Aurora October 2020

Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle October 2020 | No.206

To live life to the full

MENTAL HEALTH IN AUSTRALIA TODAY

W W W. M N N E W S . T O D AY / A U R O R A

On the cover St Francis Xavier’s College, Hamilton student Charlie Hawke swims at Merewether Baths to help maintain physical and mental health Photo by Tom Rayner

Featured f A healthy mind

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f Bishops make a timely statement

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f Hold the phone,teens need help

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f Mind games play on

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f Deferred time is running out

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f Stress is the new norm

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f Farmer’s wife responds to the call

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f Where there’s a Will, student perspective 11 f Debilitating disease can’t break the chain 12 f Housing-first fits the bill

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f Baby, what a ride

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f Workplaces to the fore

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f Faith communities provide fulsome answers

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f Get your motor runnin’

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f Fight, flight, or freeze

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f Finding a way through the clutter

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f Faith and family are solid supports

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f Local study to address inequity

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f First word f My word f Care talk

Mental health can be seen as a continuum.

At one end are people who are feeling well and coping with the demands of daily life. This is the case for 60 per cent of all Australians.

At the other end are people experiencing mental illness. Common conditions include anxiety and depression. Others relate to psychosis, including schizophrenia and bipolar affective disorder. These can range from mild conditions that are self-managed, to those that need basic care, through to moderate and severe conditions that require specialist support or hospitalisation.

With proper treatment and care, most people recover completely. And while those who are living with mental ill-health, or who are on the path to recovery, are often active and productive members of the community, significant challenges remain.

This is an excerpt from the most recent Social Justice Statement of the Australian Catholic Bishops’ Conference, “To Live Life to the Full: Mental Health in Australia today”. The statement is a compelling read

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f Community noticeboard

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f Food talk

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f Book talk

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This Aurora takes inspiration from the statement, timely too given October is Mental Health Awareness Month.

Regardless of whether you have a lived experience with mental illness or not, I implore you to read this edition.

It is estimated that in Australia, 45 per cent of people will experience a mental health condition in their lifetime. If you’re fortunate to not personally experience the “black dog”, it’s likely someone close to you will. Increasing our understanding of the mental health continuum better positions us to support them.

In the pages that follow you will read stories of initiatives designed to assist people take a proactive approach to maintaining a sense of wellbeing, as well as the experiences of individuals bravely sharing their struggles. In telling their stories they are reducing stigma and breaking down barriers for others accessing help.

experiencing, mental health struggles due to historical child sexual abuse that occurred within this Diocese and the failures of some of its past leaders to protect children from that abuse. Trauma can manifest for years afterwards, and it is critical the Church makes ongoing support available to them and their loved ones.

On 8 September, Lifeline’s crisis line received 3,326 calls, the most ever in its 57-year history. These statistics are an alarming indication of the toll of the pandemic on people’s mental health, but also provide hope – hope that we are moving towards a society where people are unashamed to say, “I need help”.

Surely this will make our communities stronger.

This edition of Aurora does include people’s personal accounts of trauma, grief and mental illness. If it raises any issues for you, please contact Lifeline’s crisis support line 24/7 on 121 114 or CatholicCare Social Services Hunter-Manning during business hours on (02) 4979 1172.

I make special mention of people who have experienced, or who are

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Next deadline 10 October, 2020

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for those of faith, no faith, and those who actively reject faith.

Lizzie Snedden is Editor for Aurora

Elizabeth Snedden P 0404 005 036 E elizabeth.snedden@mn.catholic.org.au

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FIRST WORD

Hope amidst harrowing times

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MY WORD

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A healthy mind If you boarded a long-haul flight 10 or 15 years ago, you knew you’d be disturbed all through the night by people getting out of your row of seats, walking up and down the plane, stretching, doing squats and lunges, and so on. The cabin would take on the aspect of a gym. The cause of all this activity was a simple string of initials: DVT. For younger readers, who have probably never heard of it, deep vein thrombosis is the formation of clots in the blood vessels of your legs, very painful and potentially lethal if the clot shifts to some vital organ. It was, and is, a real thing, and the risk of it is exacerbated by sitting still for many hours in a pressurised cabin. But, back in the day, it was something more: it was a health scare and an obsession of the travelling public. That’s now changed, and the flight to Dubai can be had in relative peace and quiet. Health scares come and go.

Remember RSI? All of which is to say I have rather mixed feelings about the current flood of talk and articles, documentaries, and health infomercials, not to say school periods and personnel, dedicated to mental health and well-being. Mental illness is, of course, very real and can be a devastating affliction. In a long pastoral life, I’ve seen too much anguish in families and individuals to take mental illness in any way lightly. But does that mean it’s a good and healthy thing for everyone to be anxious about their mental health? This might be a strange question to put at the front of an Aurora dedicated to mental health and wellbeing matters, but I think it’s a worthwhile one.

One of the wisest and sanest men with whom I’ve worked had a little saying for many occasions. If you burnt the toast, or the photocopier jammed, or an appointment didn’t show up, he was wont to remark, “counselling can be arranged”.

This, mind you, was a couple of decades ago, but he was already making that wry comment on a phenomenon that has only grown since. Briefly, it is confusing the feeling with the problem: “The toast is burnt? Let’s see if we can make you feel better about that.” Often, of course, the problem is the problem, not the feeling, and the appropriate response is thinking about it, learning from it, and dealing with it. Anger, frustration, irritation, sadness, grief, and other emotions are often proper and natural responses to things that happen, not problems and certainly not mental health issues, at least not until you dwell on them. Hugh Mackay’s The Good Life is strong on this, and there is a review of The Happiness Trap in this Aurora, a more recent treatment of the theme.

When I studied philosophy, one of the things we looked at was the matter of “goods” that could not be sought thematically. I think the authority was the English philosopher G.E. Moore. It was not, in any case, some Catholic or religious thinker. And the argument simply is, you can’t find happiness (or peace, fulfilment, or self-esteem) by trying to feel happy. Such states of wellbeing are byproducts of other activities such as doing good for others, maintaining personal integrity, cultivating friendships, serving a noble cause. These other things bring us happiness, or indeed sadness, and are the things to cultivate in life. Just trying to

feel, and always feel, happy is a sure path to disappointment.

In that context, I’m glad to see some pieces in this Aurora on things like sport and service programs as contributors to good mental health. I think the future of wellbeing programs (and concerned parenting) lies in encouraging young people to take reasonable risks, to face challenges, to discover what they can do and what they can handle, physically, emotionally, and socially. We learn by trying. We learn by succeeding. Funnily, we learn by failing and by losing. And, of course, we also get a sense of wellbeing from knowing that, however we might mess up, we have loving family, friends, and a loving God. So, you see how confused I am about mental health and wellbeing? It’s a serious matter that needs to be taken very

seriously when the risk is real. I’m just not sure that constantly telling people, especially young people, that they will probably experience mental health issues regularly and should always be on guard, is helpful. The airlines eventually stopped filling their in-flight magazines with advice on how to avoid DVT. It’s not this decade’s ruling fear.

Bishop Bill Wright Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle

Frankly Spoken "I consulted with a Jewish psychoanalyst. For months I went to her house once a week to clear up some things. She was a doctor and psychoanalyst, and she always stayed put. Then one day, when she was about to die, she called me. Not to receive the sacraments, since she was Jewish, but for a spiritual dialogue. She was a very good person.

For six months she helped me a lot, when I was 42 years old.”

Excerpt from the book The Path to Change: Thoughts on Politics and Society, published in 2018. The revelation came in one of a series of 12 interviews sociologist, Dominique Wolton, conducted with the pope at the Vatican for the book.

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Bishops make a timely statement DR SANDIE CORNISH The COVID-19 pandemic is impacting the mental health of many members of our families and local communities. There is widespread pressure on livelihoods as businesses struggle, lay people off, or even close. Large numbers of people are, through no fault of their own, now unemployed, underemployed or in insecure work. As necessary restrictions continue, isolation and ongoing uncertainty are also taking a toll. Even before the pandemic it was true that most of us will experience a mental health problem at some point over the course of our lives. It would hardly be surprising if for you, or someone you know, that time is now.

The Catholic Bishops Confernce have released a statement, “To Live Life to the Full: Mental health in Australia today”, because a better understanding of mental health can help us all be aware of people around us who need our support at this difficult time. Our neighbourhoods, community organisations and clubs, and faith communities can be places of acceptance care and healing, rather than places of rejection, judgment or stigma.

As with others involved in providing social services and healthcare, the Catholic Bishops Confernce still supports the deinstitutionalisation of mental healthcare in Australia that took place in the 1980s. They point out however, that without adequately funded community mental health services, there is a gap in the system through which people continue to fall. Some new funding has been announced, but much more is needed. Social determinants including poverty, living conditions, and personal

security are significant contributors to mental ill-health. This can be seen clearly in the experience of First Nations people and communities, asylum seekers and refugees, people who are homeless and those in prison.

The statement says, “our society tends to draw away from, or to push away, those who confront us with our frailties and limitations”. It encourages another way of responding, inviting us to accept that we all have frailties and limitations, and to embrace “those who are sick or who have disabilities, those who are marginalised or despised”. People living with mental ill-health are part of “us” and are not some “other” people. It is not a matter of “us” and “them”. We all want to share in the fullness of life. Surely this is what we mean when we say “we are all in this together”?

The stigma associated with mental ill-health can be as debilitating as the symptoms of the illness. Negative stereotypes lead to people being avoided, excluded or dismissed. The statement notes that “popular culture, films and advertising often ridicule people living with mental ill-health or cast them as being violent” when they are no more violent than the general population and in fact “are more likely to be the victims of violence and crime”. People with mental ill-health can be seen as incompetent and denied opportunities. Stigma undermines selfesteem, the treatment of ill-health, and the process of recovery. We need to reject the stigmatisation of mental ill-health, to challenge negative stereotypes and to eliminate discrimination.

The bishops also invite governments, communities, and each one of us to work for the transformation of social determinants of mental ill-health, and to call for policies and service provision that meets the needs of the poorest and most marginalised members of our community.

They call for five main things.

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A significant increase in funding that is quarantined and budgeted with independent oversight and public accountability.

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Coordinated person-centred care from early intervention to acute care and aftercare across clinical, community mental health and housing, social services and charities.

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Improved and prioritised services for people with serious, complex, and enduring conditions.

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Improved mental health services, and the provision of face-to-face services where they are lacking, for rural and remote communities, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, those of culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, and for people who are homeless or incarcerated.

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Improved professional support to carers who are unaided and isolated.

To read a copy of the Australian Catholic Bishops’ Social Justice Statement 202021 ‘To Live Life to the Full: Mental health in Australia today’ visit www.socialjustice. catholic.org.au/2020/07/03/social-justicestatement-2020-21/ Dr Sandie Cornish is a publications and research officer for the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, Office for Social Justice.

As expected, the bishops also speak to Christian faith communities in a particular way. They ask them to undertake some specific actions, and point to resources to help them in this. However, much of what the bishops say in their statement is also helpful for the whole community.

Congratulations to ourYear For completing Year 12 in 2020. A year like no other.

12 www.mn.catholic.edu.au

Hold the phone, teens need help One of the country’s leading medical research groups, the Black Dog Institute, estimates that 50 per cent of all mental health problems emerge during adolescence.

Anne Maree Shipman is an Assistant Principal at St Paul’s Catholic College, Booragul, and concedes this statistic, although alarming, is not surprising.

“I’ve worked with adolescents in the education system for 31 years,” she says, “and youth mental health problems are very real.”

Ms Shipman says she has noticed a spike in issues plaguing youth and that the school’s psychologists are in high demand.

“Over the past four to five years, we’ve seen an increase in the number of students experiencing mental ill-health,” she says.

Emma Merlino is the Co-ordinator of Student Wellbeing across the Diocese’s network of schools and says Ms Shipman’s observations of St Paul’s student cohort is not uncommon, with a particular increase in demand since the COVID-19 pandemic took hold.

“There has been a noticeable increase in students seeking counselling services this year, with many students presenting with significant distress.”

As the leader for Community and Wellbeing within the school, Ms Shipman and the team of Student Coordinators at St Paul’s have implemented several initiatives to help support students. Last month, the school supported the R U OK?

Photo: Peter Stoop

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Photo: Peter Stoop

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Students from St Paul’s Catholic College, Booragul will be taking part in the Black Dog Research Institute’s project, the Future Proofing Study, which commences in 2021.

LIZZIE SNEDDEN

Day through a week-long series of events that encouraged students to reach out for support and connect with each other.

St Paul’s Catholic College has also lent its support to the Black Dog Research Institute’s newly launched research project, the Future Proofing Study, which commences in 2021.

This is a ground-breaking initiative and aims to engage up to 10,000 Year 8 students and follow them over five years.

Kate Maston, Future Proofing Program Manager at the Black Dog Institute, says prevention programs reach out to young people before mental health problems take hold.

“We know 50 per cent of all mental health problems emerge in adolescence, yet teenagers are unlikely to get help until these problems have an impact on school attendance, academic results and relationships,” says Ms Maston.

The study is a world-first and plans to put teenagers’ smartphones to positive use to deliver preventive interventions on a large scale.

Students who elect to take part in the study will complete online surveys about their mental health and wellbeing at school. There are two surveys in Year 8, and then one each year until Year 12.

Talented Kate Kingham has her sights set on playing in the Women's National Basketball League.

in the institute’s study, which is part of the school’s overall strategy to proactively support students’ social and emotional wellbeing.

“The Black Dog programme offers a proactive way to both identify students who are distressed and link them with the school counsellor, and also provide students with practical tips and tools to manage their own mental health.”

Ms Shipman says this insight is invaluable.

“We work diligently year-round to build a rapport with students so that they know they can come to staff with any issues they may be experiencing,” Ms Shipman says.

“The data gathered from the study will add an extra dimension to this, enabling us to hear from students who are reserved in sharing their experiences face-to-face.

We’ll then be able to implement strategies to help prevent issues from escalating.”

Over 150 schools across Australia have signed up to participate in the Future Proofing Study, including 22 in the Hunter region. Enrolments from interested schools will be accepted until the end of 2020.

To find out how your school can get involved, you can contact the study team at futureproofing@blackdog.org.au

“Students will also use apps to teach them skills to manage their wellbeing, and to teach us about the earliest signs of changing mental health,” says Ms Maston.

Ms Merlino supports St Paul’s involvement

Charlie Hawke is a rising swimming star with hopes of representing Australia at the Olympics or Commonwealth Games.

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Mind games play on LIZZIE SNEDDEN

The thought of pounding the pavement in the early hours, swimming laps in icy cold ocean baths, or shooting hoops for hours on end, would be enough to send some people into a cold sweat.

But for St Francis Xavier's Year 12 students Charlie Hawke and Kate Kingham, keeping physically active is essential to managing the pressures of their final year of school while coping with the fallout of a global pandemic.

"It never occurred to me to quit swimming, it's been such a big part of my life for so long," he says, although he admits the thought of taking a break did cross his mind. "It's my HSC year, so I thought about taking a step back, but then I realised that with so much uncertainty in the world, it was nice to have such a solid foundation in swimming. I could continue to work hard and have some control over something in my life that I value."

Photo: Tom Rayner

Charlie is a rising swimming star with hopes of representing Australia at the Olympics or Commonwealth Games. His dreams are not unrealistic. In April this year when Swimming Australia announced its age group rankings, Charlie was in the top 25 for 12 events in the 17 years boys.

Of particular note: he was ranked first in Australia for 50m freestyle, 100m and 200m butterfly; second in Australia for 50m butterfly, 100m and 200m freestyle, and 100m and 200m individual medley; and fourth in 400m freestyle.

Pandemic restrictions precluded Charlie from training at his regular pool, so, he donned a wetsuit and took to swimming laps at Merewether Ocean Baths, or went on road runs around his neighbourhood.

In recognition of his achievements Swimming Australia wrote to Charlie, notifying he would likely have been selected in the Junior Australian Swim team to compete at the Junior Pan Pacs had the event not been cancelled due to COVID-19. It was a goal Charlie had been striving towards for years.

He says he has noticed his peers respond differently to this year's events.

Charlie can vividly remember when he found out the national titles, the meeting that qualifies swimmers for the Pan Pacs, had been called off.

"I was at the pool with my friends,” Charlie says. “It was only two weeks before the competition, so we'd all been training hard.

The news was devastating for all of us, so it was good to be surrounded by people experiencing the same emotion."

Receiving the letter from Swimming Australia was a humbling experience.

"Most of the devastation of not competing had passed by the time I received the letter,” he says. “It served a good motivator to keep trying."

Giving up is not an option for Charlie.

Charlie credits swimming with helping him maintain good mental health.

"Training two hours per day gives you a lot of opportunities to think. I have time to concentrate on my technique, and also reflect on things that might be going on in my life."

"Year 12 is the most important time in our schooling career, and we're faced with so many unknowns,” he says. “Unlike those who are older than us, our entire living memory is based around school. We have much less life experience to draw from to help us get through this time. It's not that we can't cope, but it does help to explain why our response may be different. Mental health is so subjective.

"What has been great to encounter during this time of hardship is such strong support, from my swimming mates and my schoolmates. We've all been there for each other. It's also reinforced to me the importance of reaching out if you need help, which hasn't always come naturally to me."

Charlie has accepted a scholarship to a US college next year. His formula for maintaining mental health – exercise, connection with friends and family, reaching out to others and maintaining some type of routine – is not dissimilar to

Kate Kingham’s approach.

Kate's basketball achievements are impressive. She represented Newcastle Hunters from 2012-2019. In 2019, she became the only player in 74 years of Newcastle basketball to win three NSW State Championship titles in the one season. Also that year, Kate represented NSW Country Basketball U18 women at the Australian Championships in Townsville and was the leading three-point shooter.

Despite her prowess on the court, Kate concedes there were times this year she felt defeated.

"It's been very stressful," she says, "particularly with the school shutting down and having to transition to home learning."

She aspires to study business at university next year but admits that for a fleeting moment she considered throwing in the towel. However, with support from friends and family and the knowledge that everyone is going through something similar, Kate committed to completing her HSC. Competitive basketball was put on hold when the pandemic hit and has remained so due to the cross-regional nature of the competition level in which she competes.

But she continues to train and has hopes of one day playing in the Women's National Basketball League.

"It's been a big adjustment,” she says.

“Competitions have been such a big part of my life for years. Obviously, it would have been great to continue to play if it was safe, but that wasn't the case. It has allowed me more time to focus on my studies."

With the HSC exams now only weeks away, Kate says she is coping “OK”.

"At the moment, my mental health is doing well,” she says. “I was stressed before the trials but getting uplifted by my friends and family helped. Going into the HSC, I will try and stay positive by balancing my studies with exercise."

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Deferred time is running out TODD DAGWELL

The Australian Council of Social Service says the government’s plans to reduce income support will take a serious toll on the wellbeing of millions of people who are without paid work.

Freezing his mortgage repayments when COVID-19 hit saved Newcastle homeowner John* from “going under”. But the clock is ticking on the deferment period and he fears his finances, and his mental health, are headed over a cliff if he doesn’t find work soon.

Adding significantly to John’s plight was the scaling back of the federal government’s JobKeeper and JobSeeker subsidies at the end of last month. The reduction means it will be even harder for people such as John to stay afloat. (More on the support payments later.)

Australian Banking Association (ABA) Chief Executive Anna Bligh says more than 800,000 people have deferred loan repayments since the coronavirus pandemic began. Exact numbers in the Hunter are unavailable but given the official unemployment rate in the region has doubled to 9 per cent, according to Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) data, and is in fact likely to be far higher as many people have given up and left the jobs market, the area is likely to be well represented in mortgage deferments.

A communications professional and married with three young children, John had only been able to secure rolling shortterm contracts in the two years before the pandemic.

“I’d had steady work for a long time, but after COVID-19 hit, all of the nonpermanent staff, such as contractors and casuals, were let go immediately,” he says.

“The high cost of running a house, cars and raising kids meant we just didn’t have the money to cover everything.”

When banks began offering customers the

opportunity to defer their loan repayments, John jumped at it. “It was simple mathematics,” he says. “We needed a break from our mortgage to help us get on top of our bills.”

Financial comparison website RateCity.com.au research director Sally Tindall says although people may get some short-term financial relief, there is a hidden cost to the deferral scheme because homeowners’ payments end up being higher.

“In the long run, mortgage deferrals come at a huge cost,” says Ms Tindall. “Banks continue to charge their customers interest even when the loan is paused. This is something many people we’ve spoken to were not aware of.”

John says he and his wife were aware from the beginning that the interest bill would continue to grow, and it would cost them more long term, but his main concern is three months’ time when the deferment period ends. Ms Tindall agrees the bigger issue is, what happens at the end of the six-month pause if someone still can’t make their mortgage repayments?

“The clock is ticking for these customers who haven’t been able to regain employment and probably feel like they’re on borrowed time,” Ms Tindall says.

John says the thing he needs most is a job, but he has started to lose hope after dozens of applications he submitted went unanswered. “I’ve heard there are now often hundreds of applicants for even lowlevel roles,” he says.

ABS regional labour force figures released three months ago corroborate John’s

experience. The figures show nearly 10,000 jobs were lost in one month in Newcastle and Lake Macquarie and 8,400 across the remainder of the Hunter Valley.

Also of great concern is the rise in youth unemployment, which the ABS data shows now sits at 18.7 per cent in Newcastle and Lake Macquarie and 15.7 per cent in the Hunter Valley.

JobKeeper and the JobSeeker Coronavirus Supplement, have been a lifesaver for people but if they are removed too early it could be very dangerous.

The numbers paint a worrying picture of unemployment in the Hunter, and the Hunter Business Chamber has warned the real picture is likely to be far worse than the statistics suggest.

“The government has the capacity to provide targeted support to those who may be left behind and may never work again when the economy starts to pick up.

If this is not done there is a real risk the suicide numbers will rise as people will be left without a job and without adequate support.”

John says he’s also trying to deal with the $250 cut the federal government made to the JobSeeker Coronavirus Supplement on 25 September, and the fact the supplement will be stopped completely on 31 December.

“The JobSeeker cuts mean we now have even less money to survive on,” he says. “The stress of the situation is now keeping me up at night. The pressure and consequences of not being able to find work has had a huge impact on my mental health.”

Last month, mental health organisations Lifeline, Beyond Blue and the Black Dog Institute gave evidence at a Senate inquiry into the federal government’s handling of COVID-19.

All three warned of a looming “mental health pandemic” and called on the federal government to commit to long-term targeted income support for the most vulnerable who may struggle to find a job for years, if at all.

Lifeline Chairman, John Brogden, says

“To the government’s credit, JobKeeper and JobSeeker have saved lives, but the flip side of that coin could apply,” Mr Brogden says.

Australian Council of Social Service chief executive Cassandra Goldie says the government’s reduction to income support will take a serious toll on the wellbeing of millions of people who are without paid work, especially those in regional communities.

“The doubling of Newstart (JobSeeker) at the start of the pandemic came as a huge relief,” Dr Goldie says. “But they now face a deeply uncertain future, with these devastating cuts to their already tight budgets, and 12 people receiving JobSeeker for every job vacancy, or 28 people for every vacancy in regional areas.

“We’re calling on the government to extend the $550 Coronavirus Supplement and move quickly to legislate a permanent, adequate JobSeeker rate that means people can cover the basics.” *Name has been changed

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Stress is the new norm TODD DAGWELL

Australians are living through one of the most turbulent periods in a century, with most people facing unprecedented changes to the way they live and work.

Stress, anxiety and depression have become the normal and expected by product of this uncertainty.

Leigh Tour-Mills was able to transition to a new role when COVID-19 destroyed her business but the change hasn’t been easy. After owning and operating salons in various locations for more than 25 years, Ms Tour-Mills sold them six years ago and became a business coach and consultant.

“I had more than 10 businesses on my books and things were progressing well when COVID-19 hit,” she says. “Then my work basically disappeared overnight. A number of my clients closed down their shops and others had to reduce trading hours so significantly they couldn’t afford to keep me on.”

The loss of the business she’d worked diligently to build up over the past six years left Ms Tour-Mills feeling stressed, sad and unsure what to do next.

Photo: Peter Stoop

“Everything unravelled in the space of about two weeks. I couldn’t help my clients because the rules around hairdressing were changing so quickly; I really felt quite useless. On top of that my income dropped rapidly, I was homeschooling my six-year-old and I was making sure my husband’s small business complied with all the new rules so he could keep operating. My head was in a thousand places.”

Ms Tour-Mills was not alone in experiencing the stress and anxiety brought on by COVID-19.

CatholicCare Social Services HunterManning’s Counselling and Clinical Services Manager, Kelly Pavan, says that demand for mental health support services have increased since the pandemic began.

Leigh Tour-Mills was able to transition to a new role when COVID-19 destroyed her business, but the change hasn’t been easy.

“CatholicCare has experienced a rapid rise in the number of people seeking support and advice from our psychologists,” she says, “we’ve adapted our service model to accommodate the demand and to support people when they need it most.”

Ms Pavan says that many of the people who have made appointments had not been to see a psychologist previously.

“The pandemic has affected people from diverse backgrounds and not just those who have pre-existing mental health conditions.”

Ms Tour-Mills has a trade to fall back on and has returned to hairdressing after investing a substantial amount of money to establish a salon at her home.

“I looked for other jobs for a while but there was very little out there,” she says.

“In the end, I decided I couldn’t wait any longer for things to improve and started the salon in June.”

Although she counts herself lucky to have a job and a reliable income, Ms Tour-Mills says she still feels a degree of grief.

“I loved my coaching business and I miss the relationship with my clients,” she says.

“I’m very fortunate to have work but this is definitely not what I thought I’d be doing.”

Given a vaccine appears to be a long way off, or may never arrive, we all must learn to manage a degree of ongoing stress and uncertainty in our lives for the foreseeable future.

To help support the mental health of all Australians during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the Australian Government has announced that eligible people will be able to access Medicare rebates for psychological services delivered via telehealth, including videoconferencing and telephone appointments.

To meet service demands CatholicCare has adopted a blended service delivery model, whereby all clients are offered the option of either face-to-face or telehealth counselling, enabling them to access support wherever they are most comfortable.

To make an appointment with CatholicCare, either in person or via telehealth, please phone (02) 4974 1120 or visit www.catholiccare.org.au Lifeline is also available for 24-hour crisis support and suicide prevention services by calling 13 11 14.

A U R O R A C AT H O L I C D I O C E S E O F M A I T L A N D - N E W C A S T L E

Photo: Lizzie Snedden

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Farmer’s wife responds to the call LIZZIE SNEDDEN Students at St Joseph’s Primary School, Denman with Principal, Helen Whale, and Where there’s a Will co-founder Pauline Carrigan, discussing mental wellbeing.

Providing each child with a wellbeing toolbox is a priority for mental health advocate Pauline Carrigan, co-founder of Where there's a Will.

A not-for-profit organisation, Where there's a Will works with schools and the community to improve mental health and wellbeing in the Upper Hunter.

"Where there's a Will is a philosophy," says Ms Carrigan during a visit to St Joseph's Primary School, Denman. "When you feel well, you do well."

Those familiar with Aurora may recall reading about Ms Carrigan in the June 2017 edition. Former editor Tracey Edstein reflected on her encounter with Ms Carrigan, who at the time described herself as a farmer's wife.

But she is much more than that. She is a woman on a mission and a force to be reckoned with. In the three years since that article was published, Where there's a Will has blossomed. The organisation now works in partnership with 21 schools and 16 early education centres across the Upper Hunter, which she describes as being "united with one language and a culture of sharing".

St Joseph’s Principal Helen Whale says her school first became involved with Where there's a Will in 2017.

"It provides an opportunity to collaborate, research, discuss, strategise and learn alongside professional colleagues,

community members, businesses and some of the world's best positive education gurus,” Ms Whale says. “The prospect of actively increasing mental wellness was and continues to be, too good to refuse."

Ms Carrigan is pleased and buoyed by the support of Upper Hunter schools.

a toolbox of skills we can refer to, to help us through,” Ms Carrigan says.

"I 100 per cent believe in what we're doing and know that prioritising mental health and educating children on how to use their skills and harness their strengths is the best way forward," she says. "It's a calling; I know someone is telling me to do this."

"It's so gratifying when I know there's a belief in what we're doing,” says Ms Carrigan. "It was hard in the beginning, it was a bit like selling vacuum cleaners, but now it's the opposite. The weight of the world is lifting off slowly."

Ms Carrigan knows she cannot do it alone.

The weight to which she relates, in part, is a response to her son's death by suicide in 2015. Will, 24, was successfully running his own electrical business. He had bought a home, had a loving partner, and was cherished by his large extended family – none of whom expected or knew he was experiencing poor mental health.

"For this generational change to happen, we must have conversations about wellbeing in our schools, our homes, and our sporting fields. We have to demonstrate the philosophy, and that's what we're empowering our teachers and families to do."

Following Will's death, Ms Carrigan did a deep dive into mental health research with an aim of ensuring a brighter future for the next generation of children, including her grandchildren. Together with her sister Kathy Burns, the duo founded Where there's a Will, with the aim of teaching each child in the Upper Hunter the skills required to thrive and be resilient. The sisters’ vision is to provide children with a “toolbox”.

"No one knows when or if life will throw us a curveball, so we all require knowledge –

"It's important for the community to prioritise mental health," she says, referencing the adage "it takes a village to raise a child”.

At St Joseph's in Denman, as with other schools and early education centres across the Upper Hunter, staff are adopting the Visible Wellbeing Framework of Professor Lea Waters, which Where there's a Will endorses. This framework uses the SEARCH acronym: Strengths, Emotional management, Attention and awareness, Relationships, Coping and Habits and goals.

The school also implements the Grow Your Mind program, which aims to foster mentally healthy children, families, and teachers.

"Using animal analogies, we introduce children to the basics of neuroscience and what it means to feel mentally healthy,” Ms Whale says. “The children love this program and now recognise the parts of their brain that are in control, helping them to understand better how to identify and manage their emotions."

Staff role-model the lessons and reinforce them throughout all classes.

"We're having discussions that place mental health at the fore as part of our daily routine,” Ms Whale says. “It's not merely a once-a-week lesson, it’s a way of life that we're encouraging every day, both at school and in our students' homes.

"Our students share a common language with peers, teachers and parents that enables them to express how they are feeling and look at strategies for coping with or changing the way they feel."

And, with research showing that unless a child is in a state of wellness, they cannot perform to their potential, Ms Carrigan is hoping other schools will take the Where there's a Will philosophy onboard.

"Students' learning results improve as their mental wellness increases," she says. "You can have everything in the world, but if you don't feel well, it means nothing."

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Photo: Lizzie Snedden

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Where there’s a Will, student perspective Select students representing every high school across the Upper Hunter converged on the City of Churches earlier this year to take part in the 8th National Student Leadership Summit, a one-day intensive workshop designed to challenge, inspire, and empower.

Hosted by St Peter's College, Adelaide, the summit centres around encouraging dialogue, critical thinking and creative problem solving to help students ignite change in their communities.

Upper Hunter students' presence at the summit has been consistent for the past four years thanks to help from Where there's a Will and under the guidance of its leadership manager, Lindy Hunt. Students attending the national summit then use the knowledge they acquire to deliver a combined Upper Hunter Student Leadership Summit, with a focus on mental health leadership.

Year 11 students Meg Southcombe, Aneira Bray, Will Oltenanu and Cameron Bignell from St Joseph's High School, Aberdeen, travelled to South Australia to attend the summit just before the state's borders closed. Although keen to join with other students to lead the Upper Hunter Student Leadership Forum on home soil, due to COVID-19 restrictions this has not been possible.

Following, they reflect on what they learnt during their time in Adelaide, and their plans for the St Joseph's, Aberdeen, community.

Proactive leadership that tackles mental health issues is integral to improving the wellbeing of a local community and the livelihoods of those vulnerable to illness.

Where there's a Will has its roots firmly embedded in the Upper Hunter community.

Its effective mental health leadership is a tangible demonstration of the power of community-led initiatives and the positive influence they can have on a region.

The Upper Hunter’s strong culture is a result of generations of traditions and values passed down through community pride, agriculture, and sporting teams. Underlying this community bond is each individual, bringing with them a variety of character strengths, life experiences and ideas.

The summit in Adelaide allowed us to discover who we genuinely identify as, our strengths, and how we can put them into the most effective action. Knowing these strengths enables us to take on an influential leadership role within our Upper Hunter community, harnessing the potential of our peers through constructing opportunities for collaboration and innovation. We learnt that leadership is not about taking over and doing everything, but it is also not about sitting back and telling everyone what to do. Leadership is about fostering an environment where successful teamwork is an embedded culture, ensuring each person's strengths and ideas are being utilised and thus creating an amazing atmosphere that contributes towards realising goals and objectives.

We seek to apply this knowledge and use it to reinforce the Where there's Will philosophy to assist our community to “feel well”. As youth, we have a responsibility to shape the future we want to grow into as adults, and we're empowered to take our peers along with us on this journey. Core to this is careful planning, and to help us achieve our goals we have adopted the 4D process; 1. Discover 2. Dream 3. Design.

4. Deliver.

Despite COVID-19 restrictions, we are determined to use available resources and opportunities at St Joseph's to enact an environment where discussions about mental health and leadership are free-flowing, and ideas celebrated. This collaborative approach allows us to draw on each other for input and ideas and develop shared goals, such as the development of “Feel Good Fridays”. On Fridays, during home sessions, students can take part in feel-good activities nominated by the student body such as painting, handball, quizzes, and card games. It's an initiative designed to encourage students to discover “stress relief” outlets and promote connection with peers.

The National Student Leadership Summit taught us to approach every situation in leadership with compassion and understanding, to acknowledge who we lead and the importance of positivity to our ability to inspire others. Attending the summit allowed for immense personal growth, and reinforced the importance of remaining optimistic. Surrounding yourself

St Joseph’s High School, Aberdeen Year 11 students Meg Southcombe, Aneira Bray and Cameron Bignell discussing the implementation of Feel Good Friday activities.

with other positive people enables you to defeat the negative bias within your mind and inspire even more people to be happy.

This produces positive change – one of the most important aspects of a leader – and crucial to the work of Where there's a Will.

“ We learnt that leadership is not about taking over and doing everything, but it is also not about sitting back and telling everyone what to do.

”

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Debilitating disease can’t break the chain

REVEREND CHRISTINE SHEPPARD OAM

A U R O R A C AT H O L I C D I O C E S E O F M A I T L A N D - N E W C A S T L E

The fine chain I wear around my neck carries a Jerusalem cross, and two rings – one is my darling husband Warren's wedding ring, and the other is his ring that was blessed when we renewed our marriage vows for our 25th wedding anniversary.

For many years he wore this fine chain with the Jerusalem cross, but as his health declined due to Parkinson's disease, and his fingers became thinner, I put the rings on the chain. When Warren died on 14 July 2020, the nurse put the fine chain with the Jerusalem cross and rings around my neck. His death came after a long and courageous 14-year battle with Parkinson's. He was just 71 and had been in care for 14 months.

I vividly remember the day the diagnosis was confirmed. We rang our daughter to tell her the news. Then we had dinner with our Catholic parish family group.

Telling people took a lot of energy. Most reactions were energising, some were de-energising.

Where the Hell is God? written in 2010

by Richard Leonard sj, an Australian Catholic priest, tells the story of his sister ending up a person with quadriplegia after a car accident. As a response, he wrote seven steps to spiritual sanity. Two of them are: (1) God does not directly send pain, suffering and disease. God does not punish us. (2) God has created a world that is less than perfect, in which suffering, disease and pain are realities: otherwise, it would be heaven.

Photo: Peter Stoop

It is a tough gig to live with a neurological illness – and you can choose to laugh or cry. A common reaction was "it's not fair". It's not fair that a good man like Warren – a man who had journeyed with many as a pastoral associate in hospital, hospice, or parish – could become so ill.

Warren and I made a conscious decision not to waste our energy on that sort of thinking. Ecclesiastes 3: 1-8, the Old Testament reading Warren chose for his Requiem Mass, says it much more elegantly.

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born and a time to die; a time to plant and a time to pluck up what is planted; a time to weep and a time to laugh; a time to mourn and a time to dance.

Parkinson's disease is tough, but individual and different people have different symptoms. Warren didn't have tremors, but an increased quietness of speech. Difficulty in speaking, and later difficulty in reading, were painful for us.

Reverend Christine Sheppard wears a fine chain around her neck that carries a Jerusalem cross and two rings that belonged to her late husband, Warren.

We were both on holidays when we first met – during a conversation about Gough Whitlam and the Virgin Mary, and not necessarily together. Religion and politics then became everyday chat with us. I was Methodist, which became the Uniting Church in 1977, and Warren

was Catholic. We were both active in our respective churches when we met and chose to be involved in each other's congregations after we married.

For many years, especially in the last 10 years, we read the Daily Office (Bible reading and prayers) together. Gradually Warren's voice reduced, then he started to misread words. We had to adapt to the circumstances, so I read aloud. We might say the Lord's Prayer together.

Later, we would say the Rosary together as that didn't involve reading.

We were both fans of Mary MacKillop, Australia's first canonised saint, and up to two years ago, we were able to regularly catch the train to North Sydney and sit by her tomb. There was great grief that our world, as a couple, was growing smaller. To help overcome this, we would often say, "if we can't do this, let's try that".

Covid restrictions made Warren's last months' more challenging − the toughest being that our little family couldn't always be with us; but it was wonderful that they, and others, could join us with technology. We were thankful that towards his final days that restrictions started to lift, enabling some of those closest to Warren the chance to visit and say their goodbye.

My darling died clutching a prayer cross a friend had given him. He would not let that cross go. He was a man of deep faith, a loving man, a good man.

Preparing his funeral helped me as I mourned his death. Ecclesiastes 3: 1-8 says it all.

It's been a few months since I have had Warren by my side. In that time I have tried following my own advice – advice I would have given in my role as a Uniting Church Minister, as a mental health Chaplain – I've looked after my health through good diet, exercise and sleep.

I talk regularly with friends and have been careful not to make any significant decisions. I also say the Daily Office and have continued with yoga. I am deeply weary – and that makes sense − and will be for some time.

Now, as I finger his rings and touch the Jerusalem cross, I am reminded of a man who loved and embodied goodness. When I sat next to his casket at his funeral, I had a strong sense that I need not fear. The essence of my man wasn't there, but I knew he was continuing in a place of light and love.

Rev Christine Sheppard, OAM, was the first woman ordained (1987) in the Hunter Presbytery of the Uniting Church.

From 1990-2010 she was the Hunter New England mental health chaplain.

She continues to chair the Ecumenical and Interfaith Council of the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle, of which Warren was also a member.

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Housing-first fits the bill SISTER MYREE HARRIS RSJ

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The well-established connection between mental ill-health and homelessness is complex, but not insurmountable. Having worked in this area for more than 30 years and using the Josephite charism as a guide, I am convinced a “housing-first” approach offers a solution.

In 1990, I established the Gethsemane Community in inner-Sydney Marrickville for homeless women and men with mental ill-health and intellectual disability.

It was an alternative to the transient model that had transpired from the 1983 Richmond report into mental health in NSW. The report recommended “deinstitutionalisation”, but many of the “deinstitutionalised” ended up on the street and/or relocating from one “boarding” house to another. I found it was much better to keep people in a secure “family-like” environment.

The different emphasis allowed me to improve their living skills with an aim of independence.

The connection between homelessness and mental ill-health and other types of disadvantage is unavoidable. It is reported that 75 per cent of homeless people have mental illness. This mental ill-health is often associated with other conditions, such as intellectual disability or addiction, but in most cases it is schizophreniaaffected disorders along with depression and anxiety. The complexity makes it difficult for them to access appropriate but diminishing mental health services.

A decade on from the Richmond report, the National Inquiry into the Human Rights of People with Mental Illness released its findings. Commissioner Brian Burdekin supported the views of those of us at the coalface. People with mental ill-health newly on the street as a result of the Richmond report lacked proper support. The money that had previously gone to institutions never followed them into the community.

Today, the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference’s Social Justice Statement 2020-21 correctly refers to the “missing middle” – the severe lack of specialist community mental health services and after-hours care. The Social Justice Statement notes Australia spends more than $10 billion on mental healthcare each year, but we still have a disjointed and complex system of services that are difficult to navigate. Gaps between primary healthcare and acute care result in people falling through the system. Starved of funds, I have seen the community mental ill-health system atrophy before my very eyes.

The connection between homelessness and mental ill-health and other types of disadvantage is unavoidable.

Homelessness can cause or exacerbate mental ill-health. The Down and Out in Sydney study of 1998 reported many homeless people had trauma. The prevalence of schizophrenia in the general population is 1 per cent, yet the Down and Out study found that for homeless men on the street it was 23 per cent, and

for women on the street it was 46 per cent. The women you see on the street are often much more complexly ill than the men.

Housing-first is the answer to long-term homelessness and rough sleepers.

Finland ended street homelessness in 10 years. Its population, 5.5 million, is similar to Ireland’s (almost five million). Both countries addressed street homeless about the same time, 2007-08. Ireland built more shelters. Finland adopted the housing-first approach, converting all its shelters into permanent residences, and building other accommodation. Working at the problem systematically it assessed the affected people and put out tenders to NGOs for support services. Finland now has one shelter in the entire country, with 50 beds that are not full. The official figure of Ireland's homeless still wavers around 10,000, but experts say the actual number is far higher.

Secure housing is the first step to any kind of solution to mental ill-health, addiction, and the dual diagnosis of both.

If someone has somewhere secure to live, the people who can help them can easily find them. Secure housing also alleviates trauma.

Successful programs, and studies, show the housing-first approach is far cheaper than the prevalent merry-go-round.

With crisis-only psychiatric services and patients referred to their GPs, the homeless are just cycling through the system. It’s an expensive revolving-door approach. And it goes on. Consider the cost of city teams looking for the homeless, state and federal teams “working” for the homeless, ambulances, health services, police, the legal system, jails, and hospitals.

Gethsemane offers secure housing, with tenancy rights, support, and assistance to learn living skills. Residents sleep without anxiety or depression in their own big rooms.

It is important that faith communities are aware of the mental ill-health crisis. This is where the bishops’ statement and the associated resource 'Do Not be Afraid' Mental Illness and Outreach Guidelines for Parishes can help.

Saint Mary MacKillop worked with homeless suffering ill-health. A housingfirst approach today would provide a cost-effective solution to this problem while applying her values of love, justice, compassion, and dignity.

Sr Myree Harris rsj OAM is the founder of the Gethsemane Community – a home for the homeless – www.gethsemanecommunity.org.au.

She was part of the working group that prepared the 'Do Not be Afraid' Mental Illness and Outreach Guidelines for Parishes.

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Photo: Peter Stoop

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Baby, what a ride ASHLEIGH BANKS

New mum, Taylar, says her partner, Kodey, has been a great support in raising their son, Bryce.

They say when a woman gives birth, two people are born; the baby and the new mum.

It is a moment described as the happiest feeling in the world, but the highest highs can also mean the lowest lows. In fact, the World Health Organisation (WHO) says more than 15 per cent of women experience mental health problems during pregnancy, and up to one in five women suffer post-natal depression.

This rollercoaster of emotion is all too familiar for young mum, Taylar Tangye. She and her partner Kodey live in Weston in the Hunter Valley. They were 16 when they fell pregnant and had their son Bryce, at 17. Despite the common misconceptions about young parents, Taylar’s pregnancy was planned. However, not everything turned out quite as she expected.

Bryce was born three weeks premature and with heart problems, leading to them spending the first few weeks of his life in hospital. Thankfully, Bryce, now 10 months, has a clear bill of health.

When Taylar reflects on those early days, she openly admits there was a lot she wasn’t prepared for in her transition to motherhood, including a lack of sleep, but also the worry that would come due to concerns for her son’s wellbeing.

Taylar says, adding “mental health should be a priority for everyone.”

to cook, but also values such as respect,” says Taylar.

Despite the challenges of transitioning to motherhood, Taylar has an incredible amount of poise and wisdom well beyond her years.

The duo’s relationship has strengthened since Taylar became a mum, with Taylar aspiring to one day be like her role model.

Bryce is a happy and content baby, and her capacity to look after and love her son is a testament to the remarkable person she is. At the end of every day Taylar admits thinking to herself, “did I teach him something new, did I give him enough attention?”

The WHO says it is common for parents to feel overwhelmed by their new bundle of joy and self-doubt in the early months plagues many new parents, adding to feelings of anxiety and worry.

Taylar’s relationship with her own parents was disjointed, and she spent many of her formative years in foster care.

At the age of 13, Taylar met someone who changed her life – Barb, a carer. Taylar moved into Barb’s house and went on to stay with her for three years, the longest she had stayed in a foster home.

Taylar has since had a crash-course in dealing with the relentless demands of life with a baby and says Kodey has been a wonderful support.

Taylar’s new role as a mother has caused her to pause and reflect on her own experiences growing up and says that while she initially thought Barb was too strict, she understands now that it was her carer’s way of imparting important life lessons.

“I think having ‘me time’ is important,”

“She taught me practical things like how

“Barb owns her own house with pool,” she says. “I want to be just like her.”

These days, Barb calls herself Nanny B and treats Bryce and Kodey like family too.

“I wouldn’t trust my baby with anyone else but Barb. She’s like a mother to me.”

Before falling pregnant, Taylar joined CatholicCare’s Supported Independent Living program. The program is designed to assist 16-to-19-year-olds who have spent time in foster care, providing them with guidance and support as they move into adulthood and find their place in the world.

Supported by caseworkers, program participants learn important skills required for living independently such as sorting out finances, finding work, looking after their health, maintaining relationships, parenting and housekeeping.

With support from CatholicCare, in recent months Taylar has joined various support groups, including a mothers’ group.

“Without CatholicCare’s assistance, I wouldn’t be the person, or mother, I am today,” she says.

Motherhood is a big responsibility, and one that Taylar feels incredibly privileged to

know.

“Bryce is my biggest blessing,” she says.

“I didn’t know such love existed until I had him; it’s hard to put into words how much he means to me.”

Taylar acknowledges that having Bryce has helped her work through some past mental health issues. Previously she didn’t like leaving the house, but with Bryce by her side she feels more confident in herself and calmer about being in public.

In the future, Taylar would love to give Bryce a brother or sister. But right now, like many new parents keen to grow their family, she is weighing up how to do this as well as being gainfully employed. She also has high hopes for her son.

“I want Bryce to get into a good school, finish school, and grow to be independent,” she says. “Being a parent can be challenging, but the good outweighs the hard times.”

“

Mental health should be a priority for everyone.

”

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Workplaces to the fore DARRELL CROKER

With mental ill health now the number one reason for absence from employment, and long-term incapacity, the workplace has become an ideal environment in which to address the issue.

It is estimated that one in six workingage people will at some stage suffer from mental illness.

A further one-sixth of the population will suffer from symptoms associated with mental ill health, such as worry, sleep problems and fatigue. This does not meet the criteria for a diagnosed mental illness, but it will affect their ability to function at work.

The Black Dog Institute says essential services, such as frontline and medical workers, carry a high stress load, which increases the risk of mental health conditions and suicide.

The Calvary Mater Newcastle engages Access Newcastle Hunter Manning, a not-for-profit employee assistance provider (EAP), for individual counselling and workplace consulting.

Michael Hodgson is the Manager of Human Resources at the Calvary Mater Hospital and says hospital staff dealing with acute care are likely to experience trauma by the very nature of their work.

“Addressing staff mental ill-health is probably a more necessary requirement for us than your average office worker,” says Mr Hodgson.

“EAP is one way to support staff. We also have policies in place that promote a safe workplace and support staff, as well as a range of initiatives including a social club, free-yoga sessions onsite and access to discounted exercise programs to promote wellbeing. More importantly, we try and create a very personal and welcoming environment and we treat employees as we would treat friends and family.”

Mental illness is associated with high levels of presenteeism, where an employee remains at work despite experiencing symptoms, resulting in lower levels of productivity. Economic analyses consistently show mental health conditions, such as depression and anxiety, are costing Australian businesses about $11 billion each year through absenteeism, reduced work performance, increased turnover rates and compensation claims.

But researchers have found that individuals frequently identify work as a place that boosts wellbeing through providing a sense of purpose, acceptance, and opportunities for development.

Psychologist and Manager of Access Newcastle Hunter Manning, Kelly Pavan, says employers and workplaces can play an active and significant role in maintaining the health and wellbeing of their workers as well as assisting their recovery from mental health issues.

“Most workplace mental illness is treatable and, in some cases, preventable,” says Ms Pavan.

“If you notice any change in behaviours or performance in a colleague or team member, you could consider whether it is due to a mental health issue. Changes in behaviour may include a change in routines, lowered concentration or mood, reduced motivation, decreased personal care, social withdrawal, and elevated levels of irritability.

“If you have noticed changes, it’s worth having a conversation.”

It may be difficult to broach the subject, but when and if your colleague does talk, ensure you are actively listening. Don’t jump in with a solution. Ascertain if they’re ready to look for help and assist them if they are.”

Workplace laws protect against mental health discrimination. The Australia-wide Disability Discrimination Act 1992 and equivalent state and territory laws make it unlawful to discriminate against, harass or victimise people with disabilities.

Importantly, if your mental health condition does not affect how you do your job, you have no legal obligation to tell your employer about it.

Also, making reasonable adjustments to work for someone experiencing a period of mental ill health is a legal obligation of all employers, and can assist the employee in remaining at work.

Time off work is not always the best solution for someone with a mental health issue.

“Benefits of remaining at work include a sense of belonging, avoiding isolation at home, maintaining routine, working towards goals and a sense of purpose,” says Ms Pavan.

“But if an employee is at risk of selfharming, or suicidal, or is behaving in a way that is significantly affecting other employees and reasonable adjustment is impossible, then continuing at work is not in anyone’s best interests.”

Managers and team leaders can play a significant role in maintaining and improving the wellbeing of employees. Providing regular feedback and clear role definitions, encouraging respectful communication, acknowledging good work and setting a standard of exceptional behaviour are all important.

Mr Hodgson points to the longevity of people working at the Calvary Mater Hospital. He notes that de-identified reports provided by Access Newcastle point to employees accessing EAP more for non-work-related issues such as family problems, than for any trauma caused in the course of their Mater duties.

“It’s a good indication of our commitment to their wellbeing, not just at work,” he says. “It’s important we provide a free EAP service to our employees and their family members because it offers our employees confidentiality and sound, independent, professional advice.”

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Photo: Peter Stoop

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Faith communities provide fulsome answers ROSE MCALISTER

How do we live life to the full? Or as Socrates or Aristotle state from a philosopher’s lens, reach eudaimonia?

The ancient philosophers agreed that happiness may bring about eudaimonia if life is led with the inclusion of the virtues.

This sort of happiness is not intermediate but one that strives for flourishment, and ultimately assists life to be lived to the full.

From a Christian perspective, the theological virtues of faith, hope and charity play an integral role in assisting people, individually and communally, to live life in a state of beatitude.

The 2020-2021 Social Justice Statement says: “We are social beings. We need the bonds of family, friends, and the broader community to celebrate the joys and hopes of life. These bonds help us face the usual challenge of life, but they are even more important in times of anxiety or despair.”

For many, 2020 has been a time when their mental health and faith have been tested and there have been real barriers to living life to the full.

As US journalist and Catholic reformer Dorothy Day once said: “We have all known the long loneliness and we have learned that the only solution is love and that love comes with community.”

On the other hand, then, 2020’s restrictions around communal Mass celebrations have also provided a unique situation to reimagine faith practices.

The Immaculate Heart of Mary community

in Tighes Hill, with Lawrie Hallinan at the helm, not only encouraged the reimagination of approaches to faith, but also reached out to parishioners through acts of charity so they would not feel alone.

“Initially I felt angry and ashamed that we had never thought to gather the names and contact details of parishioners,” Mr Hallinan says. “I was anxious that they might be struggling or concerned, and we would not be able to let them know that we care and could help.

“Once we had gathered a reasonable list of parishioners’ contact details and surveyed them on their needs and interests, I felt more comfortable that we were caring for each other in the way that each wanted.”

A phone tree was established among the parishioners and weekly bulletins were dropped off in mailboxes for those without the internet.

Some parishioners say their faith life deepened during 2020 as they turned to alternative types of spiritual nourishment such as meditation, readings, podcasts, music and singing. Many welcomed the opportunity to reflect on just what their faith practices mean to them.

The Tighes Hill community embraced technology during lockdown and offered two weekly faith formation opportunities – Praying the Rosary, and Praying the Gospels. This kept the community’s spirits alive. Despite the lifting of Mass restrictions, the community continues to

meet online to pray.

“My faith life deepened during the time when I couldn't attend Church services,” says Mr Hallinan. “I tried watching Mass on TV and online but found it frustrating and a poor comparison with being physically present.

“Our parish was fortunate to have someone who took the role of hosting a weekly faith formation Lectio Divina where we prayed and reflected on the Sunday Gospel. It is a highlight in my week. I find God speaking to me through the others in the group and through my own response to the Gospel.”

Parishioner Pam Tierney was keen to join the on-line group during a time of communal deprivation.

“Praying the Gospels shares scripture, song, prayer and responses to artworks,” says Ms Tierney. “I am very grateful for this group. It is not an intimidating experience, rather, it is an enriching one as we ordinary parishioners share the love of God and the light of the Spirit seeking to teach, heal, and embrace us through the Word.

“I like the honesty of people in this group. I like their humility, their prayerfulness, their seeking of God, their shared wisdom. It is a gift to me, and to each other.”

Mr Hallinan says the group has enabled him to get to know fellow parishioners in ways not possible from Mass.

“We share our response to the Gospel as well as parts of our lives that relate to the

Rose McAlister and the Tighes Hill Parish community believe faith in God’s unfailing love is a powerful gift in any time of stress and anxiety.

Gospel and how we are each feeling,” he says.

Faith in God’s unfailing love is a powerful gift in any time of stress and anxiety, and faith communities create a sense of belonging. There is always something to learn from the approach others take to practising their faith, and encouragement to grow so we can all live life to the full.

Rose McAlister is part of the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle’s Pastoral Ministries team.

“

We are social beings. We need the bonds of family, friends, and the broader community to celebrate the joys and hopes of life. These bonds help us face the usual challenge of life, but they are even more important in times of anxiety or despair.

”

2020-2021 Social Justice Statement

17

Photo: Peter Stoop

W W W. M N N E W S . T O D AY / A U R O R A

Get your motor runnin’ DARRELL CROKER

CatholicCare Social Services Hunter-Manning recently partnered with Hunter Trade College to provide student counselling services, some of which occur in a very unconventional setting.

Car enthusiasts will be pleased to know a 1986 VL Commodore is playing a significant role in improving mental health. It is amazing what young men will talk about when they bond over a gleaming white 3.0-litre RB30E straight-six Australian icon.

much as I could about all types of music, hobbies, sports, trades – you name it.

CatholicCare Social Services HunterManning recently partnered with Hunter Trade College (HTC) to provide student counselling services. The assigned counsellor, Mark Davidson, is passionate about men’s mental health, which is a good thing because 94 per cent of HTC’s 233 16-to-18-year-old Year 11 and 12 students are male.

"A lifetime of observations and interests has led me to a place where I find it second nature to make strong, authentic connections. People listen when they feel connected. The genuine interest you show validates them as a person.”

Mr Davidson delivers support in unconventional ways, such as getting students out of the counselling room and into the workshop with his beloved Commodore.

“I like to show people they often have more skills to help themselves than they realise,” says Mr Davidson. “Consistently making small, achievable changes can snowball and deliver huge positive change in their lives.”

Most teenagers, particularly boys, are reluctant to discuss their feelings with someone they have just met.

“The most important thing is the relationship,” Mr Davidson says. “As a youth worker, I quickly realised teens can see through the fake enthusiasm of a wellmeaning adult. I knew I needed to learn as

“I now know enough about most topics to ask interesting questions and build a credible conversation.

It’s an approach we can all use. Taking the pressure off direct conversations about mental health and instead focusing on an activity, allows people to share their feelings and identify a positive way forward.

Mr Davidson advises youth to live in the moment and not worry about big-picture stresses such as career, money, or relationships.

complex needs,” she says.

OK? Day,” he says.

HTC prides itself on preparing “employees of choice”. Living with mental illness can impact a student’s ability to focus in the classroom, speak up when they have a concern, or communicate competently with others in the workplace.

Mrs Gleeson says HTC students experience the same challenges all teenagers encounter.

“Encouraging positive mental health helps young people develop their confidence and resilience, improving their capacity to learn and their employment potential,” says Mrs Gleeson.

HTC Year 12 student Harrison says young people looking for mental health support want to connect with someone who is really going to listen and take on board what they are saying, not just forget about them as soon as they walk out the door.

“Start each day with a positive goal,” he says. “Make it achievable, and then reach that goal. If you focus on controlling what you can, day by day, and consistently winning those moments, the big-picture dreams take care of themselves.”

“It’s important to build a rapport with someone,” says Harrison. “It makes you feel more comfortable talking about mental health. I think Mark’s approach to talk about real-world things and find common ground really makes the process of getting support less daunting. It’s much easier to have a casual conversation than a clinical assessment.”

HTC Chief Executive Mallory Gleeson says the college recognises the importance of mental health in a young person’s overall success.

Harrison had reservations about seeking mental health support when he was younger but is much more comfortable now if he feels the need.

“We sought the partnership with CatholicCare and access to a qualified counsellor to work with students who have

“I still think there is some stigma around mental health, but it is definitely improving through awareness initiatives such as R U

“They are finding their own identity in an adult world and some may need extra support,” she says. “We tailor our approach to individual student needs. This student-centred approach is at the core of our organisation.

“We encourage anyone who might be interested in learning more about the support we provide students, or enrolling, to get in touch by giving us a call or visiting our website.”

Mr Davidson says just being heard is enough to transform some people’s lives.

His classic car is one way of building a connection.

“The students are all starting to get their first cars and licences,” he says.

“I remember that was such an exciting time in my life. You can build off that enthusiasm. You can use any topic to construct a healthy discussion about goals and dreams. Cars is an easy one for me.

“Use something you know. If it is authentic, it enables you to begin a helpful conversation with someone you are concerned about. It’s amazing where conversations turn once people feel you are connected to them.”

18

ALUMNI

A U R O R A C AT H O L I C D I O C E S E O F M A I T L A N D - N E W C A S T L E

Care talk Fight, flight, or freeze CHERYL BROWN Trauma is an emotional response to a shocking and distressing event such as exposure to violence, abuse, neglect, an accident or injury, sexual assault, or natural disaster. It is often the result of an overwhelming amount of stress that exceeds the person’s ability to cope, or integrate the emotions involved with that experience.

CatholicCare’s registered psychologists address a new issue each month.

The advice provided is general in nature and does not replace ongoing support and advice from your health professional.

To talk to someone about counselling support, call CatholicCare P 4979 1172 or Lifeline 24/7 on P 131 114.

Do you have a question for us?

Email your question to aurora@mn.catholic.org.au or write to Aurora-CareTalk PO Box 756 Newcastle 2300.

Immediately after the event, people often experience shock and denial. Longer-term reactions include mood swings, anxiety, flashbacks, nightmares, hypervigilance, strained relationships, and even physical symptoms such as headaches or nausea.

While these feelings are normal, some people have difficulty moving on with their lives. As a result, trauma is considered a major risk factor in the development of not only post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), but also a range of other mental health conditions.

Trauma activates the instinctive survival reflex known as the fight, flight or freeze response; the physiological and psychological reaction to a danger or perceived danger. The autonomic nervous system floods the body with adrenaline and noradrenaline leading to rapid heart rate and breathing, tense muscles, nausea, sweaty palms, dilated pupils, racing thoughts or dizziness. It is priming the body to fight or flee the danger. While this state of arousal can in some situations increase our performance, a prolonged or persistent state of arousal is often associated with the development of acute stress disorder, anxiety, and even PTSD. Bessel van der Kolk in his book The Body Keeps the Score (1996), details the impact of this prolonged state of arousal on the body and the brain, particularly memory.

Traumatic events are not processed to memory in the same way as other life events. Trauma continues to intrude often via sensory triggers. These triggers may be a sound (a car backfiring being misinterpreted as a gunshot), a sight (a news bulletin showing familiar scenes), a smell (an open fire recalling a bushfire) or just a sensation of being followed.

Traumatic event triggers activate and maintain the state of arousal. As van de

Kolk says “your body keeps reacting as if you are still in imminent danger”.

Aside from PTSD, trauma has also been associated with:

PTSD is the disorder most commonly associated with trauma. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 5th Edition (DSM 5) requires the following criteria to be met for a diagnosis of PTSD.

f anxiety and depression

A

B

Experiencing, witnessing or learning about a traumatic event involving a family member or experiencing repeated exposure to traumatic events.

Experiencing intrusive symptoms such as recurrent memories, distressing dreams, flashbacks, marked and intense distress to triggers.

C

Avoidance of reminders of the trauma.

D

Negative cognitions and moods associated with the event.

E

Marked alteration in state of arousal and reactivity – self harm, hypervigilance, sleep disturbance, concentration problems.

F

Duration more than one month.

G

Disturbance causing impairment in function.

Beyond Blue and SANE Australia have published statistics showing 45 per cent of Australians will experience a mental illness in their lifetime and 12 per cent will experience PTSD. It should be noted though that not everyone exposed to a traumatic event will develop PTSD. In fact, only 25 per cent of people exposed to a traumatic event will develop PTSD. Particular groups in our community such as war veterans, Indigenous Australians, refugees, children in abusive situations or in foster care and emergency workers, can be at greater risk due to their experiences, environment and supports. Everyone experiences trauma differently and your capacity to cope depends on biology, temperament, social supports, and resilience skills developed through past experiences.

f substance abuse f suicidality f self-mutilation f aggression and affect regulation f interpersonal problems – difficulties with relationships f dysfunctional personality traits f bingeing and purging f unsafe and dysfunctional sexual behaviour f cognitive distortions – extreme hopelessness, low self-esteem f dissociation – spacing out f identity disturbance.

The recognition of the impact of trauma has led to the development of a number of trauma-informed therapies. Getting help from a mental health professional early can speed recovery.

Recovery from trauma is not about “deciding to move on” or “willpower”.

Seemingly minor stressors constantly trigger the physiological fight or flight response. Trauma-informed care, and supportive and empathetic responses can alleviate levels of distress and support recovery.

There is no doubt trauma is a significant risk factor in developing a mental illness.

Continued research is necessary to expand our knowledge and to assist the development of effective treatments. If this article has caused distress or raised your concerns regarding someone close to you, please contact Lifeline on 131114 or CatholicCare on 4979 1192 during business hours.

Cheryl Brown is a registered psychologist with CatholicCare Social Services HunterManning.

W W W. M N N E W S . T O D AY / A U R O R A

19

Finding a way through the clutter LOUISE CARSON Catholic Healthcare runs the Buried in Treasures program, which focuses on skill-building, applying lessons to change the way hoarders think about possessions.

Possessions … we all have them. But sometimes the urge to acquire new items, hoard them and struggle with discarding them, can become overwhelming.

Before long, items are taking over. A home becomes full of clutter and starts to impact on a person’s ability to live their best life.

Australian research estimates more than 600,000 people (2.6 per cent of the population) may suffer from hoarding disorder – a psychiatric condition to describe excessive collecting and extreme inability to discard objects.

Hoarding disorder is different from collecting. People who have collections deliberately search out specific items, categorise them and carefully display their collections. With a hoarder, possessions become unorganised piles of clutter that are so large they prevent rooms being used for normal activities.

The reasons people hoard are numerous, but often it stems from past trauma and stress. Hoarders believe an item will be useful or valuable in the future. Or they feel it has sentimental value, is unique and irreplaceable. They may also consider an item is a reminder that will jog their memory, thinking that without it they won’t remember an important person or event.

Hoarders believe the items are in some ways part of themselves and are unable to discard them without feeling distressed.

Depending on the extent of the situation, these people and their families may be at risk of squalor, fire hazards, eviction, homelessness, mental health issues and social isolation.

Newcastle resident Trish* is a single mum aged in her 40s. Her hoarding was triggered by an abusive relationship and a break-in to her home in the middle of the night while she and her daughter were sleeping upstairs.

Trish is a client of Catholic Healthcare’s Hoarding and Squalor support service. She took the brave step to seek help earlier this year and attended Catholic Healthcare’s Buried in Treasures program.

“The course really helped me,” says Trish.

“I was feeling very insecure and had collected items and clutter in my home. On my journey during the course, I realised I was barricading myself in my own home.

The big issue was my bedroom. It was full of clutter. I had piles of bed linen, towels, clothing, cushions, and pillows. I couldn’t use the room.”

A facilitator from Catholic Healthcare’s Hoarding and Squalor team runs the Buried in Treasures program, which follows direction from the self-named book. Each course participant receives a copy of the book. The program focuses on skillbuilding, applying lessons to change the way hoarders think about possessions, and provides progressive challenges to help them manage clutter.

The Buried in Treasures facilitator also offers optional one-on-one home visits to implement skills and techniques learnt in the group session.

Catholic Healthcare community worker Steve Ross was the facilitator for Trish’s course.

“Trish has progressed so well,” says Steve. “She was very fearful of anyone coming into her home. She was sleeping downstairs as there was so much clutter in her bedroom. She also could not use her kitchen, but now it has been cleaned out and is functional.”

Trish says Mr Ross’s support enabled her to start cleaning her bedroom.

“It represented knocking down walls,” she says. “Walls that have surrounded me for a long time. I am finally letting go of all these things that were part of me. I am now donating items and giving them away.”

If you, or someone you know, has symptoms of hoarding disorder, please talk with a doctor or mental health professional.

You can also call Catholic

A new online Buried in Treasures program is currently being run in the Newcastle and Hunter region with more courses to be made available from February 2021. The courses will remain online, which allows for social distancing and more flexibility for participants to attend their weekly sessions.

Healthcare’s Hoarding and Squalor

Buried in Treasures is government−funded under the Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP). To be eligible for CHSP participants need to be aged 50+.

(apeterson@chcs.com.au).

* Name changed to protect privacy Louise Carson is a communications specialist at Catholic Healthcare

team on 1800 225 474 or email Mercy Splitt (mesplitt@chcs.com.au) or Amanda Peterson

This website – www.hsru.com.au – provides useful support for people living with situations of hoarding and squalor.

20

ALUMNI

Faith and family are solid supports

A U R O R A C AT H O L I C D I O C E S E O F M A I T L A N D - N E W C A S T L E

Simon and Stefanie Lloyd have been married for 19 years after first meeting at a Windale Catholic Parish Antioch closing ceremony in 1985. The couple currently reside in the Maitland area with their children.

Simon is the eldest of eight siblings and grew up in Raymond Terrace, while Stefanie is the third of five Jansson siblings and spent her formative years in nearby Kurri Kurri.

Combined, they have more than 50 years of Church ministry experience and together they have travelled the east coast of Australia with their work. In recent years Simon and Stefanie returned to their Hunter roots and 12 months ago established The Lloyd Family Funerals.

What Catholic school/s did you attend?

Simon: St Brigid’s Catholic Primary School, Raymond Terrace; 1971−1978 Maitland Marist Brothers, Maitland; 1979 − 1982 Stef: St Francis Xavier’s Catholic Primary School, Gunnedah; 1975 − 1981 St Mary’s Dominican Convent, Maitland; 1982 − 1985

Photo: Peter Stoop

St Peter’s High School, Maitland; 1986 − 1987 Do you know why your parents chose Catholic education for you?

Formation in faith was an important part in both our upbringings. Coming from a long history of Catholic education it was a continuation of education in the faith, as well as a place to build strong relationships with peers and be formed in the charisms of the Josephite, Mercy, Dominican and Marist orders.

You have chosen a Catholic education for your children. Why? It is as a reflection of our own upbringings.

We believe their formation at school should be complementary to our own faith formation, and a comprehensive education of the whole young person is important to us. We also appreciate that many teachers are ex-students and have a common understanding of the values we were all raised with. We feel this is a positive influence on our children’s formation.

This edition of Aurora takes inspiration from the Catholic Social Justice Statement 2020-21 ‘To Live Life to the Full: Mental health in Australia today’. Working in the funeral industry must present some challenging moments. How do you maintain your mental health?

Simon and Stefanie Lloyd have more than 50 years of Church ministry experience and recently established The Lloyd Family Funerals.

We are available to families in need 24 hours a day, seven days a week, but we understand the importance of having interests in other areas of our lives.

Spending time doing light-hearted, fun, engaging and different things away from

the workspace environment is essential.

We walk together every morning.

(Simon is an avid aviculturalist, breeding and showing canaries and racing pigeons in his spare time. Stefanie enjoys her Body Shop At Home opportunity which helps others find their joy.)

We enjoy family gatherings, which provide an opportunity to celebrate life with those we love.

Based on your experiences, what advice would you have for others seeking to support their loved ones during periods of grief?

We have experienced more than our fair share of personal grief and loss, having lost all our grandparents, Stefanie’s father, her brother and our son. From our perspective: grief has no timeline – so just take your time; grief is an individual experience – sadness can be shared but grief is personal; and grief can be a time of reconciliation. It is OK to be in a sad place – just don’t stay there.

We connect grieving families with appropriate support beyond the funeral service. Dealing with death can be a confronting and difficult time. We are here to walk with you and your family.

Some people choose to partner alongside you in their final stages of life, helping to prepare their funeral. What has this experience taught you about the life?

It is such a privilege being invited into people’s lives. We take nothing for granted. We constantly remind ourselves that every moment could be a last and try to live life to its very fullest.

You both come from large families and chose to have a large family of your own. What does family mean to you?

Family is most important to us – understanding that “family” comes in all shapes, sizes, personalities and gifts. We embrace every moment together. We laugh out loud, we continually celebrate the blessings we have and enjoy the gift we are to each other as family.

We have been raised by strong, faithfilled, loving, parents and grandparents, which has made us the family we are. We continue to grow in our understanding of family through the authentic witness of those we call family.

W W W. M N N E W S . T O D AY / A U R O R A

21

Local study to address inequity Professor Jennifer Bowman will lead a local study to address the inequities people with mental health conditions encounter.

Building the capacity of community mental health services to provide preventive care to people with a condition will be the focus of a three-year project led by researchers at the University of Newcastle.

Professor Bowman says, due to potentially preventable chronic disease and a higher prevalence of modifiable risk factors, including poor nutrition and inadequate physical activity.

Professor Jennifer Bowman from the university’s School of Psychology, leads a research team that brings together expertise from across the University of Newcastle, Hunter Medical Research Institute, the University of Melbourne and Flinders University.

“This really is an issue of inequity," says Professor Bowman. "In addition to managing a mental health condition, people are also experiencing an extra burden from preventable physical chronic diseases.

The team has been awarded a National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) grant of more than $1.3 million.

The project will involve collaboration with mental health services in three NSW Local Health Districts: Central Coast, Hunter New England and Mid North Coast.

“By developing and testing a new model of care in collaboration with mental health services and clinicians, we’re hoping to make a difference to this now widely recognised problem, and support people with a mental health condition to make positive changes to their nutrition and physical risk behaviours.”

People with a mental health condition die between 10 to 15 years earlier than the general Australian population, largely

Professor Bowman says existing clinician and systems barriers, such as inadequate time, low clinician confidence and a

perceived lack of referral options, impede the routine provision of preventative care in mental health consultations.

The research team will aim to overcome these barriers by working with mental health providers to co-design and test a new model of care; integrating a "dedicated provider" within mental health services and offering all clients a consultation focused on preventive care for nutrition and physical activity risks.

The integrated practitioner will be a specialist in preventative care and will be responsible for the initial screening of clients and will assist in increasing the capacity of other mental health clinicians to embed this practice into their routine care.

overall health outcomes,” says Professor Bowman.

“This is so important because we can see the huge gap when it comes to life expectancy for people with mental health conditions and yet so much of it can be prevented.

“Hopefully by carrying out this research we’ll be able to see a way forward to reduce the chronic disease burden and the physical health inequity experienced by this population group.”

“The primary goal of this research is to facilitate the community mental health services to progress with a feasible way forward that will empower their clients to make positive changes to their lifestyle and

Community noticeboard For your diary

For more events please visit mn.catholic.org.au Live stream Mass every Sunday at 9.30am at www.mn.catholic.org.au/places/live-stream/ DoMN Library website goes live The DoMN Library project marked a significant milestone last month with the launch of the new website and catalogue, which is now live on the Diocesan website: www.mn.catholic.org.au/places/library/ To help navigate the site’s many features, handy “how to” videos and step-by-step instructions to many frequently asked questions (FAQs) are provided at the click of a mouse. There is also a Book Club, which all are welcome to join.

For all enquires or help, please email domnlibrary@mn.catholic.org.au or phone 0409 033 449.

Annual Reunion and Deceased Nurses' Mass The Mater Graduate Nurses' Association Committee wishes to inform all members that due to COVID-19 restrictions the Annual Reunion and Deceased Nurses Mass will not be held this November.

Engaging your Catholic Faith

interests you – and all for just $20 per session, running 14 September to 31 October.

For more information please visit: www.mn.catholic.org.au/church-mission/catholiclife/adult-faith-formation/ Catholic Mission Annual Church appeal

Engaging Your Catholic Faith is a series of short sessions offering an opportunity to explore your religious belief through a variety of topics including: Meditation and Prayer, Spirituality, Women in the Early Church, Interfaith Relations, Reading the Church Classics, Eucharist, Science and Religion.

The Catholic Mission Annual Church appeal will be held in parishes across our Diocese on World Mission Sunday, on the 18 October. You can help Catholic Mission support people with disability and their families. Visit www.catholicmission/cambodia for more information.

Catholic Theological College lecturers present the topics. Choose one, choose all, choose what

For more events please visit mn.catholic.org.au.

October 4: Feast of St Francis of Assisi 10: World Mental Health Day 11-17: Anti-Poverty Week 16: World Food Day 24: Blue Knot Day 31: Vigil of All Saints

22

Book talk

THE HAPPINESS TRAP STOP STRUGGLING, START LIVING

BY DR RUSS HARRIS Twelve years ago, when studying for my current career, I made a mistake. I picked up a copy of this book and read on the back-cover blurb: “This book is for everyone!”

“Well,” said my judgmental undergraduate science brain, “that’s impossible rubbish.”

So, I left it on the shelf.

And then ... I needed it. My story is not unique, but when my life came unstuck (yes, therapists are human too) I worked with someone who helped me recognise that assumptions I had about needing to be happy, and efforts to avoid negative thoughts or feelings, were bringing me undone.

Using acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) Russ Harris has crafted a gentle and often comical book rich with real-world stories about (1) noticing our

Food talk

A U R O R A C AT H O L I C D I O C E S E O F M A I T L A N D - N E W C A S T L E

unhelpful thoughts, (2) accepting them as just words rather than treating them as reality, (3) reducing our struggles using mindful engagement in our present moment, and (4) identifying our values – what’s really important to us – so we can take active steps towards a rich, full and meaningful life.

The book slowly builds your skills with strategies through short, doable exercises to which you can return again and again.

If you like your reading as an audio book, comic book style, video clips or in app form, these are available too. And yes, the scientific evidence is there as well to show that accepting your internal experience, being present, choosing a valued direction, and, taking action for your life, really works.

At a time of pandemic when we are all rethinking our purpose, our certainties and examining many things we thought of as unquestionable “reality”, this classic from 2007 could be the perfect companion to finding your version of happy, in a rich, full and meaningful life.

Kate Sweeny is a psychologist at CatholicCare Social Services Hunter-Manning.

It’s as if Malcolm Fraser (“life wasn’t meant to be easy … but take courage child for it can be delightful”), Mr Miyagi from The

SERVING OPPORTUNITY The unmistakable sounds of coffee being ground and milk being frothed emanate from the bustling café at Hamilton’s St Francis Xavier’s College each weekday morning. Students studying Kitchen Operations as a vocational training subject are at the helm, serving about 70 staff and peers with their morning caffeine hit.

Samantha Middleton is a hospitality teacher and manages the café. She says the commercial-grade café provides students with a convenient opportunity onsite to complete half of their mandatory work placement hours required to receive their Certificate II in Kitchen Operations.

“The idea for the café came about eight years ago, and originally opened two mornings per week,” Ms Middleton says.

“Demand for the service was high, and so we expanded our operations to provide espresso coffee, and other breakfast treats five days per week.”

As well as being a convenient option for students when undertaking their workplacement hours, it’s also akin to any other commercial operation with speed, timing and productivity all paramount.

“Each morning, we receive a high volume of customer traffic, meaning students who are serving can apply their skills to meet the varying consumer demands,” Ms Middleton says.

Students who undertake a work placement in the café assist with everything from input into the menu and making food and beverages, to serving customers and

BANANA BREAD Photo: Peter Stoop

Karate Kid (“wax on, wax off”), and Gloria Steinem ("the art of life is not controlling what happens to us, but using what happens to us") worked together on a life philosophy. Imagine that dinner party.

INGREDIENTS

METHOD

225g white sugar

1.

Preheat oven to 150C.

120g butter

2.

Place the sugar and butter in a mixer and beat for two to three minutes.

3 large, ripe bananas

3.

Add eggs gradually and beat well.

270g plain flour

4.

Sift the flour and baking powder over the sugar mixture.

Fold in with a wooden spoon.

5.

Add bicarb soda to hot water, stir to dissolve and fold into mixture.

6.

Poor the mixture into a greased loaf tin lined with baking paper.

7.

Bake for 45 minutes or until cooked in the centre when tested with a skewer.

8.

Cut into thick slices and serve with warm butter if desired.

2 eggs

1 ½ tsp baking powder 1 tsp bicarb soda 60ml hot water

learning about business operations.

Takings from the café cover the costs of saleable goods, running expenses and a portion is contributed to charity, with the benefactor regularly changing.

With this edition of Aurora focusing on mental health, we asked Ms Middleton to share one of the café’s secret recipes, which happens to include an ingredient scientifically proven to help boost people’s mood.

“Banana bread is one of our most popular products,” Ms Middleton says, “and bananas are high in vitamin B6, which helps synthesize feel-good neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin.”

A fund you can trust catholicsuper.com.au

s k c i N t S o t s n o i t a l u t a ards r w g A g n i n i Con W Tra S N 0 2 0 2 a med a n g n i e for b list. a n i F r e y Emplo m u i d e M

www.stnicholasmn.org.au