Lithgow needs to do more to understand and combat mental health problems.
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This is the message Lithgow resident, Anna Carter is trying to spread through the Subliminal mental health festival.
"With Subliminal I want to bring hope to people, that they’re not alone dealing with mental health," said Mrs Carter.
"Mental health affects us all. The festival is about bringing awareness and bringing activities so you don't feel 'oh, that's got nothing to do with me'. It's got to do with all of us because we're all affected."
Subliminal will be running from the end of March through April to raise awareness and funds for mental health in the Greater Lithgow Area.
Mental health is an issue close to Anna Carter’s heart, particularly because of how her family has been affected.
After moving to Lithgow from Sydney, Anna sought to get help for her son who was suffering depression after the death of his grandmother, Anna’s mother.
But the service was so underfunded that her son didn't fit their category of need and was classified as "normal".
"And that's what really annoyed me, him being classified as normal but yet suicide was normal?
"It just didn't work. When you turn around and you say it's okay to kill yourself it's just wrong to think life is so expendable.
"I know we have a society that throws away things but life is not one of them, it can't be one of them."
Mrs Carter said the name Subliminal speaks of the underlying messages and feelings that are not immediately visible to those around victims of depression.
She is hoping the festival is able to give people self-worth and understanding that mental health is not a sign of weakness but rather “it’s just life”.
"It's the stresses and the environment of life so I want hopefully with this event to start bringing in the change, getting that ball rolling, that people are empowered, that people have networks they can turn to."
"That us as a community, we're going to be strong, we're going to come together and fill up the gaps in the net."
The festival program includes a series of events including a two week exhibition of children’s artwork titled What makes me happy and an all-ages heavy metal music concert to be held at the Union Theatre.
Lithgow City Council agreed to waive Subliminal’s hire fees for the Union Theatre at this month’s meeting.
The Tin Shed will host a poetry slam on April 19 to give locals a place to have their voice heard.
"People can get confidence, people can get wit, they can project themselves, they can have their say in a safe environment and not feel dis-empowered but empowered."
"In a sense that's what I'm trying to do is that if you give somebody confidence especially the youth, they then have this tendency to give better value to a community than a disruptiveness to a community."
If local businesses or individuals would like to help out, they can find the event on Facebook by searching Subliminal 2790 NSW or contact Anna on 6352 4480.