MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH: Let's Talk About It! (October 2024)

[TAB]

I suffer from depression and anxiety . I live alone. I was technically homeless when saw ads on tv in 2015 , quitting jobs, hanging out in motels.

I had been there before, but this time it felt different, worse, like hopeless.

I ended up going back to a place that was easy for me, if not ideal in the long run. After a few months I got myself a rental house and decided here was as good a place as anywhere to be  and was mostly employed, even in work was mostly horrible. it makes you feel better having money and being able to pay bills. 

Anyway. fast forward 9 years, I have moved, rental went a few years ago, health took a downturn, moved interstate to small country town and got small old house with inheritance. And am still talking to some of the people was talking to in 2015 , okay not all the time, but still say 'hello' and I think of them encouraging me all those years ago.

Its not always smooth sailing, esp if things not going well for other people talking to. But its mostly respectful and no-judgemental and you can pretty much not have to sugar coat things too much with saying you spent a day or two in bed, say, and feel the better for it or you cant handle seeing such and such etc  the GP is a useless*^(% so and so 

or I feel like I have achieved saying had a shower and tidied kitchen up. People understand.

[tyme]

That's so cool to hear @Ainjoule ! I've never heard this before. Wow! Thanks for sharing!

[MJG017]

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@Oaktree wrote:

I am getting involved in the peer work space too. I am in the interview process for a lived experience advisory committee, I also have another exciting opportunity that I can’t talk about and I am applying for a scholarship place for cert IV mental health peer work for 2025. Wish me luck…

Sounds like you are in a really good place and that you are already heavily involved in peer work despite not having done the certification quite yet. Good for you!!!

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Is the scholarship the application you were told there were 60-80 people applying for 30 spots?  Good luck and I hope you get in.  I'm just waiting to hear back once they've processed my enrollment application. It seems a lot easier here in SA, although we have to pay, but the govt subsidies seem to be quite generous.  So hopefully we both start next year and can become study partners.  I remember you mentioning this opportunity you can't talk about yet.  I'm assuming it has something to do with SANE. Either way i'm excited for you, i'm sure you'll take this opportunity and run with it. 

I do feel like i'm in a good place at the moment, but still wary that these things can change without warning.  Last weekend was an example of that so I know there's still a lot of work to do but isn't there always.

[Patches59]

@TAB   I like where you said “People understand”.

I live alone and have no supports outside the forums from people who understand why life is like, especially on the bad days.  The days not wanting to get out of bed. Days not wanting to leave safety of my home.  Nights going to bed and hoping for everlasting sleep.

wonderful people on the forums give a feeling of home where there is complete safety, can be myself and say how I’m feeling, whether be having good day or having dark thoughts and everything in between

People with differences in life experiences and mental health issues have come together through SANE where we support each other.  May not have walked the same pathways along life’s journey but life’s experiences have brought lot of understanding for others.

[TAB]

well said @Patches59 😎

[Glisten]

@Patches59 said “I live alone and have no supports outside the forums from people who understand why life is like, especially on the bad days.  The days not wanting to get out of bed. Days not wanting to leave safety of my home.  Nights going to bed and hoping for everlasting sleep.”

@Patches59 that is me right there 👆🏼

I thought I was alone. I didn’t know someone else experienced this.

Thank you so much for posting.

How do you cope?

G

[Patches59]

@Glisten  On the bad days it isn’t easy 

my main way of coping and pushing through is my cats.  Would never do anything that resulted in them being without me.

tears …. Force myself to get out of home and do anything to fill in the day.  Anything to distract my thoughts.  Talk with oncall counsellor, usually through Blue Knot

[Shaz51]

@Ru-bee , @tyme , @RachSANECEO , @espressologic , @Ainjoule 

I would like to include that in 2015 when my husband was in the MH hospital, and I stayed in the Red Cross accommodation in the city 

this is where I found the SANE booklet which I kept and read and had to wait to get back home to join SANE forum

I believe this is so important to have these available to everyone in the community 

[tyme]

What is Mental Health Month?

Mental Health Month gives us an opportunity to raise awareness around mental health and wellbeing. It is marked in New South Wales, Victoria, and the ACT and centres specifically on World Mental Health Day on October 10.

This year we present a new theme ‘Let’s Talk About It’. Now we are able to connect again let’s ALL get involved in mental health month this year. 

What will you talk about? 

Our first question for those who haven't responded yet:

What is the role of peer support and connection in terms of your mental health recovery?

[Oaktree]

@MJG017 

yes it is the cert 1v in mental health peer work that I am applying for a scholarship for. Hopefully we both get in and yes definitely would love to study with you. We can do it on the So you want to be a Peer Support Worker? thread. 
Yes unfortunately for me 80 or more applicants and only 30 places. A very nice person is looking over my application to help me shine. Wish me luck… If I get through the application process, I then have to go to a group interview. I am a good talker but really need to focus on really listening. I am nervous…