Weave Survival Tips is a campaign that acknowledges we all go through hard times. Asking “what do you do to get through hard times?” is a way of shifting from problem-centred thinking to an approach based on strengths and resilience. Simple tips can make a real difference: talk, laugh and love a lot; write poetry, put your feelings in a song; acknowledge all your achievements; go for a run…The online resource can be accessed at www.weave.org.au.
Residents of one street in our local government area are busy planning a verge garden in response to the mental health needs of their neighbours. It might sound simple but such a project has the capacity to draw support from local social and community development workers, religious leaders, police, artists and therapists of various disciplines.
For anybody who has suffered trauma of any kind the creation of safe and positive community space can be of inestimable value.
Sufferers are not so different from the rest of us. We all need safe and positive community spaces. We all need people who care and encourage us to make meaningful contributions in our neighbourhoods. Appropriate care, creativity and patience can significantly aid the treatment and recovery process for someone living in your neighbourhood.
It’s about conferring dignity – and looking for ways to make connections and sustain relationships. We’d love to hear your ideas and project plans.
