Managing expectations on ourselves about work

Hi @Zoe7 – How are you today?

I am so glad to read that the meeting went well with HR for you. That is a positive step in the right direction and hopefully eased any anxiety you had about it as you have mentioned. My fingers are crossed for you that she can help you find a supportive school in a great environment. I think it is even better that you feel comfortable in reaching out to her if you need to, it makes such a difference having a support such as that.

The school you are at seems wonderful in terms of mental health sometimes all it takes is to ask how are you to get someone talking or to make their day. I really hope that in the future these environments are established more broadly and that staff have a more open mind when it comes to mental health. It could always be a generational thing not that, that is an excuse but I think people always need to be mindful that we do not know what goes on behind closed doors.

I really hope there will be positive consequences/results too from the Commission. I have actually applied for a role in the Commission, unsure if I will get it but I would like to contribute to making changes in the field of mental health. As you mentioned services are overwhelmed and understaffed. I am not sure about TAS but in VIC from my experience is it seems you need to have private health etc to get the immediate help through programs which is not always feasible for some.

Here is hoping something changes!

The public system in Tassie is much the same as in Vic @FigBell0917 - under resourced, inadequate and too many people slip through the system without the care needed. There are not enough beds in the public system to support needs and our emergency department are overwhelmed and understaffed. There is also a very long wait list in the private sector and it is extremely expensive for those not covered under their health insurance. Unfortunately the whole system here is very broken. The government continues to say they are increasing the beds available in the future but that time-frame also continues to put on hold. There are also not enough beds in emergency with amulances being ramped regularly for extended periods of time. This is not acceptable for anyone concerned.

I agree with you that the school I am at and the way they treat people is rare but it is nice to know that those workplaces do exist and I can only hope that I am placed in a similar school with the same type of culture and care for both staff and students. I am actually having the day off today after some sad news yesterday - and the Principal was more than happy to let me stay home today ...and moreso he told me to take care of myself ...no questions asked just real concern that I was going through stuff I needed time to deal with.