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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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AEST- 6pm
ACDT- 6:30pm
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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, 8:28 pm AEDT

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

@Joy139 its so interesting how much early intervention can help but its equally wonderful that you have been able to enter into a recovery journey and really work through some hard things. What kind of strengths do you draw on from yourself to do that?

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

Joy139Casual Contributor28 Jan 2020, 8:28 pm AEDT

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

Thank you @Former-Member I'm glad I joined too. Funnily, I had to shut down to such an extent as to stop myself heading off to the local CFA to do what I could to help out. My first instinct is to help and I had to be kind to myself and talk myself through the guilt of doing absolutely nothing to help. That was hard to explain to people but I am so pleased I saw what I personally needed to do.

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

Unknown userMember28 Jan 2020, 8:31 pm AEDT

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

@greenspace @CheerBear @Adge @Shaz51 - you have all shared some really insightful things here. What do you think are the kind of strengths can you draw on to help manage the feeings we all been sharing?

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

Unknown userMember28 Jan 2020, 8:31 pm AEDT

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

@Joy139 I am so glad you realized that too and gave yourself permission. It can be really liberating to be responsive to your own needs and feel okay with that. Initially it may feel uncomfortable but sitting with this discomfort is part of looking after yourself.

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

CheerBearSenior Contributor28 Jan 2020, 8:33 pm AEDT

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

I don't think I'd fully realised until tonight, that those same feelings of watching people trapped, suffering, not being able to escape etc these fires could all trigger things for those of us who have had traumatic experiences involving the same feelings in completely different situations and times (I don't know how I missed that for myself over the last weeks/months). I guess awareness as you mentioned @Former-Member is something that could be really helpful. Until you're aware of what might be going on it's pretty hard to move through it maybe. Talking about it and finding people who understand (or who try to understand) is another thing that could be helpful too.

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

Joy139Casual Contributor28 Jan 2020, 8:34 pm AEDT

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

Thank you @Former-Member.For me, this (ptsd) has only recently emerged after many years out of the job.
I still work in a helping role and look at the awareness as a gift and to build on my existing resilience and strength.
I hope my contribution is relevant as I know so many people are suffering first hand from recent fires and I'm no. My heart is with them all.

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

Unknown userMember28 Jan 2020, 8:35 pm AEDT

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

@Former-Member @CheerBear @Joy139 @Former-Member @greenspace @Adge

Hopefully we will be able to draw on our learnings individually and as a community.

During the recovery period in years to come, we will witness different learnings and there will also be good that comes from this situation as often does occur in disasters or tragedies. People and communities will draw on resources they didn’t know they had, people will be creative and innovative, new beginnings will occur and people will unite. These strengths and people’s resilience will be vital for the long-term recovery. And this will come from people’s capacity to sit with distress and wait.

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

Shaz51Senior Contributor28 Jan 2020, 8:36 pm AEDT

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

Talking about it and finding people who understand (or who try to understand) is another thing that could be helpful too.-- very true @CheerBear @Former-Member , @Former-Member , @Former-Member

Hello @Joy139

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

greenspaceSenior Contributor28 Jan 2020, 8:37 pm AEDT

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

@Former-Member wrote:
@greenspace you paint an excellent picture but challenging one of how this situation impacts us all in so many different ways. It can hit us on a personal level but also we start thinking about the big picture and can feel disillusioned with politicians etc as you pointed out and the state of our future. How have you managed @greenspace because now you have got sick, it's a real sign hey that the stress is now manifesting with a physical illness. I hope you're getting the support you need.

Thank you @Former-Member Messaging with my sister in Darwin has been a big help. I'm lucky we have a good relationship, and even though she's far away we message each other every day, and ring most weekends. She understands me, and understands the feeling of helplessness in the face of natural disasters, and she reminds me to keep looking after myself, having meals, having showers (despite the drought!), and staying in touch with friends online, and in person if I can.

Being physically ill makes it harder -- I missed a volunteer shift at the l9cal art gallery, and had to cancel seeing a movie with a friend. But the antiviral meds are helping with the shingles, and I hope to be over them in a week or so.

I'm really glad to have some in-home support -- seeing people IRL, being taken to the doctor's and grocery shopping, playing a card game with a support worker -- it's all helped me keep going.

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

Joy139Casual Contributor28 Jan 2020, 8:37 pm AEDT

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

Hi @Former-Member. I am finally being honest with myself and listening to my body that's been in a heightened state for years without realising it. I'm writing too and doing a lot of reflection.

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