Thinking, tweeting, blogging

By admin on January 20, 2012

John Birmingham’s blog entry about about the incidence of suicide among soldiers and veterans is worth reading.

There is something about a soldiers experience that diminishes the will to live, something that’s unlikely to be physiological, something that’s taking a toll. Then there’s something fabulous about John Birmingham’s response to learning about extraordinary suicide rate among veterans, and the considered (thinky) sharing of his thoughts…

I don’t know which stats he read but I wrote about some figures a year ago, the suicide rate of veterans was estimated as between two and four times higher than the same population of civilians. I saw John Birmingham’s tweet and read his blog and reweeted his original statement, glad that the issue was receiving some mainstream attention.

Now I am writing a blog entry about his blog entry, I don’t know another way, maybe my blog should share a coffee with his blog… I do think a lot about how to lift the darkness around suicide and make the risks more visible. Silence keeps things invisible.

I wonder if the story of this american soldier, originally cited in John Birmingham’s blog might have played out differently if the silence were broken. I can only hope so…

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Some amazing person

By admin on December 21, 2011

http://www.leunig.com.au/

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Simon says…

By admin on December 14, 2011

Simon Hogan, in his typically Australian laconic style, describes himself as a 23 year old footy player. Footy is Australian Rules football, a game with an estimated 9 million followers. Simon plays for the Geelong Football club, the team Mottsu followed and the current competition premiers.

Simon Hogan is an elite athlete and professional sportsman, and he has had major depression over the past three years. His depression led to considering suicide, and to seeking support. Listening to him, I am considering taking more of an interest in footy.

He speaks frankly about his experience, here’s his story in print and below on video.

Fittingly he is now an ambassador for headspace, Australia’s National Youth Mental Health Foundation. Impressive.

If you, or someone you know, needs emotional support call Lifeline on 13 11 14 in Australia. Crisis counselling is available around the world.

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Movember 2011

By admin on November 9, 2011

That’s funny I wrote about Movember in 2009 but not in 2010. What happened there? Last November is a bit of blur to recall, maybe I had nothing new to say in support of the Movember awareness and fund raising effort. I hope wasn’t just in a dismissive mood and thinking pooh-pooh, I can be a bit that way. I am relenting this year, my innate sense of scorn has softened, and I am enthusiastic and supportive particularly thanks to a friend who is participating.

Men involved Movember’s fundraising don’t shave for a month. They are visibily changing the face of men’s health. My friend is the founder of FilmDude; the grey dude (I’m the red film reviewer). He’s fabulous, even before Movember he was quietly fabulous. Not shaving this month means he is also hairier than he was at the start of last week. I wonder if not shaving might prove more difficult than it looks? I am guessing that it will, starting with the itch he has described.

There is gallery documenting the awesome not shaving effort. See here to view progress and to donate in support to a couple of worthwhile men’s health causes.

Pooh-poohing not allowed.

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Who is asking?

By admin on September 30, 2011

I’m troubled by R U OK? Day. Something has been niggling at the edge of my thoughts and I am concerned that R U OK? Day might not be entirely OK for some. Well not the day so much as the question…

I have sat with my consternation for awhile trying to embrace the idea, and not quite able to. I like the suggestion that we are reminded to check in with someone who might be depressed on at least one day of the year. R U OK? describe themselves as “…an independent, not-for-profit organisation whose purpose is to provide national focus and leadership on suicide prevention by empowering Australians to have open and honest conversations and stay connected with people in their lives.”

Even knowing the good intent behind the push something still doesn’t sit well with me and I am unsure of how to explore my feelings. I’m in a quandary about where to start, so start with me and ask myself: R U OK?

Am I OK? Do I know what it is to be OK, well enough to answer the question? I struggle to form an answer to the ubiquitous pleasantry “How are you?” and now “R U OK?” is a question I see as more complex. It’s a question that feels inherently difficult to answer. I’m unsure how to assess if I am OK in relation to you, the person asking. Do I know you well enough to tell you how I really am? How much trust is shared between us?

I am going in circles, that’s how my mind goes…

“R U OK?” has a lot of assumptions about what is OK and what is not built in on both sides – the one who is asking and the one who is being asked. Am I? Are you?

More questions surround the central question; What is sought or hoped for in the reply? Why is the asker posing the question? What are the possible responses? What does the inquiry imply about the one being asked? How much support is wanted, needed, or available? What is it safe to reveal in response? What will the inquiry-maker do with the response? How far can we take the conversation?

What is best for us? We being the one asking and the one who is asked. I imagine the question R U OK? sitting in space between us, along with care and caring, all tangled up and awkward, and surrounded by many more implied and unanswered questions.

R U OK? is not a simple question, and it is not meant to be but I am still not quite OK with it all…

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R U OK?

By admin on September 15, 2011

I just wanted to gently enquire about you…

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On a Mission

By admin on August 11, 2011

I am delighted to have just discovered Prahran Mission’s fabulous cafe plonk in the middle of serious coffee drinking territory, in Chapel St. I was seeking a coffee when I ventured into the Mission Cafe, and I am doubly delighted by the quality of their food, the appetising salads in particular.

I’m also enamoured with Prahran Mission’s participation ethos:
“Prahran Mission has always valued, promoted and practiced participation in an attempt to design and implement services that are accessible and responsive to the needs of participants. The philosophy behind this practice is based upon a belief that participants’ knowledge and experience of the mental health system means that they have an enormous amount of expertise in knowing what is most beneficial to the recovery process.”

Apart from seriously good coffee the Mission cafe provides training and employment to people with social and functional limitations related to mental illness. In my book there is no better cause than supporting individuals to develop their innate strengths and abilities.

Now I am on a mission to support Prahran Mission’s good work by frequenting my new found favourite cafe. The food, the atmosphere, and the staff are all well above average cafe standard. I think of the Mission’s work as a form of social sustainability that should not be undervalued – can not be overvalued.

…and the coffee? I mentioned it and I need to say again that the coffee is superb.

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