It's Working

A few weeks ago I wrote an email about how people asking people to talk about mental health was really just bullshit and couldn’t have been further from actually talking about mental health. Openness, honesty and vulnerability are what is required to talk about mental health and that starts with you. 

Well, I have continued that theory over the last month or so since Paul Green’s passing. What have I noticed? It is bloody working!

I was at a wedding recently and caught up with a range of mates who I had not seen in ages, some for as long as 4+ years. As I am sure many of you are aware I hate small talk and with that comes a deeper conversation most of the time. Everyone I spoke to we discussed work and how things have been travelling at TradeMutt and TIACS, talked about how I had been seeing my own Psych and the epic benefits I had received from it and also how my relationship with my Wife has been ect. as well as how Souths had gone this year. All good stuff. 

The amazing part of those conversations were the calls and texts I got in the following few days. One of them went a bit like this, ‘Rossy, mate awesome to catch up with you the other night. Been way too long between drinks. Wanted to follow up on that chat we had about that Psych you and Allana had been seeing. My wife and I have been talking for a while about seeing someone either together or individually but didn’t really know where to go or who to speak to. Was awesome to hear how good the bloke you have been seeing is for you both and would love an intro to him if that is ok? Been a bit of stuff going on that we would love to get some help with.’

Well how about it aye? IMPACT. Of course this is just the first step but by joe how good is it knowing that being open about how you have been travelling and how you have reached out for support can have a profound impact on someone else. If I had simply asked ‘How are things going?’ I am sure I would have got the stock standard, ‘Not too bad mate’ or ‘Been busy’ ect. ect. and nothing would have come out of it. 

Don’t forget the power you hold in being able to cut away the bullshit and really create meaningful change.   

“The reality is that the only way change comes is when you lead by example’ - Anne Wojcicki 

If you want to talk to a mental health counsellor and take a step towards being more vulnerable, call TIACS on 0488 846 988, 8am - 10pm, Monday - Friday, completely free of charge.