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

Unknown userMember15 Jan 2020, 11:08 am AEDT

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.

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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.

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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.

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

Unknown userMember28 Jan 2020, 7:40 pm AEDT

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

Welcome @CheerBear to Topic Tuesday and I'm so sorry too to hear how difficult the past few months have been with it reminding you of the Black Saturday fires. How are you managing at the moment?

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

Unknown userMember28 Jan 2020, 7:41 pm AEDT

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

@Former-Member Good question, how do we manage the impact.

We can re-open roads, rebuild houses quickly but that won’t mend people’s broken hearts and minds and the pain and grief and loss from this situation will linger, compromising their mental health and for some it will mean a long-term mental health issue may develop. There are things we can do now but a long term approach is required.

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

Shaz51Senior Contributor28 Jan 2020, 7:41 pm AEDT

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

@Former-Member , @Former-Member , @Former-Member , @CheerBear

Cyclones are soo different to bush fires

So you do all you can to is to clean up the yard and to to make sure the house is all closed up and then wait for it all to pass , it will take hours , the power goes out and the phones

With cyclones you need to find a safe spot and stick it out

When it is over , what a cleanup and last time we had no power or phones for 10 days

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

Unknown userMember28 Jan 2020, 7:43 pm AEDT

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

Hi @Adge - welcome, so glad you have joined us and have shared.

That is so hard when we are trying to manage our experience and triggers and wellbeing when its a challenge to even get away from the discussion. Have you found any ways to help that? To manage that impact?

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

Unknown userMember28 Jan 2020, 7:43 pm AEDT

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

@Shaz51 What a great description, what came to mind reading that @Shaz51 is that sometimes you have to just sit and wait. Much like we're all doing at the moment, sitting with the shock and horror and having to be patient with the recovery.

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

Unknown userMember28 Jan 2020, 7:45 pm AEDT

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

Hi @Former-Member - thanks for sharing. Sorry you have to head off but very important to charge up. I know its been an awful time for you, so glad you are almost fire free. You might find it helpful to pop back in later and read through this when you can. Stay safe 👋

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

CheerBearSenior Contributor28 Jan 2020, 7:47 pm AEDT

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

I agree @Former-Member. That sense of wanting to do something but feeling helpless would be felt widely by many I imagine.

@Former-Member As you mentioned (I think it was you), I have found it helpful to try and limit my exposure to coverage of it all. I can find myself very easily lost in the awfulness of it (and any big, horrible news really). At times I've had to make a conscious effort to put my phone down and walk away from it. I feel a bit guilty or 'off' even writing that as I know so many people don't have the ability to switch off or walk away.

@Adgethere are so many potential triggers in it all and many that a lot of people might not even think of or recognise. I'm sorry you've experienced that.

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

Unknown userMember28 Jan 2020, 7:48 pm AEDT

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

Hi @Adge welcome and I can hear that the bushfires have not only been triggering but having it everywhere has made it even worse. It sounds like you have some strategies for looking after yourself - please feel free to share then with us if you like 🙂

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

Unknown userMember28 Jan 2020, 7:48 pm AEDT

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

Hey @Adge it's so true that we all experience this situation differently. Some people really need to talk about it a lot and some need to withdraw. I have been conscious of people that already have experienced similar situations or trauma as you mention.

It's important to know our own boundaries and what is safe for you. It's okay to switch off.

Our own self-awareness is really important when it comes to our mental health. People that already have an existing mental health issue or a history of trauma may notice an escalation of symptoms but not realise that it is related to the exposure of the fires.

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

Shaz51Senior Contributor28 Jan 2020, 7:49 pm AEDT

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

Very true @Former-Member

And it also depends on the house you have too

At the height of the last cyclone , our roof started lifting and we had flooding in the house , the winds and the rain sounds sooo loud and wild

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