THE Fitzgibbon family is partnering with St John of God Hospital to deliver the Let’s Talk initiative to reduce the stigma of mental health.
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Let’s Talk stands for: L = learn self-care, E = express your feelings,T = tell someone, S = someone loves you, T = talk, A = ask how you’re feeling, L = listen, K = keep talking.
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It has already been presented to about 2500 people across the south-west and there are plans for it to be presented at schools and football/netball clubs. SJOG mental health manager John Parkinson said the presentation would also be made available in workplaces upon invitation. He said the Mental Health Counselling Service was committed to identifying gaps within the community.
“We are all about getting it out there to as many people as we possibly can to urge people to seek help,” he said. “The other thing is mental health/wellbeing services are stretched to the max now, because we do live in a very stressful society and not every person can sustain the expectation of what other people want from us. Part of this initiative is getting communities to take responsibility for themselves and for each other. We are all at risk of losing our real communication skills as 87 per cent of effective communication is vocal tones and body language.”
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He said the program’s structure had followed similar tactics to R U OK day.
“The way you ask the question is actually vital. Pick your moment when you are alone with the person you are concerned about displaying genuine care and empathy.
Mrs Fitzgibbon said the Let’s Talk group included her husband Michael and herself, healthcare professionals from SJOG, Warrnambool Police Senior Sergeant Shane Keogh, Coast FM’s Matty Stewart, James Tait from Tait’s Legal, Emmanuel College’s Sharon Blackney, Enprove Ag and Environment’s Dean Suckling and people with their own mental health experiences
