Help Available for Mental Health Carers

BY OLIVIA DILLON

Hunter residents with a friend of family member who has attempted suicide can now access a free support service. 

Newcastle-based mental health service Everymind, has launched two new programs as part of its Minds Together initiative, to recognise the important role carers play in supporting their loved ones through a tough time.

The first program provides support for the family and friends of someone who has attempted suicide. 

The second, is for those helping to the support the mental health of a paramedic. 

They each feature practical tips from suicide prevention experts, to help family and friends to talk about suicide, respond to stigma, and navigate complicated feelings. 

Program Manager and Clinical Psychologist Dr Sally Fitzpatrick, said the mental health of paramedics is often overlooked. 

"They face high-stress, they're often exposed to trauma, they have really long working hours, and they're not great at seeking help themselves; they're always there to be able to focus on someone else, and find it really hard to reach out and seek help when they need it," she said. 

Dr Fitzpatrick said anyone in a support role is encouraged to sign up for the free programs, to help ensure the good mental health of themselves and their loved ones. 

"It's really important if you're going to be able to support someone else, that you look after yourself; make time to ensure that your mental health and your wellbeing levels are high and that you have support around you." 

Hunter blokes trying out walk-and-talk therapy in new study

BY DAKOTA TAIT

Newcastle researchers are hoping to find out if walk-and-talk style, outdoor therapy could be a better option for men than sitting down inside.

The team includes members from all of the University's schools and colleges, and is the first internationally to explore the approach.

Dr Myles Young says it's important we have as many tools as possible to treat mental health issues.

"In Australia, one in eight men will experience depression throughout their life," he said. "In reality, it's probably actually quite a bit more, because many men don't seek help."

"During COVID alone, the prevalence of depression in Australia increased by about ten percent."

"Compared to women, men are less likely to seek help for things like depression or low mood, and when they do seek help and go to psychotherapy or counselling, they're less likely to stick with it all the way through. 

It's believed taking psychotherapy outside might make men more comfortable to open up, because of the natural environment, less eye contact, and the shared space.

Dr Young says the physical activity can also be great for men doing it tough.

"While we have all this evidence to show it may work, no one's ever really looked to see if it does work with men," he said. "It's possible that it might not be as appealing. No one knows that yet, because no one's done the research."

"And we're not sure not only does it work, but is it something that men find engaging and appealing and will stick with? That's what we're really interested to find out through our research."

The team's recruiting local blokes to take part until Friday 28 October.

You can find out more by contacting Dr Myles Young at myles.young@newcastle.edu.au.

Public forum exploring generational changes to women's health

BY SIOBHAN HARVEY 

Newcastle Institute are holding their first public forum of the year this Wednesday on Generational Changes in Women's Health. 

University of Newcastle academic Professor Julie Byles will share the insights into healthy ageing that she has found from conducting the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's health. 

The study started over 25 years ago and has involved surveying over 57 thousand women from all over Australia. 

During the study Professor Byles noticed that mental health generally tends to improve as women age however, it is clear that COVID - 19 has taken its toll on younger women. 

"Women now are more distressed than women the same age 25 years ago," she said.

"When COVID came along we found through surveying women every two weeks during 2020 and some of 2021, that the younger the women were the more they were distressed and the more they were distressed in relation to COVID." 

Professor Byles said over the past 25 years women across four generations have provided a wealth of data on their lives, their health, and their health care use. 

From her research there has been many interesting and useful findings, some hopeful and some concerning. 

"I've been really lucky because I've concentrated on ageing, and the things that surprise me there have been less concerning and more positive and hopeful about women's adaptability and their ability to reinvent themselves," she said. 

During the forum she will talk about the circumstances younger generations are facing and whether or not health care systems are up to par with women's health. 

"The other thing that I think is very important is looking at our health systems and our society and thinking whether or not we have the right shaped society for who we are as people and what our life course looks like." 

The forum will be held at Newcastle United Sports Club from 6pm to 7.30pm, the event is free and there is no need to book. 

University of Newcastle academic Professor Julie Byles AO 

102 Year Old Veteran Walks 360 Kilometres for Mental Health Awareness

BY DAKOTA TAIT

Anglican Care and Samaritans staff are supporting the efforts of a 102-year-old resident with an organisation-wide mufti day and fundraising drive on Friday.

Bert Le-Merton, a World War II veteran, has walked more than 360 kilometres and raised over $110,000 as part of the Soldier On organisation's efforts in raising awareness and preventing veteran suicide.

Bert spent five and a half years as part of the Australian Infantry Force, serving in North Africa and the Pacific Theatre with the 2/13th Battalion, 9th Division.

Anglican Care Marketing Manager Kylie Jacques said Bert is "full of positivity" and that they were proud to be following in his footsteps.

"To meet Bert is one of life's privileges," Ms Jacques said. "He's just the most amazing, beautiful gentleman, and he's been through so much in his life and has so many amazing stories to tell." 

Bert said it was important to lend a helping hand to those former personnel who were struggling to get back into the swing of civilian life.

"My longevity, I put it down to keeping on walking around the block," Mr Le-Merton said. 

"Look at it in this life, mate, if you don't use them, you lose them." 

Bert walked 96 kilometres in March alone, the length of the Kokoda trail - team members at Anglican Care’s C A Brown Lodge at Booragul are expected to match Bert's efforts. 

Ms Jacques said Bert's commitment is fantastic motivation.

"He is such an inspirational man and beyond the fantastic work he is doing for the Soldier On organisation, at the age of 102 he is an amazing example of positive and healthy ageing," Ms Jacques said.

Bert and Anglican Care staff member Irene Balkema.

Veterans Hit the High Seas at Port Stephens for Mental Health Fishing Event

BY DAKOTA TAIT

More than 70 veterans and their family members from across the country took to the Port Stephens coast on Wednesday as part of a social fishing event to support their mental health.

Twenty boats hit the high seas to celebrate the sixth anniversary of the fishing adventure, reeling in marlin alongside famous fisher and television presenter Andrew Ettinghausen.

The two-day trip was organized by Calypso Fishing Adventures and not-for-profit veteran support organization Soldier On.

Soldier On CEO Ivan Slavich said the event was a great opportunity for the veterans and their families to make meaningful connections and better their mental health in a positive social setting.

"We have amateurs, we've veterans who have got a disability, we've got veterans who are going through some mental health issues," Mr Slavich said.

Mr Slavich said the effort of the community members and local businesses who helped get the event up and running meant a lot to the veterans.

"They've donated essentially $70,000 worth of fuel and bait and lines and their time, to help 70 veterans who are doing it a bit tough, to get out there and have some social connection and a little bit of fun to help with their mental health," Mr Slavich said. 

"And in fact, on the boat that I'm in, we've got a 30 year veteran who caught her first slimy and then subsequently caught her first 70 kg marlin, so an amazing experience for her." 

"I've been fishing for 30 years and I've never caught a marlin, so that's pretty good going."

Mr Slavich is also encouraging the community to get involved in the 96 kilometre March On walk next month to help raise funds for veterans' mental health programs.

University of Newcastle Researchers Receive More Than a Million Dollars to Address Mental Health Inequities

BY DAKOTA TAIT

Researchers at the University of Newcastle have been awarded $1.3 million in funding by the National Health and Medical Research Council to examine the capacity of community health services and preventative care for people with a mental health condition.

Professor Jenny Bowman, from the University of Newcastle's School of Psychology, will lead a team of researchers in a three year project which also includes experts from the University of Melbourne, Flinders University, and the Hunter Medical Research Institute.

Professor Bowman says a large number of potentially preventable risk factors, both social inequities and physical health conditions such as poor nutrition and low levels of physical activity, cause individuals with a mental health condition to die an average 10 to 15 years earlier than the general Australian population.

"Many folk with mental health problems experience social marginalization, isolation, are more likely to be of a lower socioeconomic status, less likely to be employed, be living under the poverty level, et cetera," Professor Bowman said.

"It's actually quite a complex range of those kind of factors that come into play."

According to Professor Bowman, clinical and structural issues such as inadequate time, low levels of clinician confidence, and a perceived lack of referral options contribute to a poorer provision of preventative care for people affected by a mental health condition.

Researchers are hoping to develop a new approach to mental health and encourage clinicians to incorporate preventative care strategies into their practice.

"This project, we hope, will at least provide people with an opportunity to have those lifestyle risk behaviours assessed, recognized, and then offered support in a way that is meaningful for them, feasible for them to take up, and is likely to work to actually help them change that behaviour."

Professor Jenny Bowman