PEOPLE with a mental illness have help at hand.
TJs Day Program in Kingsville helps people with mental illness to live independently in the community.
Manager Sandy Jackson says its clients can be fully functioning members of society.
"It's about recovering," she says. "When you experience a mental illness, it can be quite life-stopping. You kind of disengage. We help people to get back to life."
TJs is run by not-for-profit organisation Mental Illness Fellowship Victoria and funded by the State Government to support 100 clients, including an outreach service to Footscray House.
Clients take part in group activities, such as going to the gym or eating at cafes. They are also encouraged to join skill development programs and access community services.
"Often it is about just celebrating getting out of their house after they have been really unwell," Ms Jackson said.
"They often live in isolation. Seeing other people go through what they are going through, and learning that it's manageable and you can go on and do what you want with your life.
"Mental illness can be quite disempowering so we try to empower people to make their own choices."
Ms Jackson said clients were encouraged to interact with the general public. "Rather than being centres within the community, we want to be part of the community.
"It is about helping individuals make links. One guy wanted to sing so he became part of a local karaoke night. Now he has a group of friends who are completely separate to mental health services."
But there is still discrimination to overcome. "They do experience a lot of stigma and social exclusion - there's a lot of fear attached to mental illness. People don't really understand," Ms Jackson said, adding that people with a mental illness had to be their own ambassadors in the community.
"We build their confidence to be brave and meet people, to show them who they are and that they are just human like everyone else."
Mark, who did not want his surname used, is one of the program's success stories.
The 47-year-old, who has bipolar, paranoid schizophrenia and is attending TJs, says he has got his life back on track. "I would just sit at home on my own every day and get very depressed. The illness would get worse," he said.
"Before I came here I was suicidal. But that's no longer happening for me."
The Yarraville resident is now taking part in activities through the program.
"I am living a better lifestyle. It's given me something to do every day."
Getting out of the house has been easier since Mark achieved his goal of obtaining his driver's licence. He's now searching for a job after being out of the workforce for 20 years.
"I have been looking in the paper for a driving job, like a removalist.
"But it's very hard to get employment. I haven't had a job since I've been sick."
Now, several times a week, Mark is embracing his love of surfing.
He even plans to move to Geelong to be closer to the ocean.
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