National Mental Health Week, which ran from October 5 to 11, aims to raise awareness about issues surrounding mental health and also aims to encourage people to maximise their health potential.

Service Manager of the Central and Far West, Ann Winterton, said raising awareness about mental health in the area and the support that mental health service providers offer is more important than ever.

“No one ever really knows who has mental health issues. It can be the person sitting next to you in a park, or in the supermarket. The main issue is to remove the stigma associated with mental health issues and that is what Mental Health Week is trying to do,” she said.

Support Worker of Housing Accommodation Support Initiative (HASI), Pam Chapman, said now more than ever people need to have an awareness of mental health and the options available.

Ms Chapman helps run the program HASI in Mudgee which provides support and social interaction for those with mental health issues.

“The HASI program is important for the community as it provides support for the people who need it and also keeps them out of places like Bloomfield and in their homes,” she said.

“Mental Health Week is about understanding mental health and all the different aspects of mental health so we can move forward and today with all the stuff we are doing (lunch and activities) it is a day to have some fun and play some games without any barriers and misunderstanding as each person knows what the other is going through.”