Drumming the way to better mental health

l CAIRNS

| Gail Sedorkin

KICKING off Multicultural

Month in rhythmic style, Centacare FNQ has hosted the city’s cultural leaders to a group drumming session at its mental health coaching hub at Cairns North.

Led by 10 Thomas Street’s mental health coach Stefan Schlechta, the group, representing Japanese, Indonesian, Muslim and Thai communities, took their seats and djembe drum to experience the therapeutic, wellbeing enhancing benefits of group drumming.

“What we do here at Thomas Street is provide a whole range of group and individual therapy sessions that are free and open to anyone between 18 and 65 years of age, who have a presenting issue,” Mr Schlechta said.

“The leaders attending this week’s drumming session embraced the opportunity to learn something new and quickly picked up the rhythms with harmonic effect. They also took turns sharing some of the issues that affect their communi- ties,” he said. Mr Schlechta said many people, particularly those living in multicultural communities, feel isolated – and when challenged by issues associated with loneliness such as depression, anger management or addiction – feel bereft of help with nowhere to turn.

“What we do is provide people with tools they can use every day and particularly when they run into problems,” he said.

“On Mondays, we meditate. On Tuesdays, we drum. On Wednesdays we make art, on Thursdays, we look at women’s empowerment, and finally, on Fridays, we focus on anger management and conflict resolution.”

Centacare FNQ and the coaching team at 10 Thomas Street actively advocate for the vibrant multicultural community in Cairns and in observing multiculturalism will celebrate diversity throughout August and beyond.

Centacare FNQ mental health and wellbeing manager Nathan Lee said mental health was integral to a harmonious and healthy community.