Digital petition approaches 5000 mark

THE focus of a local campaign for a headspace centre in Swan
Hill has shifted to more immediate solutions for mental health.
Swan Hill’s Cry for Help, a Facebook petition created to put pressure on
government for a local headspace centre, has raised other community issues and
inspired local businesses to look into the possibility of setting up a local
mental health foundation or support network in the short term.
Event creator Jade Ficarra said a number of people had come forward willing to
financially back various projects aimed at tackling mental health issues, and
private enterprises had come forward willing to amend a lack of local
entertainment for under local youth, which has already resulted in plans for an
under 17s dance next month.
The petition was also granted a place on last night’s council meeting agenda as
part of a motion put forward by Councillor Greg Cruickshank in regards to
mental health.
Cr Cruickshank put forward six recommendations in a motion to be heard on
Tuesday night, including a recommendation that the petition be tabled by both
federal and state parliamentarians, and a recommendation to write to ministers,
State and Federal Government MPs to facilitate a discussion on immediate
solutions.
“It’s really the community’s reaction to it and it is the power of that,
that makes other people take notice,” Cr Cruickshank said.
“It’s all well and good for us to get a headspace centre but… even if we
are included in the next round of funding… it might be another 12 months
before have one here.
“To meet the need now is absolutely essential.”
Ms Ficarra said she was still blown away at the positive discussion that had
already come from the petition.
“The things that have come out of this in the past week are
phenomenal,” she said.
“Ultimately we do need a headspace here but the whole issue is bigger than
that.
“It’s snowballed into this whole other thing – I just hope that it keeps
going and all these issues get resolved.”
Ms Ficarra plans to hand over the petition to the Loddon Mallee Health Alliance
this weekend, and is hoping to reach 5000 signatures by Friday.
As well as giving the petition to the alliance, Ms Ficarra will also take the
petition to local Member for State Government Peter Walsh.
She added that confusion over the event format of the petition, which has led
around 170 people to decline the event or click ‘maybe’, has not significantly
hindered the page’s momentum.
At the time of going to print the Facebook event had almost reached Ms
Ficarra’s goal with 4,948 ‘digital signatures’, and a further 14,169 people
invited to join.