WayAhead

Mental Health - Education, Support and Prevention

CEO Report – Summer 17/18

Liz with Cecilia Rais, Collective Purpose HR Manager at the Collective Purpose end of year celebration.

 

Dear readers

The holiday season is now on us and hopefully you will have an opportunity to reflect on the past 12 months, the good and the not so good, and that the good memories will stay with you. Soon I will be thinking about 2018 and the excitement of new opportunities and experiences that come our way. We will be meeting those with renewed energy after a well-earned break.

While you are resting and reflecting, have a read of this edition of Mental Health Matters. There are some really interesting articles including celebrating Christmas and the summer months confident in who you are, summer seasonally affective disorder, self-care for parents with children who have autism, and an in-depth interview with Weave, our 2017 Mental Health Month Aboriginal Wellbeing Award winner.

Peter Trebilco

Sadly we finish 2017 with the loss of our life member and past board member Peter Trebilco.  Peter served on our board from 1977 to 2014. He would have turned 90 on 15th December this year. Peter was a true gentleman, funny, and sometimes cantankerous. What was never in doubt was his commitment to a cause and to the organisations he donated his time to. He was loved and admired by many, me included. When I think of Peter, I have a smile on my face and I say thank you to him for giving me the pleasure of that.

To everyone, whatever makes you happy this Christmas, take time out to do it. Don’t put it off because no matter who you are you deserve to smile and be with the people that warm your heart.

Enjoy this edition of Mental Health Matters magazine and I look forward to connecting again in 2018.

Liz

Elizabeth Priestley

WayAhead CEO

 

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Taking care of Illawarra’s mums, bubs and dads: Promoting Perinatal Mental Health

The annual Perinatal Depression and Anxiety Awareness Week is a chance to get out into the community to increase awareness of perinatal mental health issues, encourage help-seeking, and build connections. At Grand Pacific Health (GPH) in Wollongong, we have been successful in receiving several grants from Way Ahead, and we’ve held a range of events to reach out to different groups of people, particularly hard-to-reach mums and dads.

The Perinatal Mental Health program at Grand Pacific Health (GPH) in Wollongong is comprised of a small team of dedicated psychologists. We provide free individual and group therapy in the perinatal period (the time around pregnancy and following childbirth). GPH is a not-for-profit primary health organisation that provides a range of mental and physical health services to meet the needs of Southern NSW communities.

Encouraging Self-Care and Antenatal Help-Seeking

In 2013, we put together pamper bags, and had a small stall in the antenatal clinic at Wollongong hospital. As well as passing out bags to waiting parents, the GPH team had mini-massages on offer, and spoke to mums- and dads-to-be about perinatal mental health.

A bonus was speaking to midwives on duty about services available (and about self-care for midwives). We also attended clinics for young parents and for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander parents.

Weaving Wellness

In 2016, we worked with the Journey to Health Aboriginal Health team to run a workshop for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander mums. We were very fortunate to have a highly experienced and renowned artist, Phyllis Stewart, and her daughter Kristine, lead the workshop. A very keen group of mums attended the workshop, where they learned weaving techniques and learnt more about perinatal mental health, staying well, and how weaving can help. Weaving was shown an excellent example of how connection with culture, community, and mindfulness could help mums stay well.

Connecting and Celebrating Dads

We have also held events for dads, as engaging dads is a big focus for both the perinatal mental health sector and for our program. In 2014, we had a Connecting Dads evening, while this year we had a Dads’ Lunch at the Early Start Discovery Centre at University of Wollongong. The Dads’ Lunch was a great opportunity to discuss ‘habits for health’; being present was one example of how dads could use mindfulness to manage stress and connect with their baby.

Mums and dads who have attended the events  have had immediate access to accurate information, validation of perinatal struggles, and written material to take away. At each event, we emphasise the importance of help-seeking and encourage participants to share information and resources with their families and social networks. We also like to provide some good food and/or self-care resources to make the events enjoyable, fun, and to get people talking.

Our results

We have seen the impact of these events both on the day and in broader ways. Referrals for counselling in the antenatal period have increased, as have referrals for dads. While this is not the sole aim of the event, it is a positive result that stems from the relationships built and strengthened by PNDA Awareness events. Receiving the grants has also helped us to spread the word in the local area, and within the organisation, about the importance of looking out for perinatal mental health difficulties, that anyone can struggle at this time, and that treatment is available.

We look forward to being involved in more PNDA Awareness Week events in future.

By Grand Pacific Health (GPH)

 

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How to spot Perinatal Depression and Anxiety

Expecting a new baby and the news of a birth is usually greeted with congratulations. Along with expressing their joy, family and friends often warn parents about the lack of sleep. It is not uncommon for new mums and dads to feel tired and overwhelmed, however, there are cases where their distress is ongoing and is due to more than just missing sleep. Pregnancy and childbirth is a time when everything is new and challenging. It can be hard to know whether your reactions and emotions are within the normal range. 

There is increasing awareness of perinatal (which refers to during pregnancy and the year following birth) depression and anxiety, including its effects and how widespread it is. Just like anxiety disorders and clinical depression, it is a serious illness that can affect anyone. Up to 1 in 5 expecting or new mums and 1 in 10 dads may be affected1 regardless of age, gender, background and even whether or not the person affected is the biological parent.

Signs and symptoms of perinatal depression and anxiety can vary but may include2:

  • Panic attacks
  • Persistent worry
  • Development of OCD symptoms
  • Increased sensitivity to noise or touch
  • Changes in appetite
  • Extreme lethargy
  • Memory or concentration problems

Factors that can cause perinatal depression and anxiety include3:

  • A history of mental illness
  • A difficult or complex pregnancy
  • Birth trauma
  • A premature or sick baby
  • Feeding challenges
  • Sleep deprivation

The important thing to remember is that help is available and that parents do not have to struggle through it alone. Parents experiencing perinatal depression can access support from a range of health professionals. During pregnancy, these include midwives and obstetricians.  While in early parenthood they include maternal child health nurses, early parenting centers (also known as sleep schools), mental health crisis teams, parenting helplines, GPs, psychiatrists, psychologists, counsellors and other helplines such as Lifeline, beyondblue and PANDA.

A good place to start the recovery process most parents would be to seek the help of a GP. From here, parents may be diagnosed or referred to a mental health specialist such as a psychologist. They might also be eligible for a mental health care plan from their GP, which would give them ten free consultations per year with a qualified psychologist.

Here at WayAhead, we support the care of people with perinatal depression and anxiety. Every year we promote Perinatal Depression and Anxiety Awareness Week, an initiative led by PANDA, and we administer a number of grants to support community awareness-raising activities. This year, Perinatal Depression and Anxiety Awareness Week ran from the 12th to the 18th of November. We kicked off the week with a playgroup for parents and children in Warragamba with the Minister for Mental Health, the Hon. Tanya Davies MP, who brought along her young son. We also distributed grants to 12 community organisations to run events, which included a morning tea for mums, a meet-up for dads, market stalls and even free pregnancy acupuncture.

For many parents who have been diagnosed with perinatal depression and anxiety, the first signs of getting better and recovering is enjoying time with your child or at least not being stressed out by parenthood. It is possible for all parents to get there with the help and support they need.

By Dylan

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PANDA (Perinatal Anxiety and Depression Australia) has a helpline that can be reached on 1300 726 306

The helpline is active from 9:00am to 7:30pm, Mon to Fri (AEST / AEDT).

—

1 Anxiety & Depression in Pregnancy & Early Parenthood factsheet [Online: https://www.panda.org.au/images/resources/Resources-Factsheets/Anxiety-And-Depression-In-Early-Parenthood-And-Pregnancy.pdf]

2 As above.

3 As above.

 

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Perinatal Depression and Anxiety Awareness Week 2017

Each year at WayAhead, we support Perinatal Depression and Anxiety Awareness Week, which runs during the second week of November. There are a number of events which we support with small grants for community organisations to raise awareness of mental health during and after pregnancy. This year, we launched the week with a group of mums and bubs in Warragamba with Minister for Mental Health and the Minister for Women, Tanya Davies MP.

 

Minister Davies spoke about the importance of mental health care and support for parents during pregnancy and after the birth of their child. She even brought her young son along to play.Some of the other events included a series of events in Wollongong, morning teas and pampering for young mums groups, barbecues for dads and more.

 

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An intimate look into the lives of ordinary people: A review of Domestic Interior by Fiona Wright

The unremarkable motions we go through, and the connections we make, can often be the territory that offers startling insight from skilled poets. What is familiar becomes strange. The banal becomes moving. Mental illness becomes something we talk about, and capture, honestly.

Fiona Wright’s second collection of poetry, Domestic Interior, though only published recently by the independent publishing company, Giramondo, was written alongside 2016’s award-winning book of essays, Small Acts of Disappearance, which explored her history with eating disorders. She was also one of the subjects of the WayAhead-supported exhibibition, ‘Just Ask Me How I Feel’, photographer Jennifer Blau’s series of portraits of people with lived experience of eating disorders.

Wright’s poems are quietly devastating, capturing the experience of being distanced from the self and the body, as well as from others; a distance which can arise from loneliness, travel abroad and, of course, mental illness. Her poems are careful, compassionate but not saccharine.

The poems often explore the lived-in parts Sydney, where she grew up and where she continues to live, first in the southwest and then in the inner west as an adult. She writes familiarly with her thoughts on life around the parts of the city she knows well. Some of her poems are laced with irony but they are never casually cruel. Many a filled with honest observations and generosity for the myriad of characters who populate the city’s suburbs.

In “Love Poem: Miranda Fair”, Wright opens with:

I love the way she orders skinny mugs
of chino and excavates a foamhole for her sugar.
How she stops to look at houses
in the display case of the real estate, their windows
pressed against the glass like yapping puppies’
noses. She’s three-waysing her desserts
these days, now she’s through her Paleo phase.

The unnamed woman in the poem is drawn with the same deftness she brings to her other subjects. The poems reference parts of the city, in titles and in the poems themselves, including Belmore and Bankstown, Marrickville and Potts Point. Each of the references illustrate her relationship to place, and the people in them. The poems set closer to the city reference parts of her adulthood and fall into the section that specifically explore her eating disorder.

Domestic Interior is separated into titled sections of several poems each. The second last is called A Crack in the Skin: On Illness and contains many of the poems which examine most explicitly her experiences with her eating disorder, as well as her relationship to food and her body.

In this section, the poem, “Coastal Walk (with Tanktops)”, juxtaposes the extreme sense of disconnection between the writer and her body, with the “fitspiration” quotes emblazoned on people’s activewear as she walks along the Bondi to Coogee walk.

Some days the wind is almost frightening (PAIN
IS WEAKNESS LEAVING THE BODY) and I
stand myself against it, let it wear away
my boundaries, my edges.

Throughout the collection, Wright conveys the everyday experiences of people living their lives in a big city. From the horror of suburban domesticity of “Tupperware Sonnets” to connecting with a lover while in recovery in “Love Poem: Skull”, Domestic Interior explores the often complex relationships we have with where we live, both in terms of city in which we reside and the body we inhabit.

By Tasnim Hossain

Law school as a breeding ground for stress-related illnesses

Law is a notoriously stressful career, and studying at law school is often similarly stressful. A 2009 study on depression within the legal community called ‘Courting the Blues’ by the Brain & Mind Research Institute of the University of Sydney revealed that there were high levels of psychological distress and risk of depression in both law students and practicing lawyers when compared with other industry professionals. Anecdotally, lawyers and law students reported increased levels of stress, anxiety, depression and drug abuse. Yet, law continues to be a highly sought after degree and career path for many students.

Survive Law is an online community for law students with an audience of more than 50,000 visitors each month. They provide law students with information, tips, and articles that discuss topics such as law school, career advice and mental health. In 2013, Survive Law conducted its first Australian Law Student Survey, the only national survey of its kind, to learn about students’ law school experiences.
Surveying all 36 law schools in Australia and receiving more than 1,500 individual responses, the results from 2013 to 2015 show that law students are spending more time studying and the proportion of those who feel stressed ‘most or all of the time’ have increased from 51% to 55%. Accordingly, about 40% of students have considered dropping out. WayAhead spoke with a Survive Law Editor, Gina Yeung, about the results from 2013 to 2015.

“Going to law school is not an easy task. The pressure is inescapable in a way, but as to why it is increasing…you hear and read about the industry, such as the growing number of law students and graduates and not enough jobs in the market. That definitely increases competition,” Gina explained.

Currently, the legal profession is experiencing an oversupply of law graduates facing the prospect of unemployment and underemployment. According to the Australian Law Students Association and 2016 Law Society National Profile, there are about 12,000 law graduates each year entering an existing pool of around 70,000 lawyers. As a result, graduate jobs are difficult to secure. The most popular career entry path for law students is through clerkships, a practical training and recruitment program with law firms. Each year, more than 1,200 students apply for clerkships, but firms are accepting fewer law clerks than before. In 2013, Australia’s largest law firms were receiving 30 to 50 applications for every graduate position offered, as reported in Lawyers Weekly. Coupled with the frequent outsourcing of legal processes to other countries and the imminent use of artificial intelligence technology, law students are anxious about losing their entry path roles into the legal industry.

In addition to the pressures of securing a job after graduation, the experience of law school itself is often very stressful for students. Ruth Ann McKinney, Professor of Law at the University of North Carolina, authored a journal article about depression and anxiety in law students. She recognised that law school is a ‘breeding ground for depression, anxiety, and other stress-related illnesses’ and that the stress of going to law school is significantly higher than other students.

Gina Yeung spoke about the negative impacts of stress on law students and the steps that the Survive Law were taking to support other students.

“I think for most students, there would have been a point in the semester or while studying for an exam where they would have considered dropping out because it seems like the stress is too much at the time. [Survive Law] has recognised this so we have put out several articles like ‘I think I Want to Drop Out of Law School’ to help those students with their decisions as well as helping them recognise that they are not alone because many students feel this way at some point.”

Survive Law also shares of gifs and internet memes regularly. Gina explains that there is definitely a humorous side to the shared misery of law students.

“I think one way of getting through law school is to laugh about it, even though they are just memes about very niche student problems that only law students have. I think it is very comforting, in a way, to know that law students from just about everywhere can relate to this one thing like it’s an inside joke,” said Gina.

Because of the increased awareness and relationship between law students and their mental health, law schools across Australia are increasingly holding their own mental health awareness activities and it is something that Gina identifies as important for universities to do.

“At my uni, we have a Wellbeing Week and there was a wall put up for people to write messages which helps to build that community within law school,” said Gina.

“I think law schools and law student societies have a lot of responsibility in providing a safe and comfortable network for students by pushing mental health and wellbeing awareness at law school.”

By Cindee Duong

 

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It’s Summer Time: We Need to Talk About ‘Summer Bodies’ and Body Image

Summer is now officially here, with the weather warming up around Australia. As the layers are shed and people start heading towards the beach, certain phrases start cropping up:

“Beach Body in 7 Days!” from the Women’s Health Magazine.

“Get Your Summer Body Now!” from Oxygen Magazine.

To be fair, other magazines do fare slightly better: “Crush Your Life Goals: Get a strong bod” Cosmopolitan

But from magazine covers to TV to the online sphere, there are strong social cues that it is summer time and that your body needs to look a certain way to enjoy it.

WayAhead spoke to the Butterfly Foundation, an organisation dedicated to providing support for people with disordered eating and body image issues, about this phenomenon and the risks of this increased pressure on body image across both on social media, traditional media and other advertising platforms.

“Over the festive season, Butterfly’s National Helpline tends to see an increase in the number of calls and webchats. There is an increase in advertisement and hashtags focusing on ‘bikini bodies’, ‘shredding’, ‘summer bodies’, dieting and exercising. We have constant access to images of people, their food, their lives and quite frequently their bodies,” a spokesperson for the Butterfly Foundation said.

“This can lead to unhelpful comparisons, pressure to achieve a certain body type and may contribute to body dissatisfaction. Advertisements such as these may encourage [people] to ‘fix’ or ‘alter’ their appearance rather than seeking health professional advice,”

Dr Jennie Small, a Senior Lecturer at the University of Technology, Sydney, wrote a research paper last summer analysing the phenomenon of women’s “beach body” in Australian magazines. Dr Small’s research found that throughout the year, women’s magazines focused on women’s bodies in a myriad of ways – hair, skin, make-up, body shape and clothing – but during the summer, the focus was specifically on the “summer beach body”. The magazines implied that women’s bodies are on display during the summer, and by repeatedly showing pictures of slim, toned muscles and fit bodies in bikinis, these magazine covers targeted women’s feelings of insecurity which ultimately made it easier for marketers to sell things to women.

In fact, the popular concept of a “bikini body” was actually created as part of a marketing campaign from the 1960s for a weight loss company called Slenderella. Their tagline at the time it was created was: “High firm bust – hand span waist – trim, firm hips – slender graceful legs – a bikini body!”

While these specific words are no longer as widely used, the concept of a bikini body remains fairly similar. This is reflected in Dr Small’s research, which concluded that the favoured body shape is slim (no larger than an Australian size 12), toned, tanned and fit. Dr Small recognised that the characteristics of the summer body have broadened in recent years, but the changes have been slight.

Advertising in Australia is mostly self-regulated with a code of conduct. While the code adopted by the Australian Association of National Advertisers (AANA) regulates the use of models in bikinis, the regulation itself refers to the use of nudity and whether the portrayal of people depicted is discriminatory. The code does not have clear guidelines on how bodies are portrayed and how this may negatively affect viewers. Many of these marketing images, which come under this regulation, and the ones on social media, which do not, are professionally shot, airbrushed or digitally enhanced. It is unrealistic for viewers to compare they way they look to these models and social media influencers.

The Butterfly Foundation recognises that there is a positive aspect to social media through raising awareness around good mental health and wellbeing, and through creating spaces where people can connect and reach out for help.

However, they also recommend that people consider which accounts they follow and that it might be helpful to unfollow accounts that raise uncomfortable feelings or comparisons.

“Monitor the changes in your mood after doing this – it’s a simple change but an effective way of controlling what we are viewing and its influence on our self-esteem and body image,” a spokesperson for the Butterfly Foundation said.

If you, or anyone you know is experiencing an eating disorder or body image concerns, you can call the Butterfly Foundation National Helpline on 1800 33 4673 (ED HOPE) or email support@thebutterflyfoundation.org.au

By Cindee Duong

 

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Taking care of yourself, taking care of your child with Autism

Autism impacts each child differently depending on their neural and cognitive differences. Parents and carers are continuously caring for their child, whether it be interacting with them or supervising them, finding the right interventions or financial support.

Often, the responsibilities of caring have an impact on health and wellbeing, with some parents reporting poorer subjective mental health and quality of life. Parents of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) report elevated distress profiles, reporting higher levels of stress, anxiety, and depression, compared to not only parents of typically developing children, but also children with other intellectual disabilities.

The early years of a child are critical for their neural and cognitive development, so often families cannot afford to undergo a trial and error process to see what combination of interventions works best for their child. What works for one family may not suit others. Increased awareness and changes to the diagnostic criteria in 2013, have also seen a 42.1% increase in Australians diagnosed with ASD from 2012 to 2015.

It is important to stress that just as each child is different, so are the experiences of each family. In some circumstances, the experience of raising children with ASD has brought families closer. Parents work together to provide the best possible care for their children, leading to a stronger sense of companionship. Mrs Santos, a mother of two children including one who has recently diagnosed with ASD, highlights how her family’s experience in raising a child with ASD has led to a positive impact on their lives and on her relationship with her partner.

“Although there is more pressure on us to earn more money, to stay up longer and wake up earlier, we have each other to turn to. It’s made us appreciate the time we spend together,” Mrs Santos said.

The experience of raising a child with ASD also builds resilience. Families face daily challenges in raising a child with a disability and, in many cases, being able to overcome hardship makes families stronger. Family resilience leads to improved health and wellbeing, shown to act as a buffer against the development of stress and anxiety. It can also lead to the learning of humility, acceptance of others, and a greater awareness of relationships. Mrs Santos emphasises the importance of showing affection to both her children.

“I am more aware that I also need to spend quality time with my daughter. We’re more mindful of being good parents to her as well.”

Although the child’s needs should be prioritised, the health and wellbeing of parents should not be disregarded. While there is funding to help with the child’s needs, there is minimal support for families and their wellbeing. Parents, like Mrs Santos, are voicing the need for the allocation of resources for them, especially respite and education.

“Turning over the decisions to a professional didn’t sit well with me. Especially when I was not familiar with therapy. Education on the disorder itself, as well as self-care, will go a long way in helping us.”

The sense of uncertainty around effective interventions, coupled with the greater demand that a child with ASD requires, can place copious amounts of stress on families. As a result, more families are affected by the stressors associated with caring for a child with a disability. Parents and related carers often work hard to support their child’s wellbeing, so it is important to ensure that their own wellbeing does not become secondary.

There are various ways parents and carers can look after themselves:

  • Seek respite care when it’s needed
    • Caring for a child with a disability doesn’t have to be just the responsibility of the parents. There is a range of respite services available which are tailored to supporting children with a disability, both within and outside of a home setting.
  • Find a support group
    • Finding families in a similar situation as you allows you to be able to connect and share stories, tips, and advice.
  • Call a helpline
    • Lifeline – 13 11 14 – 24-hour service
    • Carers NSW Australia – 1800 242 636 – 9 AM – 5 PM, Mon to Fri
    • Autism Advisory & Support Shop – 1300 222 777 – 24-hour service
  • Make time for yourself and to spend with your partner
    • Of course it can be very hard to find time for yourself when you are caring for a family member, but even a 10-15 minute break every day can help relieve stress in the short and long term. Being able to switch off and recharge can go a long way towards better wellbeing.
By Johnny Wang

 

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When workplaces get it right: A case study in returning to work

When Paul, a healthy man in his thirties, started having seizures at work, the doctors initially diagnosed him with epilepsy. He had spent years working at a global banking company in approving loans for projects and seizures were completely new for him. The company organised training for his manager and team members to learn how to cope with the seizures and give Paul the support he needed.

It was only later that doctors discovered that the cause of Paul’s seizures was a tumour in his brain.

From the very beginning, Paul’s workplace, Citigroup, supported him and his colleagues in working around Paul’s illness. Vicki Ruskin an occupational rehabilitation specialist for Thrive Re Consulting, was assigned to work with Paul and his workplace by his income protection insurance fund, to provide input into the back to work process.

For Paulette, Paul’s wife, having Vicki work with the family, company and medical professionals meant that they had an advocate who could work with both the family and the workplace.

“Having Vicki as that voice was easier because we were also trying to deal with doctors, with radiation, chemo and all of that stuff. It’s just one less thing to do when it’s being work out without us having to negotiate that aspect of it,” said Paulette.

Together, Paul, Vicki, his company’s HR and OH&S teams, as well as his daily colleagues worked together to keep Paul in the office, even while he was receiving treatment for his brain tumour. For Vicki, her priority was always to work towards Paul’s goals.

“[My purpose] was to work with his goals. It was very defined by him. He wanted to return to work. The overall goal was return to work during treatment. The steps and the considerations we had to put into place were employer expectations, employer knowledge, management plans around his fits, but also management plans around flu season,” said Vicki.

The steps taken during flu season and during chemotherapy, illustrate the holistic approach that his workplace took to ensure Paul’s health and safety.

“We put him on a desk that was outside the main thoroughfare. We made it very flexible in that if people were unwell, he could go home. We increased the awareness at the workplace so if there were lots of people unwell, Paul would know, so that would minimise contact,” said Vicki.

“We came up with a written plan that was agreed to by everyone whereby we fitted work in around his chemo treatment. It was very minimal until he finished the chemo treatment and then we gradually built up that capacity by increasing hours and days and monitoring it.”

The fact that that the company was so accommodating gave Paul’s family the peace of mind they needed to focus on Paul and his treatment.

“I think because they were so open to doing whatever Paul needed, we never felt like it was a hassle for them, we never felt like his job was under threat,” said Paulette.

Photo from February 2017 WayAhead Workplaces meeting – from the left to right; Paul’s parents Josephine and Joe Lauria, his wife Paulette Unwin, Paul, Vicki Ruskin, Principal Consultant for Thrive Re Consulting, Elysia Brennan, Human Resources Citigroup and Geraldine King, Health, Safety & Wellbeing Manager Citigroup

 

“It always felt like he was going to be able to come back to work and that wasn’t going to be a problem so that fear of losing the job just wasn’t there.”

Being at work had a huge impact on Paul’s wellbeing as well. It meant that he spent time around other people and doing his work gave him the mental stimulation that he would have not have had, had he stayed at home. The benefits of being at work were significant.

“At least, I knew he had people around if something happened. Someone would immediately help him. Whereas if he were at home, he would be by himself or we would have to work out a schedule of somebody to be with him. The comfort of having the people around him was one of the benefits,” said Paulette.

“The other one is the mental stimulation for Paul. It’s pretty hard just to hang out at home, especially if you’re on chemo and radiation.”

Paul’s father, Joe, also spoke about the importance of going back to work for Paul’s self-esteem.

“It was a big thing for him; the self-esteem that he could go back to work and still do the work and contribute,” said Joe.

“Paul wanted to go back to work, as quickly as possible. He could contribute something back to [his company] because they were so good to him.”

The return to work process took time but ultimately was so important for Paul’s wellbeing.

“It makes you feel normal. And [the return to work process is] not controlled by the doctors; it’s controlled by him,” said Paulette.

—

After a long battle with cancer, Paul passed away in November 2017. At WayAhead, we are glad to have had to chance to meet Paul and hear about his experience of returning to work and being supported by his workplace. For Paul and his family, sharing that journey has been a large part of his legacy. We are honoured to have been able to share this story once more.

—

By Tasnim Hossain

 

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Mission Australia Report Mental Health as the Top Concern for Australian Youth

For the first time since it launched 16 years ago, the Mission Australia’s 2017 Youth Survey found that mental health is the biggest issue for young people in Australia. A record 24,055 young people aged 15 to 19 years old completed the survey and about one-third of the participants identified mental health as their biggest concern. This has more than doubled since the survey in 2015 where 14.9% of participants said mental health was their top concern.

The mental health concerns related to personal issues such as coping with stress, body image and depression. The study also found that young people identified mental health as a major barrier to achieving work or study goals for. Mental health ranked as one of the highest barriers to achieving post-school goals, as identified by young Australians, behind only academic ability and financial difficulty.

Mission Australia’s CEO, James Toomey said: “The fact that mental health has climbed to become the top national concern for young people reinforces much more needs to be done. Young people need a coordinated, comprehensive and cohesive national response to ensure they can access the right mental health supports when they need them.”

Mr Toomey said it makes sense to invest in universal mental health programs in schools and community-based mental health services that are youth friendly because friends and family members also need to know how to navigate the variety of information and services that are available

“To give young people the best opportunity for their future, we need to ensure they have access to education and training, secure housing and support services, regardless of where they live or their family income,” he said.

Alcohol and drugs (32.0%) and equity and discrimination (27.3%) were also identified as the top concerns, after mental health, for young Australians. Young people living in regional areas identified alcohol and drugs as a top concern in much higher rates than young people in major cities (36.9% compared with 29.5%, respectively.)

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people also continue to face greater challenges with drugs, bullying, personal safety and discrimination.

Mr Toomey said: “We have a duty to support all young people to reach their potential and we are calling for a long-term commitment to addressing the concerns Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people have identified.”

Mission Australia shares the results of the Youth Survey each year to help inform the development of policies, services and programs that address the needs of young people.

By Cindee Duong

 

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