Support each other for mental well-being – Echonetdaily

Mandy Nolan

Earlier this year, I took a young woman in manifest mental distress and I took her home. After nurturing and appraising the situation, I ended up taking her to the hospital where I stayed with her until I was m & # 39; 39, that she was going to be admitted and taken care of.

Later, I visited her at Tweed Heads, where she was transferred. She was relieved to find that she was cured of her "episode" and that she would soon be returning home to Adelaide.

She later sent me a nice thank you. She was fine and, in retrospect, realized how much her psychosis had endangered her. It was weird to be thanked. It seemed to be something we should do for each other if we can.

Although, in this situation, I had the opportunity to withdraw, I am really happy to have "intensified". In the end, it did not take much effort on my part. What it took was my commitment with someone.

October is the month of mental health in New South Wales. It focuses on awareness of mental health and well-being. The key themes are destigmatization and inclusion.

It's interesting to note that when I told friends the story of the young woman that I helped, they said, "Are not we afraid?", But only to try to jump from the car while driving. I certainly did not feel any risk on his part. What I felt was immense compassion and a sense of responsibility to try to help him.

Fay Jackson is Deputy Commissioner of the New South Wales Mental Health Commission, Executive Director of Flourish and Executive Director of Vision In Mind, as she believes people are still very much afraid of mental illness. (Disease This is not a word Fay likes to use.)

"I think people are afraid of mental health; they are afraid of contracting a poor mental illness themselves, "says Fay.

"They say it's not normal, but one in four or five people have a mental health problem at some point. during his life, 50% of people are affected. Thus, statistically, having mental health implications is completely normal.

Discrimination and lack of inclusion start with the language. People can make real changes just by being more aware of the words they use.

Say "I had a busy day at work – it was mental!" Or "She's crazy!" Part of the continued marginalization of people with mental illness.

Fay absolutely agrees. "Language can be hurtful, discriminating and stigmatizing. Even the weather has been announced as indicating "a schizophrenic weather forecast in the future". It only further marginalizes and creates more fear about mental illness. The language makes and breaks the cultures. If we have a positive language full of hope and understanding, much of the trauma and marginalization that is provoked will disappear. "

Peer support is one of the most exciting changes in the resources available for people to take charge of their mental health. Fay Jackson is a strong advocate of worker peers and sees it as one of the ways to make real societal change.

"Peer helpers are people who have had mental health issues and help people; they recover or are recovered people who support people in their recovery process. They use their lived experience on purpose to connect with people to build trust and build relationships, and to mentor and support people in these difficult times. they embody hope because they have had similar experiences and they say you can do it, "said Fay.

In Flourish, 52% of staff have lived experience.

"Including the range of diagnoses that people have.We support people in the workplace.And when they are taken care of, people are usually very good employees.We have no more problems with It is strange that people with mental problems can not be valuable members of society, it is discrimination, and discrimination is illegal. "

Inclusion is a key theme for people with lived experience. "It's about leading a connected and meaningful life. That's what will keep people alive, 'says Fay. "People can have terrible thoughts and feelings, but if they feel valued and valued, it's likely to keep them alive during difficult times. When they can not experience hope, people are in danger. We need that people can experience hope. & # 39;

Things are clearly changing with respect to the attitudes of society, but not for everyone.

"The diagnosis of depression, anxiety, and PTSD has changed, but it has not changed in the diagnosis of bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and personality disorder. These diagnoses are greatly to be feared and should not be. I have a diagnosis of schizoid bipolar affective disorder, but I am a mother and a grandmother and I have been married to my husband for 38 years. If the people around us are supportive, those of us struggling with serious and persistent mental health issues can lead a good, rewarding, connected and valuable life. Fay Jackson happens to be the deputy commissioner of the NSW Mental Health Commission. Pretty impressive for a woman to whom the doctors said she would never work. Fay Jackson is a passionate lawyer of people with lived experience, but she is also a source of inspiration for what she has achieved.

The media is often responsible for perpetuating negative and stigmatizing stories of people with mental health issues.

"For every negative article, there would be a thousand positive articles, but the media do not want to print them," Fay said. "They only want the sensationalism of the human condition …"

In the end, it is about connecting.

"We live half our lives by not connecting with people in our community," Fay said. "Our community does not realize its potential because it does not engage."

With World Mental Health Day being celebrated on October 10 of each year, it is important to remember that it is not just the services available.

"Every member of society can play a supporting role for a person," Fay said. "You do not need a degree, you do not have to be a psychiatrist or a doctor to play your part in helping a person overcome the trauma they are experiencing. A colleague, friend or family member who is willing to say that I will help you in this task – you can develop a plan, meet with you weekly or at any other convenient time and allow someone to when the people around you support them. & # 39;

Although services in regional areas are not as varied and available as in metropolitan areas, Fay believes that there are excellent online forums for talking with peers with lived experience.

Www.sane.org is one of those places where you will be able to experience peer support.

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