Image: Sarah and Jess, headspace Bathurst staff

The staff at headspace Bathurst are long time advocates for same-sex attracted and gender-diverse young people, and are proud to again support Wear it Purple this Friday.

Wear it Purple began in 2010 in response to growing concerns over the psychological wellbeing of young LGBTIQA+ people, who research shows experience significantly higher rates of suicide, self-harm, anxiety and depression.

Image: Marathon Health speech pathologists

COVID-19 has highlighted the challenges faced by Australians with communication disability, and now that masks are mandatory, it’s important to know how to ensure inclusive communication practices.

Key Word Sign is the use of manual signs combined with natural gestures, to support verbal communication. Not-for-profit Marathon Health, are now able to offer this training virtually – and encourages businesses, schools, educators, parents and anyone interested, to sign up and learn how to incorporate inclusive communication practices.

Image: Steph, Marathon Health Speech Pathologist and client

People with intellectual disability often have difficulties ensuring their voices are heard - which is why not-for-profit Marathon Health are implementing the use of Talking Mats into their practice, and collaborating with other organisations to do the same.

Talking Mats, a visual tool that consist of symbols about a topic and a space to place them, supports helps people with disability to express their thoughts and feelings about a range of topics, through the use of pictures.

Image: Anna. Marathon Health Diabetes Educator

Research indicates that nearly half of all adults with diabetes will experience mental health challenges. This National Diabetes Week, Marathon Health’s Diabetes Educators are spreading awareness of the relationship between diabetes and your mental health.

Adjusting to, and coping with the lifestyle changes that accompany diabetes can be stressful and may, over time, increase the risk of developing anxiety disorders or depression.

As COVID-19 flares up across NSW, the impact it might have on regional Australians is a concern for many. While the situation unfolds, Marathon Health encourages anyone feeling stressed, anxious or overwhelmed to reach out to the mental health support options available to them.

Barbara Geddes, Marathon Health Registered Psychologist says it’s really important to look after your mental health during times when we are being told to limit our face to face socialising.

Throughout June, participants across the country have rallied together to complete the Push-Up Challenge, raising awareness of the 3,318 Australians who died by suicide in 2019.

Over the course of 25 days, 133 people signed up to support headspace Bathurst, raising over $6,596 for the centre and completing over 184,109 push-ups.

The Individual Placement and Support Program (IPS), delivered by Marathon Health, tackles youth unemployment rates within Dubbo. IPS supports young people with mental illness to reengage in education, or find a job they love, and ensure they are working a safe environment with an employer that respects their needs. 

Carole Bayley, headspace Dubbo Senior Vocational Specialist, says they have seen many great outcomes through the program, such as people completing school, receiving housing support or gaining employment.

Marathon Health’s online education program for people with type 2 diabetes is back in June. The program–Type 2 and You–is a free online education program for people who want to be actively involved in their diabetes management.

The program will be delivered online in two-hour sessions across two weeks, and will be presented by a dietitian and diabetes educator.