Hello eveyone,
Welcome to our August eNews. I hope that this update finds you and your loved ones safe and well as we face the new challenges of the Delta strain of COVID-19. As an essential service, One Door Mental Health continues to deliver services during the current Greater Sydney and regional lockdowns. We are still open and operating, however most of our supports will be offered through alternative means such as phone or video appointments. This is in line with current health orders from the NSW Government to limit mobility and social interaction.
Staying at home brings different challenges for each household. For some, it is the pressures of balancing working and home-schooling at the dining room table, for others the stress of providing care without the usual supports and respite, and for many the loneliness and isolation of being away from family, friends, and colleagues. Wherever and however this stage of the pandemic has found you, there is no doubt that it is impacting the mental health of us all. But we also know that in 2020, as well as some negative impacts, COVID-19 also had some positive impacts on our psychological, emotional, and social wellbeing. This is shown in the findings of the Mental Health Commission of NSW's report on Community Wellbeing During COVID-19. Nearly all NSW residents who took part in the survey could identify at least positive lesson they had learned during the pandemic. This included things like, cooking at home, being more careful with money, less congestion on roads and public transport, and the opportunity to take life more slowly. It is important that we celebrate and reflect on these positives to help us get through the current challenges.
It is also important that each of us do our part to keep each other safe by getting our COVID-19 vaccination. All NDIS participants aged 16 years and over, and all carers (aged 16 years and over) of NDIS participants are currently eligible to receive the vaccine, along with many other groups. It is easy to check your eligibility and book in to receive your vaccination here.
Read on to find our more about the launch of our 'Enriching You' Cognitive Remediation Therapy program, the Mental Illness Fellowship of Australia's 'Out from the Mist' photography and videography competition, and some new services available in Southern NSW.
Stay safe and until next time.
Kathi Boorman | CEO