Friends set to arrive

By Kelly Yates
A COMPANIONSHIP program for people living with mental illness is coming to the City of Casey.
Compeer, which operates within the St Vincent de Paul Society, is an initiative where volunteers are matched with people with mental illness as companions to provide the gift of friendship.
The pair meet for an hour a week for at least one year and share low cost or no-cost activities in the community such as walking, watching sport, going to libraries, or an occasional movie.
The male and female volunteers matched on age, gender and location, are aged from 18 to 65 years-plus, and are supportive companions and role models, not social workers, carers or parents.
Manager Ann Tan said the program was coming to Casey for the first time as of result of several requests made by people in need of the service in the City of Casey.
“We had a lot of areas who want the program and ask for us because it is aimed at the isolation caused by the effects of mental illness,” Ms Tan said.
“We started it in the middle and outer eastern suburbs, and also set up a regional centre in Bendigo. And we are now coming to Casey.”
Co-ordinator of Compeer Melbourne Yvonne Avery said the aim of the program was to improve the social inclusion of people living with mental illness, to assist in their recovery and relapse prevention, and to break down stigma associated with mental illness.
According to Ms Avery, the steady, reliable and caring companionship of the program makes a world of difference to people isolated from the community.
“The power of human contact cannot be underestimated,” she said.
“Compeer also helps to break down the fear and lack of understanding of mental illness in the community and shows them that someone cares.”
Ms Avery said some clients had shown major improvements with regards to self-esteem, self-reliance, communication and confidence.
Compeer was established in the United States back in 1973 and now operates in more than 100 locations in the United States, Canada and Australia.
The program is funded through donations to St Vincent de Paul Society.
There will be an information session held in Berwick on 1 September from 2pm to 4pm.
For details or to book call 9895 5886.