Howdy Team,

Earlier this week, I had a very emotional chat to our team at work about mental health. I tried to start the conversation on Monday but couldnt pre-compose myself enough to start talking. On the 3rd attempt during a meeting on Wednesday, I finally managed to get it out and yeah it was fucking hard work.

As a mental health first aider at work, we are in lots of conversations with people about a lot of topics. Most recently we have had a person who doesnt want to wake up in the morning. They have experienced a lot of tragety in the past year and are visibly masking their emotion and putting on a happy face to those around them, but are actually a broken person just under the surface.

Personally for me, we had to say goodbye to our dog in early march after 15 years. She was my first born, my shadow and my underdog.  (and is in my avatar) Although not unexpected, (we knew she wasnt well but were planning a night at garden island so she was with my folks and had to race back to the ramp just after sunset) absoloutely broke me. Each to their own but if you're a dog person (or pet person really), you may get it.

This with a combination of work stresses / neglect over the past 12 months have made the past two and a half months really shit. Most of mine will recover with time, and my healing is quality time with the family (which is essentially every week night and weekend), disconnection time (camping / boating offshore) and shutdown time (turning off the computer after work and over the weekend)

I know what works for me, and thankfully, i have a lot of people at work who i genuinely enjoy spending time with so have people to talk with. Again, time will help with a chunk of mine.

I guess I am writing this to speak up and get people to reach out to their mates. As i type this, i have tears running down my face but I am honestly ok.

Please send a message to a mate and tell them how important they are to you. Fuck it - tell them you love them! You may get called a few names and may get people calling you to find out whats wrong. It doesnt matter - reach out.

This video popped up on Instagram last night and had another grown man crying and talking about mental health. As a NOVA listener, Greg Hire was on the wireless on Tuesday morning and crying talking about mental health. 

www.instagram.com/p/DJ5cQZqTbIk/

We loose 7 brothers/uncles/sons/fathers/mates each week and 3 of our mums/sisters/daughters/mates.

Adam Selwood knew the impact of suicide. He knew the resources available but still whatever he was going through was too much. All the knowledge in the world wasnt enough.

Speak to your mates. Each problem is like a sinker. Sharing that problem with some one else takes a bit of that weight could help someone get their head above water.

www.youtube.com/watch