Extending the hand of friendship

I'm starting this post at 4pm Sunday afternoon, about 12 hours before I usually do my Monday morning post. I wanted to start it while something is fresh in my mind; sometimes at 4am the world is a bit muddled for me.

If you watched Landline today you'll know they featured farmers suffering from Black Dog - Depression. Rural suicide in Australia is among the highest in the world. According to the latest statistics, one Australian male farmer commits suicide every four days. I live in one of the most beautiful parts of Australia and yet one person a month commits suicide in the town I work in.

Tomorrow I will work at my voluntary job at the Neighbourhood Centre, which was set up many years ago in response to youth suicide in our town. We talk to people who are down on their luck, provide free counselling with trained counsellors, help the homeless and disadvantaged with food packages. In the past few weeks, in addition to the younger people we see, older men have been coming in. They're embarrassed to ask for help, and scared, and often promise to pay back what they are given. Of course we never accept that and just want to see them back on their feet again.

I have never suffered from Depression but I understand that it has the ability to lay you flat. I don't understand that when life can be so good, how people would want to end it. But I guess that's the nature of depression, it makes you believe that all is hopeless and life is not worth living. The first thing I plan to do when I get to work is to set up some resources for our local people with information about help lines where they can receive free counselling over the phone. Apparently many farmers kill themselves because they have no one to talk to, they feel hopeless and they have the means readily at hand. I'll write an article for our local newspaper tomorrow letting them know that we are there, ready to talk over a cuppa and have information and help for them. I want them to know we care for them, there is help available and they are not alone.

This week is Mental Health Week in Australia. If you're living in the bush and know of people in your community who are struggling, why not invite them over for morning tea and a chat. You can do it in the suburbs and cities too. Depression is not confined to the country areas. Extend the hand of friendship to your neighbour or workmate. There is free over the phone counselling available at Men's Help Line - 1300 789978 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Pass that information on to anyone in Australia who needs it.

Here are some other contact numbers you might help someone with:

Lifeline 13 11 14 (local call)
Kids Help Line 1800 55 1800 (free call)
SANE Mental Health Information Line 1800 18 SANE (1800 18 7263) (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm)
Suicide Helpline Victoria - 1300 651 251
NSW Rural Mental Health Support Line 1800 201 123
Lifeline's Just Ask Mental Health Information Line 1300 13 11 14 (rural areas only, Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm EST).
Mensline Australia - 1300 78 99 78.

Information about depression from Beyond Blue.