stakeFEST is a coming together of local mental health, community leaders & artists for a creative workshop on mental health and suicide prevention.

'care for the carers'.
a practical experience of using creativity, humour and the arts in trauma recovery and in discussions around depression, anxiety and suicide prevention.
an opportunity to connect with other practitioners in a fun, informative, experiential workshop.

Free creative workshop for local mental health, community leaders & artists on mental health and suicide prevention.

Wednesday, April 17th
10 am to 12:30 pm
Byron Community Centre
69 Jonson St, Byron Bay

Our two facilitators tour nationally but live locally and have a lived experience of mental health challenges and use the creative arts and humour in mental health promotion.

Dave Houston has worked in the creative arts for over 33 years, recently involved in writing and performing in the theatre production of LiMBOLAND, a play exploring the traumatic effects of floods and bushfires on communities. He has created a solo theatre show that is a depression comedy that tours nationally. He worked for over a decades with the Royal Children's Hospital - Integrated Mental Health Unit - as an artist in residence in areas impacted by high Indigenous youth suicide and in regions devastated by loss of life from the 2009 Black Saturday Bushfires.For more information and testimonials see Dave's show website - STILL HERE by Dave & the Daves

Mark McConville is a stand-up comedian, public speaker, and creator of the Laughter Clinic who holds a Masters of Suicideolgy from Griffith University. He has several presentations that he delivers all over the country. He is a lecturer on suicide prevention and has presented at the 31st International Association for Suicide Prevention’s World Congress. The IASP World Congress is the leading global forum for suicide & suicide prevention expertise.For more information on Mark visit - Mark McConville