As we gather amidst the hum of holiday cheer, with our slightly lilting Christmas tree as a testament to the beautiful chaos of the season, I write this marveling at the journey that 2024 has been for the Psyche Mental Health Centre crew. The calendar might blur as the days blend together, but there is still space for reflection—celebrating our milestones, learning from challenges, and holding tight to the moments that remind us why we do what we do. 2024 has been transformative, and we’re proud of the resilience, compassion, and growth that have defined our year.
Behind the Scenes!
We’ve done the math: this year, Psyche MHC completed over 4500 sessions and welcomed
approximately 500 new clients to our service. But, behind the scenes, we have focused on solidifying our foundation by refining and documenting our processes—policies, procedures, and protocols have all received the attention they deserve. Alongside this, we’ve continued to offer unwavering support and care to first responders, frontline workers, and the most vulnerable members of our communities, including minorities and those with complex care needs. We’re proud to be recognized as an LGBTIQA+-friendly and inclusive space, fostering a sense of belonging for all who walk through our doors. Our Sorell office has flourished, and our team has grown professionally with staff embarking on internships, gaining clinical endorsements, and embracing incredible professional development opportunities. It's been a year of growth, care, and progress for the whole team.
Increasing Awareness Wherever We Can!
This year, Psyche Mental Health Centre embraced opportunities to support important causes and raise awareness for mental health and inclusion. In August, we transformed our space into a sea of purple for Wear It Purple Day, standing in solidarity with LGBTIQA+ youth and promoting a message of acceptance and support. November saw Mat and Dave take on the Movember challenge, growing impressive mustaches while raising vital funds and awareness for men’s mental health, suicide prevention, and prostate and testicular cancer. Meanwhile, Toni brought energy and creativity to Liptember, crafting a vibrant space to champion women's mental health and spark conversations around the unique challenges women face. These initiatives also reminded us of the unique position we are in as mental health clinicians to in fostering awareness and positive change.
Our Heart Belongs To Community!
Anyone that knows Psyche MHC knows that our heart belongs to the community. This year, we’ve been privileged to support and celebrate the amazing people around us. From sponsoring the South East Giants Junior Football Club to joining the festive cheer at the Sorell Community Carols, we’ve cherished every moment of giving back. We proudly supported the inaugural Sorell Relay for Life and contributed to Share the Dignity’s "It’s In the Bag" campaign, helping those in need. Our Self-Care Advent Calendar brought daily reminders of kindness to ourselves, while Allison passionately championed the importance of self-care at the Empowered event. Rhi represented herself and us beautifully at the Women’s Health Network with her presentation and brought her voice to the NAIDOC Week Panel. These experiences have deepened our connection to the community and strengthened our commitment to being a force for good.
Then There Was The Fun...
But it hasn't all been hard work. We know that we can't do what we do without having some fun!
This year, we made time to celebrate life’s little joys and big milestones. From birthdays to visits from our beloved four-legged friends, there was always something to smile about. We indulged our competitive streaks with the Great Psyche Bake Off—Rhi's incredible Maslow’s cake stole the show—and a fiercely contested footy tipping competition, where Rhi triumphed again (and Toni graciously claimed the wooden spoon). We embraced our creative side, celebrating the Olympics, building LEGO masterpieces, and decorating the office for Halloween, Easter, Christmas, and any other occasion we could think of! A highlight was our gingerbread house decorating competition, and, of course, our mischievous Christmas elf kept everyone on their toes throughout the season. Fun and laughter have been at the heart of our year, reminding us that joy is a vital part of what we do.
CATCH YOU IN 2025!
Now it’s time to sit back and recharge as we prepare for all that 2025 has in store. We’re thrilled to soon welcome everyone to our new space in Moonah—a vibrant addition that, like our Sorell office, reflects our commitment to being unapologetically and authentically Psyche MHC. As always, we’ll continue fighting the system one advocacy letter, report, call, session, referral, question, or passionate rant at a time. With new opportunities on the horizon and the same fierce dedication to our mission, we’re ready to take on another year of making a difference, one step at a time. Bring on 2025!
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