The Centre for Environmental Law (CEL) Roots & Shoots group will be collecting new and second-hand DVDs for patients undergoing treatment at Northside Group, a leading mental health provider in Sydney.

The collection will run from now until the end of June to coincide with Mental Health Awareness Month.

Designed to raise awareness and educate people about mental illnesses, Mental Health Awareness Month addresses the realities of living with these conditions and offers strategies for attaining mental health and wellness.

According to the Black Dog Institute, one in five Australians aged 16-85 experience a mental illness in any year. The most common mental illnesses are depression, anxiety and substance-use disorders. These three types of mental illnesses often occur together.

Macquarie student and CEL Project Officer, Ashley Avci, is seeking support for this community-based project to provide in-patients with entertainment while they are undergoing mental health support and treatment.

“Nearly everyone knows someone who may be suffering from a mental illness. I want to raise awareness for those who may be suffering and show them the love and support they have from those around them, including us — the community. Brain health is so important and mental illness is not a weakness. I hope this initiative can bring the much-needed awareness this issue deserves,” Avci said.

Contributions can be placed in the marked AusPost crate on the table in the Law School Administration Foyer on Level 5, W3A (across from Room 533). It is recommended that DVDs with themes of violence, substance, psychological and sexual abuse are not included.

People who donate are encouraged to share their story on Twitter by tagging the Jane Goodall Institute Australia (@janegoodallau) and the One Act story (#mqOneAct), which is part of the ‘One Act of Kindness’ initiative on campus.