Mental health - it's good for you!

Mental Health Week 9 -15 October 2011 is an annual national awareness event that incorporates World Mental Health Day - Monday 10 October.

There are some great creative and artistic strands to Mental Health Week. Mental illness is no laughing matter, but some people affected by it have turned to comedy. They presented a show called Cracking Up during the Adelaide Fringe. Cracking Up comedy classes are now available and the Cracking Up Comedians are presenting a performance at Nexus Cabaret on 9 October 2011. A short documentary created during the Fringe will be launched online on Mindshare on 12 October 2011 – you can catch the short trailer on this site.

The SA Writers' Centre has helped to create the Mental Health Week Poetry Competition. The winners will be announced at the Mental Health Words Evening on Thursday 13 October 2011 along with an anthology launch.

Also look out for visual arts from the Big Circle Arts Collective, a group for artists who may be disadvantaged, have a disability or have experienced a mental health problem in their lives. The works of the collective will be on display in the Adelaide Town Hall and the Bakehouse Theatre as well as other locations around the state.

The Mental Health Coalition of South Australia reminds us that

1 in 5 of us will experience a mental health problem in the next 12 months. One barrier to getting back into life is stigma and discrimination. What you do can make the difference.

MHCSA is promoting the events above as well as many more to help and support people who are or have been affected by mental illness. It's important that everyone is aware of their own and others' mental health and know where help can be found for those who need it.

Check the many listings on SAcommunity if you want to find out more about government and community mental health services.