The Melbourne Art Therapy Studio & North YarraCommunity Health

Yarra Community Support (YCS)

The Yarra Community Support team provides in-home and community-based outreach services to peopleexperiencing difficultiesmanaging daily lives and relationships due to the impact of severe mental health issues. These may includepost traumatic stress,schizophrenia and bipolar conditions. Many people using YCS are from culturally diverse backgrounds, andsometimes experiencemental health difficulties after arrival in Australia. Mental health issues can greatly interfere with fundamentalliving arrangements,especially housing, employment, recreation and relationships with family and friends. Services are mostlyoffered on a one to one basis,though group programs and activities may occur where there is interest and willingness. The service is voluntaryand is provided acrossCarlton, Parkville and the City of Yarra. People may self refer or be referred by community, medical or healthservices. YCS offers services that are both practical and therapeutic. That means that while helping people deal withspecific or ordinary tasks, it alsohelps people learn better ways of coping, to bring about changes they would like, to improve relationships andreduce stress in their lives.

YCS & The Melbourne Art Therapy Studio

Since April 2008, YCS and the Melbourne Art Therapy Studio (MATS) have been working together to bring acomprehensive weeklyArt Therapy program to YCS clients. Helena from YCS and Robyn from MATS co-facilitate the group, supportingthem to make art aboutimportant things & people in their lives, changes they might make, what they’re doing well or how they feelabout things.