A PIVOTAL Mount Gambier-based community organisation working to improve mental health well-being will celebrate its 10th milestone this week.
The South East Junction has been at the forefront of delivering low cost and effective community services across the region.
While it has faced a number of funding roadblocks, the organisation has kept its doors open thanks to a dedicated band of volunteers.
The service now has more than 200 people on its books who receive a bevy of services, which include the Mental Health and Wellbeing Group in Millicent as well as a Meet and Greet in Penola.
South East Junction coordinator Nel Jans said the service’s survival was thanks to the commitment of its volunteers.
“We are very proud the service will celebrate 10 years,” Ms Jans told The Border Watch.
“The power of The Junction is that we fill gaps in services and we can respond to the needs identified in the community.
“Our core goal is improving mental wellbeing in our community. If we identify a need, we can respond quickly.”
These services have included postnatal depression and substance abuse workshops as well as mental health first aid training.
The Junction began as a Country Health SA Community Mental Health initiative in partnership with several consumers, carers, non-government organisations and community agencies in 2009.
While funding for the service was axed in late 2011, The Junction has continued to evolve.
“The goal of The Junction is to provide a range of services, experiences and opportunities to support people experiencing mental health issues or recovering from mental illness to improve mental well-being,” Ms Jans said.
She said the service also organised activities for the general public.
“At The Junction we encourage participants in our activities, in the groups as well as in the community, to take responsibility for their own well-being and behaviour and to take an active role in the day to day operation of the centre,” the dedicated service volunteer said.
“We do this by providing a safe and supportive environment, which foster attendees’ independence, self-worth, confidence and self-esteem through the activities we organise.”
The Junction is a low cost, accessible service providing targeted programs as well as a safe environment for learning and developing friendships with like-minded people.
“As we are a non-government and not funded service we rely on local, state and federal funds and donations to support our activities and the management of the centre,” Ms Jans said.
The Junction prioritised its push into the wider community to primarily raise awareness of its existence and to promote acknowledgement and acceptance of people with mental health issues or mental illness.
The Junction is now an incorporated body and The Penola Mental Health Support Group was started at the request of some members of the Penola community.
“And numbers are still increasing for the activities undertaken in the Junction in all three locations,” the service’s coordinator said.
“There was more financial support from councils, Bendigo Bank, service clubs and individuals.
“We registered as a charitable organisation and in April 2014 we were registered as a donor gift recipient.”
Despite the challenges, Ms Jans said The Junction offered a good mix of activities to the people living with mental health issues as well as to the wider community to improve mental well-being.
“For the general public we repeated advance care directive workshops and continued to offer mental health first aid courses,” she said.
The service has also welcomed the growing trend of businesses and companies – such as forestry, engineering, transport companies – participating in mental health first aid courses.
“This is a huge change in their approach to mental health issues and one we would like to honour with the continuation of courses,” Ms Jans said.
“The same companies have asked us for support with substance use problems and critical incident debriefing and we were able to assist them with those requests.
“This is definitely a gap in the service delivery that should be looked at. Prevention and early intervention will pay off in the long run for our communities.”
The Junction has also been working with Headspace, which has been a “good partnership”.
Lifeboat South East and Limestone Coast Meditation Community also operate under the Junction’s banner.
Country Health Connect Limestone Coast provide a building in Ferrers Street for the service’s headquarters.
An anniversary celebration will be held at City Hall on Thursday from 10am.
