Voices for Harmony - People Supporting People - in collaboration with Shepparton Interfaith Network will hold a forum on Religion and Mental Health at the Harder Auditorium at GOTAFE on Friday 9 October from 1PM - 4PM.
In 2015, Mental Health Week will run from Sunday 4th to Saturday 10th October. World Mental Health Day is marked every year on the same date: 10th of October. Our forum will take place on Friday, 9 October at GOTAFE.
Voices for Harmony are offering an afternoon forum on Religion and Mental Health with a focus on how different religions approach Mental Health. This forum will be for Mental Health practitioners - carers, nurses, school chaplains, and pastoral workers.
We all want to be healthy and happy. And good mental health is vitally important for both. No one can be truly healthy without good mental health. It involves how we feel, think, act and interact with the world around us. Religions invite us to have Compassion for people coping with the normal stresses of life and inspire us to live with Hope.
The goal of the forum is to present Mental Health from several religious perspectives: Sikhism, Buddhism, Islam and Christianity.
Venerable Hojun Futen of the Buddhist Council of Victoria will attend and speak on Buddhism and Mental Health. Ven. Hojun leads the Buddhist Council's Healthcare Chaplaincy services.
Lance James of Rumbalara Health Services will speak on Indigenous Spirituality and mental health.
Christian Psychologist Estele Hutchings will give an address on Christianity and issues surrounding mental health. Local identity Azem Elmaz - Chair of Voices for Harmony will also address the Forum.
Dr Imran Syed - a Medical Professional will speak to the issue of Islam and Mental Health. Representing the Sikh Community will be Kamal Deep Singh.
The afternoon will conclude with a Question and Answer Forum.
Six young Australians share stories of mental illness ahead of Mental Health Week 2015