Swan Hill Rural City Council is urging Local Governments Australia wide to tackle the issue of depression and mental illness by joining the Healthy Minds Network.
Located in northwest Victoria and bordered for over 300 kilometres by the Murray River, Swan Hill is highly dependent on the river for irrigation, domestic and industrial water supplies, as well as active and passive recreational pursuits.
Deputy Mayor, Councillor David Quayle, said the continuing drought and resultant financial stress to the farming community has a significant impact on depressive illness.
“That in a nutshell is what Healthy Minds is about,” he said. “We have achieved a reduction in suicide numbers and a better understanding and acceptance of depressive illness.”
With an unprecedented number of suicides in the Swan Hill Municipality in 2003 and 2004, and following a public meeting that attracted 600 residents, Council initiated the Healthy Minds Network in 2004. The network hosted a Community Depressive Illness forum that identified that residents’ three major concerns were to:
- increase the awareness of mental health services offered in Swan Hill and surrounding areas
- destigmatise mental illnesses such as depression
- establish a clear pathway to appropriate services.
Councillor Quayle said one of the strategies the network is using to achieve these goals is the promotion of a range of contact numbers that are accessible 24 hours per day, seven days a week.
“We advertised all the ‘HELP’ telephone numbers, such as Kid’s Help Line, Men’s Health Line and the Mental Health and Suicide Help Line on a commercial business directory,” he said. “We also provided stickers to apply to telephones, fridge magnets, and we have the list printed in each edition of the local newspaper. These contact numbers assist people requiring immediate support, with the confidence that they are speaking to a qualified person who can provide confidential advice. They are also able to refer callers to a local agency for ongoing assistance.”
Council has also conducted men’s health nights, education nights at sports clubs, and an education campaign for schools. The network was also successful in gaining funding from the local Division of General Practise to have a psychologist visit schools for ten hours per week.
“The Healthy Minds Network has been successful in reducing the number of self harm events and a number of Councils have already adopted a similar scheme,” Councillor Quayle said. “We now aim to continue this work, with the additional objective to expand this strategy throughout all municipalities in Australia with a standardised logo.”
In November, nearby Loddon Shire Council launched its own Healthy Minds Network.
For further information on the Swan Hill Healthy Minds Network or for assistance in establishing a similar program, contact Councillor Quayle on (03) 5032 1684.
