Chaplain's Chat

This week

Hello! October 10 was World Mental Health Day and this week is Mental Health Awareness Week. Mental Health begins with Me. Have a look at this Youtube clip:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Axw2xXfvawM

What promise will you make to yourself this Mental Health Awareness Week?

I would like to draw your attention to a few events that have crossed my desk this week?

• Concerned about the issue of Drug and Alcohol addiction? On Saturday October 15 there’s an evening event run at St Alfred’s Anglican Church, Blackburn North on this topic. (Note – because of the topic, this event is for youth and adults only). The speaker is Associate Professor Alan Gijsbers, a Specialist Physician in Addiction Medicine, and an Honorary Clinical Associate Professor with the Department of Medicine Royal Melbourne Hospital, University of Melbourne. He is the first Medical Director of the Addiction Medicine Service at the Royal Melbourne Hospital and Medical Director of the Substance Withdrawal Unit at the Melbourne Clinic, Richmond. Alan is also a Foundation Fellow in the chapter of Addiction Medicine of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians. For more information and to register go to https://www.stalfreds.org/event/big-issues-nightdrugs-addiction/
• Anglicare is running a parenting course for Dads during October and November. See flyer for details. I highly recommend this course for parents and carers.
• Kids of Gold are running a weekend retreat for children in Years 4-7 in February 2017. The weekend will be focusing particularly on self-esteem and confidence. Applications are open and will fill up soon. The Camp comes heavily subsidised, costing $65. See this link for more details, or collect a form from me.  http://www.kidsofgold.org.au/images/Feb17Level1CampBrochure.pdf

Have a great week!

Sarah McIntosh

School Chaplain (Tuesdays & Thursdays)

mcintosh.sarah.a@edumail.vic.gov.au