A training session at Campbell Page in Eden on Wednesday took only a couple of hours out of the busy working days of the 12 volunteers from the business and service sectors who attended.
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But that couple of hours may one day just save someone’s life.
The session, which was put on by Grand Pacific Health in conjunction with the Rural Adversity Mental Health Program, aims to increase awareness of the incidence of mental illness in our community and, more importantly, equip people with the skills to deal with those troubled souls.
The training session, as was to be expected, was at times confronting.
A simple ‘Tree of Life’ sticker displayed in the window of a business or service with an employee who has completed to free suicide protection training session, indicates that there is a person inside who cares about them.
And just knowing that someone cares – not to mention has the skills to help them, or at the very least steer them in the right direction to get the help they need – may be the difference between life and death.
There is no point beating around the bush. Mental illness is widespread in our community with suicide a tragic and permanent decision over what are often temporary problems. Loved ones, friends, neighbours and colleagues are left scarred.
No one is immune from mental illness; not the rich, not those who are successful or hold positions of power and influence, not the high achievers in our schools and universities.
The ‘Tree of Life’ training sessions are a practical way to help combat an illness which is at epidemic proportions in our community.
Designed principally for business and service sector employees, the skills that are imparted will help participants not only between 9am and 5pm, but in all aspects of the public and private lives.
It is likely that a number of employers will be saying or thinking “I can’t afford to let one of my staff take even a few hours off work to attend”.
Imagine if someone with a mental illness walked past your door. And there was no ‘Tree of Life’ sticker on it. Could you ever forgive yourself if that person then self-harmed or, worse, took their own life?
This is a valuable training program that this community clearly needs – and needs to support.
