During COVID-19 lockdowns, our charity organised regular Zoom calls with our clients to ensure that everyone was connected and felt supported despite the long lockdowns.
Many people felt isolation and fear when tenancy support was removed by the government. Losing housing for those at-risk of homelessness, and those teetering on the brink were major stressful factors that we faced as we aimed to support our community the best we could.
``Education breeds confidence. Confidence breeds hope. Hope breeds peace.” - Confucius
Our community meals at Rhodes include a fellowship session, where the homeless we bus from Parramatta and Martin Place can stand in a place of religious worship and commune with God, their faith, and a supportive and loving community.
Spiritual health is one of the pillars of mental health and resilience, and we are honoured to support the faith and strength of our Christian homeless, who have the opportunity to stand and observe their faith.
We have a skilled psychologist who volunteers their time at St Merkorious Charity. They provide free mental health sessions for clients who are especially in need.
The homeless and the disadvantaged are particularly at risk of mental illness, and their volunteer support is particularly appreciated to us, as well as the clients they support.
Due to the success and reception of mental health support, our charity is looking to grow our services in this area by hiring more psychologists, social workers, or community workers in the future, as funding allows.
``Education breeds confidence. Confidence breeds hope. Hope breeds peace.” - Confucius
Donations of goods, money or food are highly appreciated. We’ll distribute it to those who need it most.
St Merkorious is grateful for all our volunteers! If you would like to volunteer with our team, register here.
St Merkorious is thankful to all our generous sponsors. If you would like to sponsor our Charity, please call us!
According to Beyond Blue and the World Health Organization, mental health is “a state of well-being in which every individual realises his or her own potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to her or his community.”
Instead of ‘what’s the problem?’, mental health is really about asking ‘what’s going well?’. Mental health is about wellness rather than illness.
Research shows that high levels of mental health are associated with increased learning, creativity and productivity, more pro-social behaviour and positive social relationships, and with improved physical health and life expectancy. In contrast, poor mental health and mental health conditions can cause distress, impact on day-to-day functioning and relationships, and are associated with poor physical health and premature death from suicide.
It is when people face their darkest times that often, mental health is adversely affected. This is when people need help the most, from family, friends, and their community. St Merkorious Charity believes that when we stand together, everyone becomes stronger. Never underestimate the potential of a helping hand for a person in need to regain a more positive outlook, and get back onto their feet.
It’s easy to participate and join one of our programs, and contribute to helping our community members in need! Go to our contact us page and call during our business hours. You can also send in an online form, or approach us when we’re out and about in the community.
We’re always happy to welcome more people into our team!
