An unlikely looking bunch of mental health experts will be dropping into Singleton on Sunday, April 7, offering free health and mental health checks to the community.
Psychs on Bikes started back in 2010 when Psychiatrist Dr Ian Dunn decided he wanted to ride his motorbike from Sydney, across the Nullarbor. Merely mentioning the ride soon saw others putting their hand up to join the expedition.
“I thought it would be a tough, dirty, long ride but it was actually easy and a lot of fun and when we finished we decided to do it again,” Dr Dunn said.
After a couple of years the group grew and people directly involved in delivering mental health services became involved.
“We talked about what we were, whether we were a social group or a charity group and we all agreed it was about doing something for the community,” he said.
Since then they have travelled to many destinations but on April 7, it will be their first visit to Singleton on a trip that will take in drop-in sessions to Goulburn, Mudgee, Orange, Tamworth, Bellingen and Singleton.
Dr Dunn was in Singleton last Thursday finalising the Singleton visit that will include three psychiatrists, four psychologists and a mental health nurse.
Dr Dunn said there were four key killers among men: blood pressure, diabetes, alcohol consumption and depression and a key to addressing depression and perhaps suicidal thoughts are the three Ls: Lookout for warning signs, Live another day and Let someone know how you are feeling.
The sessions are simple.
“We simply take blood pressure, check blood sugar levels and body mass index and just ask if they would like to sit and talk with a psychologist?” he said.
The session in Singleton on April 7 is at Singleton York Street Diggers from 5pm to 8pm, it’s free and no appointments are needed. All you do is turn up.
And if you don’t think you need a health check you might just like to peek at the motorbikes. Amongst them are Dr Dunn’s BMW R1250GS, a Ducati Multistrada, KTM Sportsbike and a Royal Enfield and another bike that might open up a whole new health perspective.
