RICHMONDPRA hosted an 'Odd Socks Day' morning tea last week in Taree as a light-hearted way to remind people that anyone, at any time, can have an odd day - particularly when mental health issues are involved.
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More than 30 people gathered under the shade of a large tree outside the office of RichmondPRA in Wynter Street. Sunshine streamed through the branches as adults and children delighted in seeing the various odd socks, getting to meet new people and talking about issues in their lives and the promotion of mental health in the broader community.
Odd Socks Day is a national campaign and highlights the reality that the stigma of mental illness can have a devastating impact on the lives of people with mental illness and their families, friends and carers. It's still one of the greatest barriers to people seeking help and recovery. The campaign is also promoting five ways people can make a difference in the lives of people suffering mental illness and to the broader issue of community awareness:
o Be a friend - be there, for the ordinary and extraordinary moments
o Be brave - don't tolerate stigma and discrimination
o Be open - share your experiences
o Be informed - know the truths and dispel the myths
o Be good to yourself - recognise the need to look after your own mental wellbeing
