“When I started undergoing professional treatment for my issues, I thought that would be it, that it was dealt with, but I realised I needed something more to help stay on top of things, so I joined the forums.”įor people like Tony who live in remote and regional Australia, distance has a big impact on their mental health. Tony initially decided to join the online forums to complement the professional support he was getting. “No matter what people are going through, I try to relate to them.” A couple of members of his family have died by suicide and in 1996, Tony tried to take his own life. He has worked in the RAAF, as a prison officer, a security guard and a private investigator. At 63, he lives with anxiety and various forms of depression. Tony says his vast experience helps him relate to members of the forums community. For the last four years, he’s been a community champion. One of the early users of the forums is Tony who lives in Strathbogie, a small town in Victoria’s high-country.
encourage people to discuss issues with friends and family.provide encouragement to access professional help.Clinically-trained back-up is also available for users at risk of suicide. Community champions are trained members of the online forums community based around Australia who volunteer their time to help respond to posts and help moderate conversations. A community manager runs the forums with the support of volunteer community champions – people who have used the forums before and can speak from experience. The forums are a moderated space for discussion of depression, anxiety, suicide and related life issues. This is significant, given 35 per cent of the population live remotely. Many forum users are in regional areas – a 2016 survey found 44 per cent of forum participants lived in regional Australia. Here, people can use anonymous identities to discuss what they’re going through, share information and learn from those who have gone through similar experiences. One of the most popular tools Beyond Blue offers are its online forums. If you’re having issues with your mental health, or need support managing stress, it’s sometimes difficult to know where to turn.īeyond Blue offers a range of resources that are proving especially useful to people in rural and regional areas, because they can be accessed from their own home. Distance from a GP, from mental health services and supports - even from family and friends. Together we are making a difference.Rural Australians understand all too well the tyranny of distance, especially when it comes to mental health. Thank you once again for your generous support. You are helping us achieve our vision of all people in Australia achieving their best possible mental health. I want to acknowledge the commitment of Jetmaster Victoria to Beyond Blue over the past five years and express my deepest gratitude on behalf of the Beyond Blue Board, staff and most importantly the many individuals and families that we support.
With your donation of $15,000 we will be able to answer around 312 phone calls, emails and web chats. Our 24/7 Support Service, provided by trained mental health professionals, supports thousands of people in Australia and their families every week with immediate counselling, advice and referral.Īs we continue to work to reduce the stigma associated with anxiety, depression and suicide, we can be sure that people in Australia will keep contacting our Support Service when they need to. Your generosity will help us continue to work towards achieving an Australian community that understands anxiety and depression, and empowers every person in Australia, at any life stage, to seek support. I want to personally thank you for your generous support of Beyond Blue. A valued message from Georgie Harmon, CEO of Beyond Blue.
0 kommentar(er)
