September 5, 2024 • 13 mins
In this week's episode of iHeart Tassie, Olivia Hicks explores Tasmania's mental health for R U OK? Day.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
My Heart Dasi.
Speaker 2 (00:03):
Tasmanians are feeling more overwhelmed than ever before, and it's
no wonder with the rising cost of living. Eleven point
five percent of US reported living with a long term
mental health condition in the twenty twenty two senses. However,
there is a simple step everyone can take to support
friends and family who might be struggling, asking are you okay?
(00:24):
In this episode of I Heart Tazzy, if we look
at Australia's National Day of Action, are You Okay Day
taking place in September twelve, and what you can do
to help those around you. I am Olivia Hicks and
this is I Heart Tassy, My Heart Tassi.
Speaker 1 (00:40):
I went to bed that night and I lost him
the next day, and I'll never ever have that opportunity again.
And I think that days like a Okay are really
significant to that reminder we don't have to change someone's
world acting on your guard instincts so that there something
might be something slightly wrong with that person. Please ask
that question.
Speaker 2 (00:57):
That's Mitch McPherson, a founder of Speak Up, Stay Chatty
and Are You ok Day Ambassador. He established the organization
in twenty thirteen after his younger brother Ty died by suicide.
Mitch has made it his mission to share his personal
story of lost to encourage others to speak up and
seek help when they have issues or going through difficult times.
Speaker 1 (01:19):
Well, look, I always think back to my own, my
own experience in the last time I saw my little brother.
You know, I've certainly spoke about it a lot, and
I openly share all in a bit to make change.
You know. You know the way he said goodnight to me,
You know, he wasn't himself and I never ever saw
him again after that little interaction with him, And I'll
(01:39):
forever think back to that moment of pulling his bedroom
door shut, And in that moment, there was a small
part of me that knew that he wasn't okay. He
definitely didn't look happy, He looked sad, He had tears
in his eyes, and you know, I just didn't know that.
You know, the power of asking a really important question
such as are you okay?
Speaker 2 (01:57):
Speak up? Stage Chatty works to promote positive mental health
and prevents suicide by normalizing conversations about mental health and
encouraging people to seek help when they need it. His
team organizes community events, fundraisers, presentations, to community groups, workplaces,
sporting clubs, and schools to promote the message. The team
works hard throughout Tasmania and the rest of the country
(02:20):
to raise awareness about mental health and suicide and share
that it's okay to not be okay, where to find help,
and how we can help each other out in tough times.
He says, despite the terrible circumstances, Mitch has learnt a
lot about himself after losing his brother.
Speaker 1 (02:36):
I'm really proud of the person that I've become because I,
for a lot of years and a big part of
my life before my little brother died, I was never
ever anyone that someone would tur to to talk about
their problems with. And I feel a sense of shame
that I was that type of person in my past life.
But now I'm really proud to be that advocate and
to receive messages from people I don't know asking for
(02:57):
support or telling me I'm doing a good job. Yeah.
I suppose it's proved out there to anyone that if
you work hard and believe in what you want to
achieve and do, you can make a bit of a difference.
And yeah, I suppose the biggest thing I grapple with
these days is I found my purpose and my calling
in life. But I don't have my brother here anymore,
And yeah, I really grapple with that and feel a
(03:18):
deep sense of sadness. But yeah, I have a lot
of people tell me that he'd be really proud of
what I and our team do, and I just have
to sort of, yeah, accept that and hope that he
would be proud and know that we can keep making.
Speaker 3 (03:29):
A difference in his legacy.
Speaker 2 (03:31):
Research conducted by Are You Okay and Youga reveals seventy
two percent of Australians are reporting elevated levels of distress,
but ninety percent of people who are regularly asked are
you Okay? For more supported, connected, and cared about. Since
its inception in two thousand and nine, Are You Okay
Day has been much more than just today. It's a
(03:52):
movement that aims to promote regular, meaningful conversations and create
a more connected world, one where we're shielded from the
devastating impacts of suicide. Doctor Michael Schuippa is a psychiatrist
with over two decades of experience in the field.
Speaker 3 (04:07):
Just listening is so powerful, and then I think, once
you have heard the story it's about gently trying to
encourage that person to say, right, Okay, you've told me
that you're not doing well. That's really important. The next
step is perhaps to look at, well, what professional help
is out there for you? You know, what's the next
(04:29):
step in terms of you actually getting these problems sorted out?
Because that's another thing to emphasize, Olivia, is that these
problems can be helped. But I think it's then helping
people I guess to take that next step towards finding
the right sort of professional help that may be out
there to help them. But it always starts with listening,
(04:50):
I think, and being willing to hear that human story.
Speaker 2 (04:53):
He says. Mental health conditions are treatable and improvement is
possible and people return to full functioning. Mental health treatment
is based upon an individualized plant developed collaboratively with a
mental health clinician and an individual. It may include psychotherapy, medication,
or other treatments.
Speaker 3 (05:11):
What we're talking about is a medical condition, you know,
a medical illness, depressive disorders, anxiety disorders. You know, these
are actual medical conditions much like asthma, diabetes, writers. You
know that can that can affect us in our minds,
as opposed to anywhere else in our bodies.
Speaker 2 (05:33):
But how do you know what to look for if
a colleague or family member could be struggling with their
mental health. That's coming up next on this episode of
iHeart Tasi My Heart, My Heart.
Speaker 3 (05:50):
Looking at a change from the other person's usual level
of behavior or functioning. That's what that's really important because
about you know, what are we seeing that is different
than them as opposed to us or anyone else. So
you know, for example, we might see this person demonstrating
(06:13):
social changes or communication changes that are different to how
they normally come across or functions. You know, that person
may become more withdrawn, you know, whereas previously they were
quite sociable or even quite extroverted. Or they might drastically,
you know, reduce their communication. They may be talking a
(06:36):
lot less compared to normal, or their communications style might
change in terms of their tone or manner. You know,
some people who are normally say, bright and bubbly, quite happy,
Suddenly they might be coming across more irritable and more short.
But again, it all comes back to that idea of
you know, what is different about them compared to how
(06:59):
they are usual.
Speaker 2 (07:00):
According to a national report, nearly seventy five percent of
Tasmanians experiencing moderate to severe mental health conditions are missing
out on crucial psychosocial supports. These are usually delivered by
community managed mental health organizations and help people with mental
health issues live independently in the community. Without access, many
(07:22):
people become increasingly unwell until they need more acute, complex
and costly forms of intervention and care. This is particularly
the case outside of major cities, where access to psychologists
and psychiatrists can prove very challenging, if not impossible. The
Mental Health Council of Tasmanias says mental health is both
(07:42):
a federal and state government issue and we all need
to work together to invest in the sector. Mitch says
leadership been addressing mental health comes from the top.
Speaker 1 (07:52):
One of the biggest things that drives the breaking down
of stiing very strong leadership of a culture that really
drives and communication and you know, well being being a
real priority for an organization. I've worked with many organizations
over the last ten years, and I think that the
biggest amount of difference an organization has been able to
have is when leadership, management.
Speaker 3 (08:13):
HR are on board that change.
Speaker 1 (08:15):
There's been organizations where people have invited me in to speak,
and you don't get that buying from the management, the
leader of the CEO, and you know, that culture shift
that they're looking for is really hard to attain when
you don't have managers and leaders on board. So look,
I think if you're out there listening today and you
are a leader understanding, your people want you to be
on their level when it comes to their well being
(08:37):
and to hear their problems and to be someone that's approachable,
and you know, I think that lends itself to a
stronger culture, are more open culture, and you know, ultimately
a more successful culture as well if you start having
those conversations.
Speaker 2 (08:49):
Mental health stigma can happen when someone stereotypes all labels
a person with mental health challenges based on their symptoms
or illness. Psychiatrists say stigma has improved in recent years,
but there's still a way to go.
Speaker 3 (09:03):
I think even you know, in the course of my career,
I've seen some significant strides made about reducing stigma, which
is fantastic. You know, I think that there's a couple
of reasons for that. I think we do have some
really excellent mental health campaigns out there now that I
think that help people to take that step forward to
(09:27):
tell their story, because you know, stigma really does isolate people.
It keeps people feeling very alone, and that's clearly one
of the worst things that can happen to someone who's
already grappling with a mental health problem. So some of
these you know, the are you Okay? They beyond Blue?
A lot of these campaigns have really helped, I think,
(09:50):
to promote the idea that it is okay to step
forward and tell your story. And I think certain you know,
celebrities or well known people who have who have also
come to the media, for example, and told this story
about mental health issues has helped that as well.
Speaker 2 (10:09):
Most recent ABS data shows eighty seven Tasmanians died by
suicide in twenty twenty two. The Tasmanian government released the
Suicide Prevention Strategy twenty twenty three twenty seven, two years ago,
and a second part will be released following consultation with
stakeholders and engagement with suicide prevention community networks. The Department
(10:30):
of Health is also conducting lived experience workshops seeking government
agency submissions to finalize the implementation plan ahead of its
release later this year. Mitch says, AUOK Day is a
great reminder of the importance of boosting mental health care,
not just on one day of the year, but all
year round. But how can we put it into practice.
Speaker 1 (10:52):
We know the suicide statistics around the still nine people
every day across our country on average taking their own life,
you know, wonning viable experience, mentoralth issue in any given year.
It is really really common. So I think on a
day like a okay, they play your part by sharing
something on social media, being on the lookout, you know,
reminding your work colleagues, or your people within your sporting
(11:12):
club or your family that you know you're there for
them if they need a conversation. I think just by
doing something really small, and if a lot of us
can do something really small, that's a giant step forward.
And we keep moving forward from where we've been and
keep breaking down that stigma and keep starting conversations. It's
really important.
Speaker 2 (11:30):
Mitch has spoken at over six hundred events, including school groups, workplaces,
and sporting clubs, and here's many sad stories of heartache
and laws. I asked him what he does for his
own mental health.
Speaker 1 (11:41):
Just came from a conversation with someone I know who
has been breed by suicide in the past twelve months.
And yeah, I had a strong coffee, and yeah, I
loved every minute of it, purely because I knew how
good it felt for this person to be able to
share and open up about their experiences with someone they trust.
No doubt, I walk away from it with a heavier
(12:02):
heart and a deeper sense of sadness for the remainder
of my day because it brings up my own emotions, thoughts,
and feelings and memories of what I experienced. But I'm
pretty good with self care these days. I'm pretty good
that if you know you can get too much for
me this afternoon, I'll have a really wonderful supportive team
that Relationships Australia, tas Mane, you're in Stay Chatty, that
(12:23):
provide the environments where we can leave early practice self care.
And I know my boundaries now. I certainly didn't know
my boundaries with sharing and taking on other people's issues
and concerns and problems over the journey, but I certainly
have a really good understanding of now of where that's apt.
Speaker 2 (12:39):
If you're someone you know is struggling, you can contact
Lifeline on thirteen eleven fourteen or Tasmanian Lifeline on one
eight hundred nine to eight four four three four. And
that's it for iHeart Tazi this week. If you enjoyed
this episode, make sure to subscribe to the iHeart Tazzi
podcast feed on the iHeart app or wherever you get
(13:00):
your podcasts, and if you'd like, you can leave us
a review while you're there. I'm Olivia Hicks. Thanks for
your company, My hearts Asi
My Heart Dasi.
Speaker 2 (00:03):
Tasmanians are feeling more overwhelmed than ever before, and it's
no wonder with the rising cost of living. Eleven point
five percent of US reported living with a long term
mental health condition in the twenty twenty two senses. However,
there is a simple step everyone can take to support
friends and family who might be struggling, asking are you okay?
(00:24):
In this episode of I Heart Tazzy, if we look
at Australia's National Day of Action, are You Okay Day
taking place in September twelve, and what you can do
to help those around you. I am Olivia Hicks and
this is I Heart Tassy, My Heart Tassi.
Speaker 1 (00:40):
I went to bed that night and I lost him
the next day, and I'll never ever have that opportunity again.
And I think that days like a Okay are really
significant to that reminder we don't have to change someone's
world acting on your guard instincts so that there something
might be something slightly wrong with that person. Please ask
that question.
Speaker 2 (00:57):
That's Mitch McPherson, a founder of Speak Up, Stay Chatty
and Are You ok Day Ambassador. He established the organization
in twenty thirteen after his younger brother Ty died by suicide.
Mitch has made it his mission to share his personal
story of lost to encourage others to speak up and
seek help when they have issues or going through difficult times.
Speaker 1 (01:19):
Well, look, I always think back to my own, my
own experience in the last time I saw my little brother.
You know, I've certainly spoke about it a lot, and
I openly share all in a bit to make change.
You know. You know the way he said goodnight to me,
You know, he wasn't himself and I never ever saw
him again after that little interaction with him, And I'll
(01:39):
forever think back to that moment of pulling his bedroom
door shut, And in that moment, there was a small
part of me that knew that he wasn't okay. He
definitely didn't look happy, He looked sad, He had tears
in his eyes, and you know, I just didn't know that.
You know, the power of asking a really important question
such as are you okay?
Speaker 2 (01:57):
Speak up? Stage Chatty works to promote positive mental health
and prevents suicide by normalizing conversations about mental health and
encouraging people to seek help when they need it. His
team organizes community events, fundraisers, presentations, to community groups, workplaces,
sporting clubs, and schools to promote the message. The team
works hard throughout Tasmania and the rest of the country
(02:20):
to raise awareness about mental health and suicide and share
that it's okay to not be okay, where to find help,
and how we can help each other out in tough times.
He says, despite the terrible circumstances, Mitch has learnt a
lot about himself after losing his brother.
Speaker 1 (02:36):
I'm really proud of the person that I've become because I,
for a lot of years and a big part of
my life before my little brother died, I was never
ever anyone that someone would tur to to talk about
their problems with. And I feel a sense of shame
that I was that type of person in my past life.
But now I'm really proud to be that advocate and
to receive messages from people I don't know asking for
(02:57):
support or telling me I'm doing a good job. Yeah.
I suppose it's proved out there to anyone that if
you work hard and believe in what you want to
achieve and do, you can make a bit of a difference.
And yeah, I suppose the biggest thing I grapple with
these days is I found my purpose and my calling
in life. But I don't have my brother here anymore,
And yeah, I really grapple with that and feel a
(03:18):
deep sense of sadness. But yeah, I have a lot
of people tell me that he'd be really proud of
what I and our team do, and I just have
to sort of, yeah, accept that and hope that he
would be proud and know that we can keep making.
Speaker 3 (03:29):
A difference in his legacy.
Speaker 2 (03:31):
Research conducted by Are You Okay and Youga reveals seventy
two percent of Australians are reporting elevated levels of distress,
but ninety percent of people who are regularly asked are
you Okay? For more supported, connected, and cared about. Since
its inception in two thousand and nine, Are You Okay
Day has been much more than just today. It's a
(03:52):
movement that aims to promote regular, meaningful conversations and create
a more connected world, one where we're shielded from the
devastating impacts of suicide. Doctor Michael Schuippa is a psychiatrist
with over two decades of experience in the field.
Speaker 3 (04:07):
Just listening is so powerful, and then I think, once
you have heard the story it's about gently trying to
encourage that person to say, right, Okay, you've told me
that you're not doing well. That's really important. The next
step is perhaps to look at, well, what professional help
is out there for you? You know, what's the next
(04:29):
step in terms of you actually getting these problems sorted out?
Because that's another thing to emphasize, Olivia, is that these
problems can be helped. But I think it's then helping
people I guess to take that next step towards finding
the right sort of professional help that may be out
there to help them. But it always starts with listening,
(04:50):
I think, and being willing to hear that human story.
Speaker 2 (04:53):
He says. Mental health conditions are treatable and improvement is
possible and people return to full functioning. Mental health treatment
is based upon an individualized plant developed collaboratively with a
mental health clinician and an individual. It may include psychotherapy, medication,
or other treatments.
Speaker 3 (05:11):
What we're talking about is a medical condition, you know,
a medical illness, depressive disorders, anxiety disorders. You know, these
are actual medical conditions much like asthma, diabetes, writers. You
know that can that can affect us in our minds,
as opposed to anywhere else in our bodies.
Speaker 2 (05:33):
But how do you know what to look for if
a colleague or family member could be struggling with their
mental health. That's coming up next on this episode of
iHeart Tasi My Heart, My Heart.
Speaker 3 (05:50):
Looking at a change from the other person's usual level
of behavior or functioning. That's what that's really important because
about you know, what are we seeing that is different
than them as opposed to us or anyone else. So
you know, for example, we might see this person demonstrating
(06:13):
social changes or communication changes that are different to how
they normally come across or functions. You know, that person
may become more withdrawn, you know, whereas previously they were
quite sociable or even quite extroverted. Or they might drastically,
you know, reduce their communication. They may be talking a
(06:36):
lot less compared to normal, or their communications style might
change in terms of their tone or manner. You know,
some people who are normally say, bright and bubbly, quite happy,
Suddenly they might be coming across more irritable and more short.
But again, it all comes back to that idea of
you know, what is different about them compared to how
(06:59):
they are usual.
Speaker 2 (07:00):
According to a national report, nearly seventy five percent of
Tasmanians experiencing moderate to severe mental health conditions are missing
out on crucial psychosocial supports. These are usually delivered by
community managed mental health organizations and help people with mental
health issues live independently in the community. Without access, many
(07:22):
people become increasingly unwell until they need more acute, complex
and costly forms of intervention and care. This is particularly
the case outside of major cities, where access to psychologists
and psychiatrists can prove very challenging, if not impossible. The
Mental Health Council of Tasmanias says mental health is both
(07:42):
a federal and state government issue and we all need
to work together to invest in the sector. Mitch says
leadership been addressing mental health comes from the top.
Speaker 1 (07:52):
One of the biggest things that drives the breaking down
of stiing very strong leadership of a culture that really
drives and communication and you know, well being being a
real priority for an organization. I've worked with many organizations
over the last ten years, and I think that the
biggest amount of difference an organization has been able to
have is when leadership, management.
Speaker 3 (08:13):
HR are on board that change.
Speaker 1 (08:15):
There's been organizations where people have invited me in to speak,
and you don't get that buying from the management, the
leader of the CEO, and you know, that culture shift
that they're looking for is really hard to attain when
you don't have managers and leaders on board. So look,
I think if you're out there listening today and you
are a leader understanding, your people want you to be
on their level when it comes to their well being
(08:37):
and to hear their problems and to be someone that's approachable,
and you know, I think that lends itself to a
stronger culture, are more open culture, and you know, ultimately
a more successful culture as well if you start having
those conversations.
Speaker 2 (08:49):
Mental health stigma can happen when someone stereotypes all labels
a person with mental health challenges based on their symptoms
or illness. Psychiatrists say stigma has improved in recent years,
but there's still a way to go.
Speaker 3 (09:03):
I think even you know, in the course of my career,
I've seen some significant strides made about reducing stigma, which
is fantastic. You know, I think that there's a couple
of reasons for that. I think we do have some
really excellent mental health campaigns out there now that I
think that help people to take that step forward to
(09:27):
tell their story, because you know, stigma really does isolate people.
It keeps people feeling very alone, and that's clearly one
of the worst things that can happen to someone who's
already grappling with a mental health problem. So some of
these you know, the are you Okay? They beyond Blue?
A lot of these campaigns have really helped, I think,
(09:50):
to promote the idea that it is okay to step
forward and tell your story. And I think certain you know,
celebrities or well known people who have who have also
come to the media, for example, and told this story
about mental health issues has helped that as well.
Speaker 2 (10:09):
Most recent ABS data shows eighty seven Tasmanians died by
suicide in twenty twenty two. The Tasmanian government released the
Suicide Prevention Strategy twenty twenty three twenty seven, two years ago,
and a second part will be released following consultation with
stakeholders and engagement with suicide prevention community networks. The Department
(10:30):
of Health is also conducting lived experience workshops seeking government
agency submissions to finalize the implementation plan ahead of its
release later this year. Mitch says, AUOK Day is a
great reminder of the importance of boosting mental health care,
not just on one day of the year, but all
year round. But how can we put it into practice.
Speaker 1 (10:52):
We know the suicide statistics around the still nine people
every day across our country on average taking their own life,
you know, wonning viable experience, mentoralth issue in any given year.
It is really really common. So I think on a
day like a okay, they play your part by sharing
something on social media, being on the lookout, you know,
reminding your work colleagues, or your people within your sporting
(11:12):
club or your family that you know you're there for
them if they need a conversation. I think just by
doing something really small, and if a lot of us
can do something really small, that's a giant step forward.
And we keep moving forward from where we've been and
keep breaking down that stigma and keep starting conversations. It's
really important.
Speaker 2 (11:30):
Mitch has spoken at over six hundred events, including school groups, workplaces,
and sporting clubs, and here's many sad stories of heartache
and laws. I asked him what he does for his
own mental health.
Speaker 1 (11:41):
Just came from a conversation with someone I know who
has been breed by suicide in the past twelve months.
And yeah, I had a strong coffee, and yeah, I
loved every minute of it, purely because I knew how
good it felt for this person to be able to
share and open up about their experiences with someone they trust.
No doubt, I walk away from it with a heavier
(12:02):
heart and a deeper sense of sadness for the remainder
of my day because it brings up my own emotions, thoughts,
and feelings and memories of what I experienced. But I'm
pretty good with self care these days. I'm pretty good
that if you know you can get too much for
me this afternoon, I'll have a really wonderful supportive team
that Relationships Australia, tas Mane, you're in Stay Chatty, that
(12:23):
provide the environments where we can leave early practice self care.
And I know my boundaries now. I certainly didn't know
my boundaries with sharing and taking on other people's issues
and concerns and problems over the journey, but I certainly
have a really good understanding of now of where that's apt.
Speaker 2 (12:39):
If you're someone you know is struggling, you can contact
Lifeline on thirteen eleven fourteen or Tasmanian Lifeline on one
eight hundred nine to eight four four three four. And
that's it for iHeart Tazi this week. If you enjoyed
this episode, make sure to subscribe to the iHeart Tazzi
podcast feed on the iHeart app or wherever you get
(13:00):
your podcasts, and if you'd like, you can leave us
a review while you're there. I'm Olivia Hicks. Thanks for
your company, My hearts Asi
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