By Goya Dmytryshchak
Community members can ‘Walk a Mile in my Shoes’ in Williamstown on Sunday to raise awareness and reduce the stigma of mental health.
Mental health practitioner Justine Brogna said she created the walk to bring people together in a show of support.
“I am passionate about keeping mental health issues on the public agenda,” she said.
“I primarily want to bring to the forefront the less spoken about mental illnesses such as the psychoses, including schizophrenia.
“I believe that people are getting better at speaking about depression and anxiety, which is a big step in the right direction. However, schizophrenia and other psychotic-related disorders still often remain in the shadows.”
Ms Brogna said she also wanted to acknowledge family members and carers who were often “the forgotten sufferers in the picture of mental illness”.
People are being urged to wear something green in honour of those experiencing mental health-related illness.
There will be live music, raffles, information stalls, children’s football and soccer clinics, a sausage sizzle and a jumping castle.
The Walk a Mile in my Shoes mental health awareness walk is on Sunday, October 14 from 9am-noon at Williamstown’s Commonwealth Reserve. For more information visit facebook.com/walkamileinmyshoeswilliamstown
