Over the last three years we’ve had a rugged time. The impact of a long and severe drought, then came some of the worst bushfires ever experienced.
Welcome rain followed, but with it floods. Whilst the rain dealt with the fires, floods brought their own anguish with property damage and precious top soil washed away.
Then Covid struck.
Now we have devastating floods with loss of life and horrendous destruction of property. In our local region many primary producers have lost everything, many businesses severely impacted or lost forever, and many homes rendered totally uninhabitable. All this can bring people to the point of mental disintegration, where nothing else matters except ending that pain. A significant proportion of the population will suffer some form of mental health in their lifetime.
Circumstances like we face now, increase exponentially the seriousness of mental (and physical) health issues. In such stressful times, it is natural to feel down to the point of thinking about ending your life.
However there is a huge difference between this and suicidal depression. If you let it happen, you can slide into the black mental depths of suicidal depression.
Be honest with yourself and seek help before it is too late. Help is available.
The good news is that patients who have depression or anxiety issues are encouraged to ring their GP practice and they will be assisted to talk to medical professionals.
Always remember that you are not the only one with these issues, because the times in which we live are almost unprecedented for the traumas inflicted on us, but you need to deal with them. Have the courage to recognise that you may have a problem, and deal with it.
Remember, it is not what goes wrong in your life that counts: it is how you deal with it that matters.
Mike Nowlan is a volunteer speaker for Beyond Blue
Beyond Blue: 1300224636
Lifeline: 13114
