Shattering stigma behind mental health, one conversation at a time – that’s what Ruth Osullivan and her team will be doing at this week’s Ipswich Mental Health and Wellbeing Expo.
Ms Osullivan, from the West Moreton Health Lived Experience Workforce team, will be one of many stallholders available to connect visitors with information, support and services that promote mental health and wellbeing.
As senior peer coordinator, Ms Osullivan supports her team to find its unique voice by bringing a personal insight into caring for someone with a mental health challenge.
“Our lived experience workers are non-clinical members of the mental health team. They bring a unique and important perspective through their own lived experience of mental health challenges or their experience as a family member or a carer supporting someone through mental health challenges,” Ms Osullivan said.“
They use that experience intentionally to connect with people and their families or carers, provide hope, and help them feel heard, understood and supported as they navigate services and their recovery journey.“
Events like this are particularly valuable because they create an accessible and welcoming opportunity for people and their carers to have conversations, make connections and learn about the range of supports available within their community.”Ms Osullivan highlighted the support needs of carers too.“
When you look after a person with mental health challenges, carers’ mental wellbeing can quietly suffer,” Ms Osullivan said.“
If I could go to my younger self, I would really focus on practising self-care as it is something I didn’t do back then.“
You can’t pour from an empty cup. You need to look after yourself, even if it’s to allow yourself five minutes to drink a cup of tea. This is what I share with carers that I come across in my work.”
Residents across the West Moreton region are invited to explore the free community expo, meeting stallholders from 30 local service providers to learn about support services and resources that promote positive mental health and wellbeing.
The expo highlights the strength of collaboration across the mental health sector, with government, non-government and community organisations working together to improve awareness of services and promote wellbeing across the region.
The event, held annually since 2018, attracts thousands of visitors.
- Ipswich Mental Health Week 2026
- When: Thursday 8 October
- Time: 9am to 6pm
- Location: Riverlink Shopping Centre
- Cost: Free