By LIA SPENCER
WHEN Jaime Janes started hearing voices in his head, he tried to ignore them. But when he lost a job because he couldn’t concentrate on the task at hand, he decided to seek help.
The Berwick man was one of about 130 people who attended a Mental Health Week (5-11 October) event, held by support group Ermha in Dandening Park’s Greg Dixon Pavilion to raise awareness of mental illness and disability.
Mr Janes, 43, said his lowest point in his life was when he packed up his belongings and moved from Sydney, where he had lived for 20 years and worked as a commercial photographer, to seek help in Melbourne and be closer to his family.
“I was working on a few different projects here and overseas in 2010, when I started to experience severe symptoms,” he said.
“I was having very disturbed sleeps. Then, the characters from my sleep started to vocalise to me during the day. It was very confronting and I told myself to keep working and ignore it, no-one needs to know. Nobody wants to put their hands up and say ‘I’m crazy or mentally unstable.’”
It wasn’t until he lost a contract job that he decided to seek help.
Mr Janes was first diagnosed with psychosis – which is a temporary syndrome. After it persisted, he was diagnosed with schizophrenia, a permanent condition.
He tried three medications until he found one that worked for him and said he was now feeling stabilised. He also has an outreach worker from Ehrma who offers him support.
“The health services in Victoria have been excellent. It’s refreshing and rewarding to work with people and groups like Ehrma.”
Mr Janes said he enjoyed getting out and socialising and that was why he took part in the event last week. He said he also hoped to be able to work again in the near future.
“When you are a young adult, you find a job and a place to live, and have an income. Everyone wants to be stable like that,” he said.
“But I have to rely on a benefit and I don’t have a stabe income. One day I want to be back working and contribute.”
Mr Janes encouraged other people who suffer from mental health issues to seek help.
“I would tell other people (with mental health issues) to hold their head up high and remember who you are in all of it. Sometimes, you can feel robbed of your own identity,” he said.
“You should definitely ask for help when you need it. Health Services in Victoria are A plus- they are among the world’s highest for excellence.”
For more coverage of Mental Health Week in Casey, turn to page 4.
