PRINCIPAL'S REFLECTION
Dear Parents, Carers and Friends,
Yesterday we marked R U OK? Day at St Brigid's by wearing yellow, enjoying a tasty lunch and participating in drumming classes.
The day is a reminder that every day is a day to empower people to start a meaningful conversation, shine a light on mental health and wellbeing, and to lend support. Share this year's message, ‘no qualifications needed’ to remind people they already have what it takes to support their family, friends, and colleagues.
R U OK? contributes to suicide prevention efforts by encouraging people to invest more time in their personal relationships and building the capacity of informal support networks – friends, family and colleagues - to be alert to those around them, have a conversation if they identify signs of distress or difficulty and connect someone to appropriate support, long before they're in crisis.
In support of this year’s R U OK? Day, you may like to access the podcasts below.
Episode 31: 'Eric Cruz - RUOK Day Ambassador'
R U OK Day Ambassador, Eric Cruz generously shares his personal story and speaks about the power of checking in on friends and family. Eric’s passion for mental health awareness stems from his own lived experience with anxiety and depression as well as the effects that it has had on those close to him.
Eric shares some of the barriers in speaking about mental health issues and the power of asking a friend or family member R U OK? Eric endeavours to assist in driving societal change in removing the stigma attached to men’s mental health.
Episode 32: 'Dr Kathy O’Grady - Medical Educator with Black Dog Institute'
Dr Kathy O’Grady is a GP who has been working in the Newcastle area for over 30 years. She has a special interest in mental health. Kathy has been working as a Medical Educator with Black Dog Institute for the last 8 years, delivering a range of workshops dealing with depression, anxiety, perinatal mental health, suicide prevention, youth mental health, PTSD, bipolar disorder, eMental health, and professional wellbeing and burnout.
Kathy speaks about the work of the Black Dog Institute and about some of the ways we can enter into a conversation with adults who may be struggling. She shares some of the more concerning signs as well as some ways in which we can respond. This response may include providing personal support or exploring some professional avenues. Kathy speaks about the value of empathy and of creating a space where people can share their distress without judgement. And it’s from this place that we can best offer support.
Black Dog Institute is celebrating 20 years of impact in mental health research and is the only Medical Research Institute (MRI) in Australia to investigate mental health across the lifespan.
Let us pray.....
Compassionate God, we pray for vulnerable people all over this world, people without hope who experience terror, violence, fear and oppression.
Help us to discern needs and work to fulfil them. Strengthen and unify our St Brigid’s community and show us how we can be the disciples you envision us to be. Relieve the suffering of those who have lost loved ones, are unable to find meaningful employment and fear the challenges of old age.
Guide us, into your paths of right relationships. In Jesus’ name we pray; Amen.