Mental health forum for New England region

Hosted by Manna Institute, a research alliance led by the University of New England, the Town Hall event will provide a rare opportunity for professionals and community members to discuss their mental health needs and inform vital research.

Facilitator and Manna Institute Research Fellow, Associate Professor Sarah Wayland, said people working on the frontline, in community services, for not-for-profits, councils, schools, and those with Lived and Living Experiences of mental ill-health and their carers are warmly invited to attend.

Manna Institute is a Commonwealth-funded research group dedicated to improving mental health and wellbeing in rural, regional and remote Australia. Its members include world-leading researchers from seven regional universities and industry partners including Everymind and Lifeline Direct.

"Manna has made considerable progress in three short years, in collaboration with First Nations representatives and those with Lived and Living Experience of mental ill-health," Associate Professor Wayland said. "Our next step is to consult more widely with the communities in which we work, to ensure that our research is based on real community priorities and that our findings can be translated in this rapidly changing world.

"Manna is creating a new environment for collaboration with industry professionals, and we are a resource for those wishing to conduct and evaluate mental health programs in rural and regional Australia.

"There are many unintended benefits that occur when we bring people together. It's not just about what we learn and do from the event but the activity of forming new relationships and reconnecting in real time."

The event is the first of a series of Town Hall discussions across Manna's geographic footprint. It will be held from 5-7.30pm in Armidale Town Hall, 127 Rusden Street, and Mental Health First Aid officers will be in attendance.

Those wishing to attend should RSVP by emailing [email protected] by 5pm on Thursday 26 September.

About Manna Institute: Manna unites researchers from seven universities - lead institution the University of New England, Charles Sturt University, Central Queensland University, Federation University, Southern Cross University, the University of Southern Queensland and the University of Sunshine Coast - to address pressing mental health needs in rural and remote Australia. Our five research streams focus on child, youth and family; physical activity; ageing and disability; climate change and the environment; and distress and suicide prevention. We collaborate with First Nations and Lived Experience representatives, community and industry partners (including Everymind, Lifeline Direct and the Australian National University's Centre for Mental Health Research), to tackle the challenges of geographic and social disadvantage, a changing environment, workforce shortages and researcher professional development.

mannainstitute.au

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