Mentally Well: webinar series keeping Tasmanians connected while apart

MAY 14 2020

They say laughter is the best medicine and on Wednesday a webinar helped bring some much needed cheer to homes across Northern Tasmania.

About 70 people tuned into the inaugural Mentally Well session - a free online series aimed at connecting people with expert advice on how to stay on top of their mental health during isolation.

An initiative of Healthy Tasmania and Starting Point Neighbourhood House, Wednesday's session was hosted by Elder Clown Jenny McGregor of the Humour Foundation.

With the tagline 'we may be distant, but we don't need to be disconnected', SPNH manager Nettie Burr said there were many people in the community reeling from the negative impacts of social isolation.

"At Neighbourhood House, we are all about connecting people," she said.

'Through that we have had people saying 'if it wasn't for you or if I didn't have something to come to, my life wouldn't be the same. My mental health wouldn't be well'.

"In the current situation and after we had to shut down because of the virus, we knew it was going to be an issue for our volunteers and our community members.

"We are hoping people feel connected and can learn new ways of staying mindful and happy and positive."

Weekly Mentally Well sessions are planned for every Wednesday until June 10, with various guest speakers and topics ranging from mindfulness and stress management.

With experience working as an Elder Clown for dementia patients in aged care facilities, Ms McGregor said laughter was needed now more than ever.

"There actually is a science behind laughter," she said.

"I have spent seven years working as a clown doctor and seeing pretty much all there is to see in hospitals and how we can use humour.

"Through the Humour Foundation we bring laughter to where it's unexpected, but most needed."

Mentally Well takes place online on Wednesday's at 10am.

For more information visit Healthy Tasmania's Facebook Page.

·        Lifeline 13 11 14

Click here to read the story courtesy of The Examiner Newspaper Launceston