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Artist to address rural forum on depression

November 18, 2005

Greg Wilson, a man who painted his way out of depression, will be the guest speaker at a public forum on depression in rural communities to be held in Armidale, NSW, next week.

The artist Greg Wilson is the subject of a book, "My Brush With Depression", published earlier this year. He will speak at the Rural Mental Health Community Forum on Depression on Friday 25 November.

Organised by The University of New England, the forum will address a major health problem that results, among other things, in a disproportionate number of suicides in rural areas each year. A panel of local mental health experts and people affected by depression will discuss, with the audience, the importance of mental health awareness in rural communities.

The forum will be at the New England Regional Art Museum (NERAM) from 2.30 to 4.30 pm. For more information, and to register attendance, phone Leigh Kelly at UNE on (02) 6773 3862.

At the age of 24 Greg Wilson developed severe depression when recovering from a near-fatal motorcycle accident. Using previously-acquired artistic skills, he achieved a new zest for living through painting and sculpture, and now has his own gallery in the Hunter Valley. “My work is more than a work of art; it is a work of the heart,” he says.

Greg Wilson's works have been sold around Australia, and in Europe and the United States. He will be signing copies of "My Brush With Depression" at the forum.

The Vice-Chancellor of UNE, Professor Ingrid Moses, will introduce Greg Wilson at this University-community rural health forum, and Tony Windsor, Federal Member for New England, will participate in the discussion.

Professor Victor Minichiello, Dean of the Faculty of Education, Health and Professional Studies at UNE, said statistics revealed that the Australians at greatest risk of suicide were young men living in rural and remote areas. “It is important to note,” he added, “that there is a critical shortage of mental health professionals, and that the shortage crisis gets worse the farther you go into rural and remote areas.”

Professor Minichiello explained that, while rural towns were generally characterised by “very close, caring communities” and “resilience through tough times such as droughts”, they were also “fragile”. “For example, a suicide can have a huge impact on a rural school community located in a small town,” he said.


Media contact: Professor Victor Minichiello, Faculty of Education, Health and Professional Studies, UNE (02) 6773 3862, Greg Wilson on 0412 100 024, or Jim Scanlan, Public Relations, UNE (02) 6773 3049.

Posted by Jim Scanlan at November 18, 2005 01:16 PM