This is Mental Health Week and a time for people to open their minds to help overcome the stigma and discrimination and to listen to those who are willing to talk about how their illness has affected them.

The Lower North Mental Health Action group will hold a couple of awareness days in Clare and Balaklava (today and tomorrow).

The aim is to “Open Your Mind” to mental health and allow people to realise how common this illness is, as well as providing strategies for management and symptom awareness.

The main message is not only to the community to develop an understanding, but also to people who may be trying to deal with depression on their own, that there is support and help available.

In rural communities, where the drought and other factors have been contributing to stress it’s even more important that people don’t “go it alone” and that they seek professional assistance.

Unlike many other illness, depression does not have external symptoms and in many cases can go on for weeks or months if left untreated.

It’s a serious common illness with about a million Australian adults and 160,000 young people living with depression each year.

In fact most people will have suffered depression at some time in their lives.

There are also a wide range of related disorders including post natal depression anxiety and bipolar disorders.

And the good news is there is plenty of help out there.

An excellent starting point for people who would like further information is to pop into a Mental Health Week event - Ennis Park in Clare on Wednesday, October 7 from 11am to 3pm; Balaklava Town Hall on Thursday, October 8 from 11am to 3pm.

For more information contact your local doctor or visit: www.health.sa.gov.au/mental health or www.beyondblue.org.au

The Beyond Blue website has information on symptoms and treatment options, practical ways to help someone with depression, recovery strategies and more.

If you need urgent help ring Lifeline 13 11 14 or contact Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636 to have fact sheets mailed to you.

Don’t leave depression undiagnosed or untreated.