Open day to help showcase services

Breaking down the stigma around mental health and building resilience in young people is a big part of Mental Health Week for the crew at headspace Rockingham.

Celebrating 50 years of promoting mental health awareness, the event begins this Saturday, featuring a range of events across WA.

With school holidays now in full swing, headspace Rockingham community awareness officer Jeremy Tucker said young people often struggled through the transition.

“We find that a lot of young people don’t have the support or the structure during this time and it can be hard for them,” he said. “Mental Health Week is a great way to bring the focus back, because we live such busy lives and so often we forget that it’s really hard to look after ourselves.

“I tell a lot of young people that it’s really hard to look after yourself because nobody can teach you how to do it — it’s something you have to learn on your own.

“People can give you hints and tips but putting yourself first is often really hard to do.”

Following the success of previous events, headspace Rockingham will host an open day next week.

There will be live music, free burgers from Grill’d, guided tours of the centre and a giant dream catcher exhibition.

The day will also feature magic by Tev-MagicMan, with outdoor games and activities.

Mr Tucker said it was a great way for young people to see how the centre operated.

“It’s about breaking down those barriers and making young people realise that it’s not that leather couch that you lie on where people say ‘how does it make you feel’,” he said.

“Last year more than 200 people came through the centre and a lot of young people also sought help through headspace once they saw what it was like.

“So we want anyone and everyone to come down and check it out.”

Headspace Rockingham’s open day kicks off at 2pm on Monday, October 9 outside the centre on 18 Goddard Street.

Visit headspace.org.au.