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Topic Tuesday // Your mental health and the recent bushfires // Tues 28 Jan, 7pm AEST

Topic Tuesday // Your mental health and the recent bushfires // Tues 28 Jan, 7pm AEST

The discussion has started, scroll down and keep refreshing your browser to see responses, and keep and eye on the page numbers as there is only 10 posts per page, then a new page will be created.

This event is open for everyone: for people with a direct experience of mental health issues as well as family, friends, loved ones and carers.

A range of impacts across the country

Ringing in 2020 might have felt confronting, complicated or downright tough for Australians as we have all felt/watched/been impacted by the current unprecedented bushfires across multiple states. Between being either close, directly in line with the fires or watching through the media - we want to use this online Forums event to talk as a community through the feelings around this as well as strategies to manage now and address the medium to long term impact these kind of events can have.

Online discussion with a mental health professional

We will have the wonderful @Daphne returning as our special guest who is a counsellor at SANE Australia and leads our counselling team both clinically and operationally. @Daphne has extensive experience as a counsellor in the mental health sector and has worked with both people whom live with mental health issues and their carers or family and friends.

Content warning & further support

Please be aware that this discussion could be triggering relating to trauma and PTSD. SANE Australia is committed to supporting people navigate the lasting impacts of the bushfire crisis and other traumatic events.

For access to ongoing support, the Australian Government has recently announced a mental health support package for people affected by the bushfires. If you have been affected by recent bushfire events and would like to access these supports you can call the Australian Government bushfire disaster assistance line on 180 22 66 or visit: https://www.lifeinmindaustralia.com.au/mental-health-support-for-bushfire-affected-communities.

Want to receive an email reminder on the night? Hit the 'Support' button below.

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I'm new here - what is Topic Tuesday?

Topic Tuesday runs from 7pm - 9pm AEST monthly. Each month we focus on a different topic, with the session facilitated by a Community Manager or Moderator. Sometimes Topic Tuesday will feature a special guest, who is an expert in the topic.

The first post of the thread (this one) will give you an idea of what the topic is and what will be covered.

How do I get involved?

Topic Tuesday takes place right here! It's text based, so no software is needed. During the session, to keep up with the latest posts hit the 'refresh' button on your browser for the latest posts (it doesn't automatically update). Keep an eye for page numbers at the top & bottom of the page, and jump to the highest page number for the most recent post.

Throughout the session, the facilitator will put questions out for you to answer, usually asking for your own experience on the topic. To contribute to the session, just hit the 'reply' button and share your thoughts. No answers are right or wrong and everyone is welcome to get involved.

What time does this event start in my timezone?

  • AEDT- 7pm
  • AEST- 6pm
  • ACDT- 6:30pm
  • ACST- 5:30pm
  • WST- 4pm

If you have any questions about how to use the Forums, check out our Guides.

108 replies

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In response to: Topic Tuesday // Your mental health and the recent bushfires // Tues 28 Jan, 7pm AEST

Re: Topic Tuesday // Your mental health and the recent bushfires // Tues 28 Jan, 7pm AEST

That's great @Shaz51 to remember the practical things too! Thanks for sharing 🙂

In response to: Topic Tuesday // Your mental health and the recent bushfires // Tues 28 Jan, 7pm AEST

Re: Topic Tuesday // Your mental health and the recent bushfires // Tues 28 Jan, 7pm AEST

Wonderful insight and strategy @greenspace - being able to connect and action that visualisation is so powerful - well done!

In response to: Topic Tuesday // Your mental health and the recent bushfires // Tues 28 Jan, 7pm AEST

Re: Topic Tuesday // Your mental health and the recent bushfires // Tues 28 Jan, 7pm AEST

So glad that it has been helpful @CheerBear and thank you for your insights.

In response to: Topic Tuesday // Your mental health and the recent bushfires // Tues 28 Jan, 7pm AEST

Re: Topic Tuesday // Your mental health and the recent bushfires // Tues 28 Jan, 7pm AEST

Hello everyone,

sorry im late

In response to: Topic Tuesday // Your mental health and the recent bushfires // Tues 28 Jan, 7pm AEST

Re: Topic Tuesday // Your mental health and the recent bushfires // Tues 28 Jan, 7pm AEST


@Former-Member wrote:

As a lot of you have mentioned now, connection is so essential for our mental health. We connect for our own needs but also to help others. Whether its talking through the things we are discussing tonight or just being around someone else or being in a social circumstance that brings you some joy. We thought we could goal set together tonight: How can you connect in the next week to help yourself and your community? Remember whatever you do, you need to feel safe, so you can think of anything that is within your comfort here.


My goal for the next week -- I wanted to go to an event in a nearby town on the weekend, but there's a heatwave forecast, so I'll be there in spirit, and online -- it's a party in a park and people are invited to dress up as endangered animals, so I'll wear my costume at home and post selfies on the event page on Facebook

In response to: Re: Topic Tuesday // Your mental health and the recent bushfires // Tues 28 Jan, 7pm AEST

Re: Topic Tuesday // Your mental health and the recent bushfires // Tues 28 Jan, 7pm AEST

Whoops looks like we had a technical glitch for a bit there! Apologies everyone for the pause!

This has been such a wonderful discussion tonight, thank you everyone for coming along and sharing so openly and working through some really helpful coping strategies. Its so powerful to see the benefit in sharing our knowledge here toegther! A HUGE thanks to our amazing special guests @Former-Member and @Former-Member for all your golden insight, discussion and support tonight. We are so grateful for your time.

For anyone wanting to continue to chat about this and connect, you can join in the Bushfires thread. I'll post a list of resources shortly as well for everyone!

In response to: Topic Tuesday // Your mental health and the recent bushfires // Tues 28 Jan, 7pm AEST

Re: Topic Tuesday // Your mental health and the recent bushfires // Tues 28 Jan, 7pm AEST

Sorry for that unexpected technical error everyone!!

In response to: Topic Tuesday // Your mental health and the recent bushfires // Tues 28 Jan, 7pm AEST

Re: Topic Tuesday // Your mental health and the recent bushfires // Tues 28 Jan, 7pm AEST

So sorry for all the posts from myself and @s-jay while we were trying to get our posts through and work on the error. We really appreciate your patience and understanding! I will remove all the duplicates on the next page.

Here are some resources and also a list of other short and long term helpful strategies to help maintain your wellbeing during traumatic times:

Short term:

  • Switch off when you need to
  • Try and keep your routine
  • Look after your physical needs
  • Avoid alcohol/drugs
  • Don’t over-function, offer help that doesn’t compromise you
  • Listen to your mind and body
  • Talk to those you feel safe with
  • Reach out for professional support

Long Term:

  • Building networks and reconnecting
  • Self-care: Sleep hygiene, exercise
  • Long term therapy
  • Reconnecting with nature and environment
  • Working towards new beginnings and meaning in life

Resources:

The Australian Government has recently announced a mental health support package for people affected by the bushfires. If you have been affected by recent bushfire events and would like to access these supports you can call the Australian Government bushfire disaster assistance line on 180 22 66 or visit: https://www.lifeinmindaustralia.com.au/mental-health-support-for-bushfire-affected-communities.

The Government have also announced that anyone who has been impacted by bushfires will be eligible to receive Medicare rebates for up to 10 psychological therapy sessions provided by GPs, psychologists, and other eligible mental health professionals.

https://www.health.gov.au/ministers/the-hon-greg-hunt-mp/media/immediate-mental-health-services-deployed-into-fire-affected-communities

As always the SANE Help Centre is open from Monday - Friday, 10am - 10pm AEST. Our team of counsellors are available by phone, web chat and email, so you can comfortably communicate in the way that feels best for you.

There's state by state resource listed via this link

For wellbeing support services for family members of CFA people click through to this website for more information

There are also some useful articles that SANE has put together:

https://www.sane.org/information-stories/the-sane-blog/wellbeing/bushfires-complex-mental-health-issues-trauma

https://www.sane.org/information-stories/the-sane-blog/wellbeing/mental-health-impacts-australia-bushfire-crisis

If anyone wants to continue chatting together head to Bushfires

This thread will be closed from tomorrow morning. Thanks again everyone!!

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