MENTAL HEALTH RECOGNITION
Much needs to be done to address the crisis of mental health in this country. With almost half of all Australians affected by mental illness during their lives, the ripple effect is felt by loved ones, families and the broader community.
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The symptoms of mental illness are not always visible and many people suffer in isolation.
Thankfully, there are thousands of worthy Australians striving to make a difference in this field, from advocacy, education and awareness through to prevention, treatment and searching for much needed cures.
The Australian Mental Health Prize acknowledges those who are doing innovative work in this area. Acknowledging those who work or volunteer in the industry is an important part of the process to destigmatise mental illness.
The Prize was established in 2016 by UNSW Sydney through its School of Psychiatry, Australia's pre-eminent psychiatric research department. It recognises Australians who have made outstanding contributions to either the promotion of mental health, or the prevention or treatment of mental illness.
Nominations are now open and we are eager for nominees from across the country.
Please consider those in your local community who deserve to be recognised.
More information and nomination forms can be obtained from australianmentalhealthprize.org.au
Entries close on 30 August 2019. For those who are living with the burden of mental illness every day, thank you for your support.
Ita Buttrose AO OBE, Chair, Australian Mental Health Prize Advisory Group
THE USUAL SUSPECTS
Since the defeat of the Labor Party on May 18, the Mercury's opinion page has contained contributions about Labor's defeat from several from its clique of "usual suspects".
Readers have seen almost the entire gamut of the "usual suspects" attempts at naval gazing the election result then offering up their critique of why the Labor Party lost.
Perhaps the lowest end of the scale of the "usual suspects" offerings published in the Mercury's opinion page, was the regurgitation of the highly offensive and, absolutely sexist "ditch the witch" campaign used by the "knuckle draggers" against Australia first woman prime minister Julia Gillard.
That to date no one else has condemned that attempt of potty humour is disappointing.
Particularly so when 51 per cent of Australia's population are women and it was one of their gender the comment was directed at.
That having been said. The opinion page of Saturday May 25 was dominated by the "usual suspects" whom if taken on face value, believe a Labor win on May 18 would have doomed our wonderful country forever.
Fortunately, we chose the bloke in the baseball hat shouting Hallelujah, over the bloke in the tight fitting blue suit talking about Australia's future. Yep, we sure dodged the Socialist Bullet. Praise the Lord and Amen!
Barry Swan, Balgownie
EDITOR'S NOTE: Reader contributed images of our beautiful region run with the letters to the editor online on our website at illawarramercury.com.au. Send us your photos via email to letters@illawarramercury.com.au.
