Wednesday to raise awareness of mental illness and disability.
Support group Ermha held the Mental Health Week (5 to 11 October) event in Dandenong Park’s Greg Dixon Pavilion in the hope of reducing – and over time eliminating – the stigma around mental health issues.
The community based organisation’s marketing and communications officer Georgia Oldis said the event involved a live band.
“We even had one of the people supported by Ermha get up and sing a couple of songs,” she said.
“This is fantastic for us to see and would have taken a lot of confidence and courage.”
Ms Oldis said roving performer The Amazing Hazel entertained guests with juggling, balloon hats and animals, Rebecca painted guests’ faces, and there was a picnic lunch provided.
The event’s highlight was kite flying, including Kites 4 Kids flying jumbo kites up to four metres long.
“The reason we choose kite flying is because, in the mental health community, KITE stands for knowledge, inclusion, tolerance and empowerment,” Ms Oldis said.
“Also, kite flying is cultural and linguistically diverse and quite symbolic in other cultures.
“We hope that people with mental illness and disability feel supported in their recovery and feel connected to the community.
“Most importantly, we hope they had fun!”
