THE Bushland shopping centre was a hive of activity recently, with a mental health hub bringing together services from across the Manning Valley during the State-wide mental health month.
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Organised by Biripi Aboriginal Corporation Medical Centre (ACMC) and Hunter New England Health, the hub offered locals a chance to view the variety of services that were available to help people with mental illness.
"Mental illness is a common issue," said Lauren Vaughan, a youth mental health worker with Hunter New England Health.
"This is an opportunity for people to see the services available to them."
"Mental illness doesn't discriminate, it can affect anyone in the community," said Lauren McDermott, drug and alcohol worker at Biripi ACMC.
"This is good for people to see that they're not alone and that there is plenty of help out there."
The hub ran from 10am to 2pm and also included a barbecue and lunch, as well as a variety of activities for children including face painting and hair spraying.
Statistics from the Mental Health Association of NSW state that about one million Australians experience depression each year with one in five women and one in eight men experiencing depression in their lifetime (2007 National Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing, Australian Bureau of Statistics).
