It can be a very disturbing experience, both for the person who hears voices and family and friends.  

To help an often overlooked and marginalised group of consumers who are diagnosed with the mental health condition of schizophrenia  a new support group has been established.

Hearing Voices Community Support Group Orange, the first of its kind in Orange, will become a social network for these voice hearers and provide them with coping strategies, education and training.  

People who hear voices often feel isolated because of the stigma.  We hope to change this through the weekly non-judgmental and confidential group, which has begun meeting at the Community Information and Services Centre in Kite Street each Wednesday from 2pm- 3pm. 

The group will be auspiced by Hearing Voices Network NSW and was instigated after a workshop held in Orange last year with Peter Bullimore, an international voice hearing speaker.

There are a lot of prominent people worldwide who hear voices, and I hope that the local group will raise awareness about hearing voices throughout the wider community and develop ongoing solutions through the integration of voice hearers and mental health professionals working together.

I am glad that the group is finally up and running, we’ve needed one here for a long time.  I can be contacted on 0477 253 961 for further information.

Tania Naven,

Orange