Our Space is a mental health promotion, illness-prevention and early intervention program. It aims to provide psycho-education, peer support to reduce feelings of isolation, opportunities to build resilience and coping skills, improve self-expression and creativity, as well as fostering a positive learning environment for children and parents, siblings or close relatives with a mental illness.
Our Space offers psycho-education and peer support programs for ages 8-12 years and 13-17 years. Each group goes for two days. Participant numbers are from a minimum of five to a maximum of 12. All participants receive a certificate upon successful completion of the group. Parents and carers are most welcome to take part in the ‘graduation ceremony’.
Our Space is planning to provide an optional group for all participants upon their completion of the two day group. This group, entitled ‘Arts on Our Mind’ is part of a research project with an aim to explore the effectiveness of using creative arts activities to promote positive mental health and reduce the risk of mental disorders such as depression and anxiety. If interested, please contact Our Space Coordinator, Adam Lo for additional information.
Our Space will be providing information sessions for parents with a mental illness in 2012. The aim of the sessions is to provide the parents with information on:
- the possible effects of parental mental illness on children
- how to address the topic with your teenager/child/very young child
- access to relevant resources (eg children story books on mental illness)
- discussion and sharing of experiences and ideas