TWO events focused on living with obsessive compulsive disorder will be hosted in Mildura on May 16.
Acclaimed author of The Joy of Life, Penny Moodie will be book signing at an in-conversation event at the Mildura Art Centre, before she hosts an OCD support and resource workshop at Sunraysia Community Health Services.
The events, arranged by the Northern Mallee Leaders program, are part of a three-day long program called Exploring Well: A Community Mental Health and Wellbeing Initiative.
Ms Moodie, who has been a passionate advocate for mental health, particularly after being diagnosed with OCD at the age of 31, will use her experiences with OCD to connect with health professionals and people experiencing the disorder.
“I’ve done a few public talks on OCD in particular over the years, but not really something like this for a regional community,” she said.
“It’s new but I’m very excited to do it.
“At the moment it’s getting mixed up with obsessive compulsive personality disorder which is treated very differently.
“I’m really excited to do a workshop and have it really personal and quite unfiltered as well, I think that would be really important.”
Ms Moodie said research suggests it takes people living with OCD an average of nine years between the onset of symptoms and diagnosis.
“Some research suggests it’s closer to 17 years, it’s outrageous and it just means that people are suffering in silence, or suffering for many, many years,” Ms Moodie said.
“Once I got diagnosed it was like having a road map, I knew there would still be a long road but it felt like there was a way out.”
She said being able to talk candidly about OCD and its symptoms will help foster a deeper sense of empathy in the community.
“OCD is classed as one of the ten most debilitating illnesses in the world and I don’t think people really totally grasp that, it’s hard to grasp it if you haven’t experienced it,” she said.
“I think a deeper more nuanced understanding of what it is, that would be successful in my mind.
“I’m just really hoping that it allows people that maybe work in the health sector to recognise it earlier and even people who might be suffering with OCD to recognise it themselves and they might be able to go see a health professional knowing what’s going on.”
Ms Moodie will be interviewed by her husband Hugh Van Cuylenburg during the in-conversation event, which is emceed by Northern Leader Leaders general manager Kelly Wandel.
Mr Van Cuylenburg is the founding director and facilitator of The Resilience Project, which provides mental health strategies to schools, businesses and sporting groups to build resilience and happiness.
Mental Health and Wellbeing Local Mildura operations manager Sue Hermans said they were thrilled to be the primary sponsor for this segment of the Exploring Wellness event.
“This initiative perfectly aligns with our mission to collaborate with partners and colleagues in the sector to raise mental health literacy and reduce stigma,” Ms Hermans said.
“By engaging with world-class experts like Hugh Van Cuylenburg and Penny Moodie, along with our friends at Northern Mallee Leaders, we hope to empower attendees to better understand mental health and wellbeing in both personal and professional settings.
“We are a local mental health and wellbeing service that provides accessible support for folks when and where they need it.
“A perfect example of improving this access is partnering with amazing initiatives and local businesses to improve mental health literacy. Because mental health and wellbeing is everyone’s business.”
Ticket prices are $30 for the in-conversation event, $35 for the OCD support and resource workshop, or $50 for both.
For more information or to register, visit https://www.milduraartscentre.com.au/WhatsOnPages/WorkshopsEvents/Exploring-Wellness-an-OCD-and-Mental-Health-Presen.aspx or contact 03 5018 8330.
