Why I am personally walking the walk!

Next Sunday it will be the second year that I will be walking around Albert Park Lake for Mental Health. There will be a massive turnout of like minded people and there will be four of us walking the walk. This is our sign of solidarity and respect. I love that this day encourages people to come together, united in acknowledging the impact of mental illness without having to go into detail or explainations. I believe that most people have been touched by mental illness in some form or another or will be impacted at some stage in their life. Families who experience mental health struggles with a family member, grieve for the individuals change of status and having to contemplate how things may have been different. These struggles can and do cause difficulties with relationships, due to the diagnosis, change in behaviours and potentially can cause homelessness either as a choice or through fractured relationships. They loose friends, employment and may self medicate to relieve the emotional pain. There really is a ripple effect. The impact is far reaching. 1 in 5. Just look around you and consider that statistic. Someone may be sitting on the edge, they may have recovered, they may have a long way to go or they may be completely lost. What is also important to consider is that they may be sitting right next to you without you knowing. They do not wear a sign around their neck saying "Hello, my name is ......... and I have a mental illness". I will be wearing 2 hats on this walk. One hat is worn to acknowledge my role as a counsellor who advocates for better, more appropriate, prompt, early interventions, cost effective and affordable. Hat number two acknowledges my personal experience of myself as a grand-daughter, a sibling and a mother who has witnessed and experienced first hand the impact of mental illness has had upon my family. Three generations to be exact as far as I know. There maybe further skeletons in the closet that I am not aware of. But, not only, my immediate family has been affected, but, also my peers, friends of the family, aquaintances, friends of friends, work colleagues, the list goes on. The recent passing of Danny Frawley, such a high profile figure and advocate for Mental Health tragically lost his own fight. The impact was phenomenal, he left such a massive gap in many people's lives but I did ponder the everyday people who have also lost a loved one. All the same grief, confusion, questioning, disbelief, whys, what ifs, should have, would have and could haves. All losses are significant. Danny Frawley's loss did open up discussions regarding suicide and mental health. This is a person that most of us did not know personally but was a person that struck a chord with people. Robin Williams was another that had a great impact upon people's lives before he died, he also had a massive impact afterwards, due to the fact that, no-one realized that he struggled greatly in his personal life and mental illness. Having family members or someone close struggling is quite a difficult gig. It is scary, frustrating, isolating, exhausting and just plain cruel. This may sound quite glib in my description but what else can I say? Life changes for everyone, whether short term or long term. It is a crisis. Some can cope as it may be considerd a glitch, while for others and their famiies it is a life long prospect. They suddenly become carers in a world so different from before. They learn a new language and various undesirable attitudes regarding mental illness and the difference in how someone now responds to them. Even if they have known them for a long period of time. Suddenly, they look as if they have grown two heads or have some infectious life threatening disease. When someone is in a stable condition, taking their medication, they are perceived as being 'normal' whatever that means. But, when they are in a florid state and considered to be disrupting the community or potentially dangerous they become public enemy number 1. The media reports the news worthy complex cases. They also believe that they have the medical knowledge and perceived right to publish or report that the person has a mental health condition but usually will disclose this without having the right to make an assumption or disclose their medical condition or to harrass a family. Some cases have been extreme and have had disasterous repercussions. Yes, and this can be understandable but as my mother would say "You can't tar everybody with the same brush". But, stigma continues to flourish. This is why these events are important, such as, the Mental Health walks. But, it is disappointing that they are needed at all. Why do we need to have "Are you ok?" days. Why do we have to be reminded to ask or check in on people? I know I may be an idealist but I just think that this should be an automatic response to check up on people you know, people you care about or someone you see in distress or who approach you for support. One of the most important lessons I learnt from my mother was "To give people that you meet in the street, a smile and say "Hello" because you don't know what sort of day someone has had and this may make all the difference to their day". Her open mindedness due to her own experiences of mental illness was a great lesson that she instilled in me and became one of my intrinsic values that I have spoken to both my son and daughter. Eventhough, people state that they are ok with mental illness, I have witnessed people that just tend to run a mile when they hear of someone diagnosed with any form of mental illness. Some will change the subject, some are dismissive or just switch off. Mental Health should be viewed in the same light as any other ailment and treated in the manner and made far more accessible to the everyday person. This is my view and it is not my intention to inadvertently upset or hurt anyone. This is my opinion. It is just that I am saddened that since deinstitutionalization that in some areas things have not changed whatsoever. The Royal Commission is encouraging regarding the recommendations that are being tabled. Let's hope we can move forward. I am really looking forward to the 20th October and the sea of people meandering around the Lake. It is a commitment, it is a joyous event. I must admit that I am overwhelmed by the number of people but I am happy to participate and will continue to do so for many years to come.