Author: Date: 26/02/2009 2:33:01 PM

We are starting 2009 with positive vibes for the year. The Christmas party was a wonderful success, and we hope that everyone will try and become involved in some of the activities that are planned for this year.

It is important to support each other, and essential for the children to maintain contact with their peers who have alopecia.

Our first outing is a trip to Taronga Park Zoo on Saturday May 16th. Times and a meeting place will be given closer to the day, so keep an eye on the website, and write the date in your diary now. This will be a great opportunity to catch up with friends and meet new ones, as well as the fantastic fun that seeing all the animals brings.

The Princess Charlotte Alopecia Foundation would also like to have a conference this year similar to the American concept where families get together at a venue for 2/3 days. There would be guest speakers, workshops etc in an environment where everyone feels comfortable.

This is only in planning stage at present, and we need your expressions of interest in this before we go ahead with the idea. The time would probably be in the September/October school holidays.

Please let us know whether you would be interested in coming by filling in the form submitting it to us.

One of the issues that regularly come up for discussion is how we as sufferers cope with living with alopecia. Bullying at school seems to be a real issue, and hiding your condition from others an overwhelming problem.

Your local GP can be of assistance. Medicare has a plan called the Mental Health Care Plan that allows your local GP to organise counselling through either a psychiatrist or a clinical psychologist who uses focussed psychological strategies.

Asking for help is not a sign of weakness, it is just an acknowledgement that you are not coping as well as you could be. Use as many opportunities that you can to live a happy and contented life. Don’t be afraid to ask for help.

Please let me know if there were any particular issues that you would like discussed. 

Trish