New Organisation to Support People with Depression - BDAAD

Busselton Dunsborough Alliance Against Depression (BDAAD) is now operating in Busselton.

OUR PURPOSE "To inform and unite the community to address depression in the City of Busselton"

OUR VISION
A resilient Busselton – Dunsborough community with enhanced social and emotional wellbeing.

OUR MISSION / PURPOSE
To reduce suicidal behaviour and deaths by suicide in Busselton, Dunsborough and the local environs by improving the mental health of people prone to, or experiencing depression.

Our Goals & Objectives are to work as a community-based organisation in:

• improving mental health literacy,
• reducing stigma,
• improving knowledge of services and referral pathways,
• identifying service gaps and the duplication of services
• reducing barriers to care
• training and skill - building in the community

 BDAAD has been active in the community running fund raising events, information sessions, training, community drumming events and collaborating with other service providers and organisations providing community services to raise the awareness of depression in the community and depression treatments.

Volunteer opportunities:

BDAAD have a number of ways you can become involved.
Currently we have a committee of lovely volunteers. We would love to bolster our committee with anyone with an interest in improving mental health and community connections - Community Wellbeing Volunteers do not have to have any specific skillset or career background, just an interest in being part of community wellbeing.

Committee meetings are usually up to 1.5 hours (very efficiently run), on the first Monday of the month from 7pm. Commitment required is to attend these meetings in person or by telephone, reading the minutes and making any comments or suggestions. Volunteers may also attend our free mental health training courses and events.

Our next meeting: 2nd October 2023 7pm, at the Surf Rescue Club, Busselton.
To enquire about becoming a Community Wellbeing Volunteer click here: https://www.bdvolunteers.org.au/for-volunteers/search.html?oppId=201561

 If being on a committee is not your thing there are a variety of other ways to get involved such as social media posts, photography, website updates, article writing, attending mental health events, taking posters and leaflets to GP surgeries and other venues - crafts, or using whatever your skillset is. For more information and to enquire about general volunteering roles go here: https://www.bdvolunteers.org.au/for-volunteers/search.html?oppId=201596