"Support from a rural primary health nurse"

I am part of a resource and recovery program and I have worked with Sarah Hienges (a rural primary health nurse from the Murrumbidgee Medicare Local) for 2 years. As part of our Mental Health Program we have been able to get funding so that we can run community groups in Cootamundra. We formed an art group which Sarah comes to and provides health information on different topics. Previous to running this art group there were some people who did not leave their house however it seems that having this art group has changed this. By coming along to these art groups and receiving health information from Sarah I see that many people appear to have developed more self-confidence and have been able to get to know other people. One person who attended this group is now, 2 years later, an art exhibitor at the local tourist office in Young which I think is a great achievement. I also believe that this program has helped decrease the stigma of Mental Health in our community.

I wish to thanks Sarah who is organised and always gives feedback and promptly responds to my emails. In my opinion we wouldn’t be where we are now without Sarah.