Interview Nina Phillips Artwork supplied by batyr
In an Australian classroom of 30 students, seven will be dealing with a mental health issue, yet only two will reach out for support, leaving the other five suffering in silence. This is largely due to societal stigmas surrounding mental ill-health. Founded in 2011, batyr is a youth mental health organisation, operating nation-wide, that was named after a talking elephant in Kazakhstan. It aims to raise awareness about the “elephant in the room”— mental ill-health stigma—and empower young people to lead mentally healthy lives. As someone who thrives helping others, undertaking a degree in social work at UniSA was the natural progression for Caitlin O’Connor following high school. Currently in her second year of university, Caitlin is the Mental Wellbeing Director of batyr UniSA. And although 2020 has thrown quite a few academic curve balls at her, she has managed to not only stay afloat during this coronavirus-riddled semester but thrive and maintain a sense of normalcy by connecting with friends and family. As borders begin to open and pubs regain the pintclinking ruckus of bevvie fiends, Caitlin believes in the importance of finding quality self-care strategies and strengthening connections with those closest. Verse caught up with Caitlin to discuss how the COVID-19 pandemic has shaped her year thus far and efforts batyr UniSA have taken to operate as a team, albeit online.
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Caitlin O’Connor
