Community Education - Speakers Bureau

MI Fellowship Victoria currently runs its own speakers bureau featuring a range of people who are available to talk about their lived experience with mental illness, how it has affected the lives of themselves and the people around them and how members of the community can get behind people with a mental illness.

Speakers from the bureau are available to present to groups or speak at events and there is a variety of presentations that can be tailored to your needs.

For more information about the speakers bureau contact Reception on 03 84864200 or email enquiries@mifellowship.org

One Person's Experience of Living with a Mental Illness

This is a one hour presentation that can be given either by someone with a mental illness or someone who is a carer of somebody with a mental illness.

The presentations cover a range of topics including

• What the symptoms were when a mental illness was first detected
• How mental illness has impacted on the speaker's life.
• What happened when mental illness was diagnosed.
• How in this person’s experience access was obtained to mental health service
• How help and support was received
• How the path to recovery has progressed
• Stigma against people with a mental illness and how it impacts on recovery
• How the speaker is managing their health today

Mental Illness - The Facts

This one hour presentation is aimed at bringing groups up to speed on what mental illness is, and what it isn't, and improving understanding of mental health.

Topics covered in this presentation include -

• What is mental illness?
• The different types of mental illness
• What are the causes of mental illness?
• What recovery and treatments are available?
• What are the outcomes for people with mental illness in terms of education & employment and housing?
• Signs of mental illness and what to do.
• How to sustain wellness
• Where to go for help
• What services and resources MI Fellowship Victoria can offer

One Person's Lived Experience plus Some Facts About Mental Illness

A one hour presentation combining One Person's Experience of Living with a Mental Illness and Mental Illness - The Facts can be arranged.

Understanding Mental Illness

This is a three hour interactive presentation that helps groups examine their own knowledge of mental illness and workshop ways to expand their understanding.

Topics the workshop covers include -

• What is it about mental illness that people find uncomfortable?
• What is mental illness?
• What are the different types of mental illness?
• What causes mental illness?
• What recovery and treatments are available?
• Signs of mental illness and what to do.
• How to sustain wellness
• Where to go for help
• What are the outcomes for people with mental illness in terms of education & employment and housing?
• Understanding the experience of auditory hallucinations - exercise
• Symptoms and behaviours and helpful interventions - exercise
• One person's story of living with mental illness
• What services and resource MI Fellowship Victoria can offer.

Customised workshops

Presentations and workshops can be tailored to your organisation’s needs and requirements.
They can be a long or as short as you require, there can be a combination of personal experience and facts.  A combination of presentation and work shopping exercises.

Charges apply for all workshops, please contact reception on 03 8486 4200 or enquiries@mifellowship.org for further details.