LAST week marked two important days on the calendar for mental health awareness across the nation.
Both World Suicide Prevention Day and R U OK? Day were held last week, with StandBy Support After Suicide championing the importance of these days in raising mental health awareness in the Limestone Coast.
StandBy coordinator Tracey Wanganeen said the week served as a poignant reminder to reach out to loved ones.
“R U OK? Day and World Suicide Prevention Day are so important to mental health awareness even though they are only one day a year,” she said.
“People might think having these events one day a year may mean people only remember to ask if their friends are okay on that day, but that is not the case.
“The aim is to remove the stigma from mental health and start that conversation.
“We want people talking about what is going on with them regularly and learning it is okay to seek help when they need it.”
This week, Ms Wanganeen and other StandBy representatives celebrated the work volunteer knitters do for the organisation with an afternoon tea on R U OK? Day.
“Our volunteers knit these beautiful comfort bears which we give out to families who are bereaved by suicide,” she said.
“It is proven having something tactile to hold when you are grieving is really helpful, so having the bears is so important.
“We give each bear a huge hug before giving them to the families and you can definitely feel the love radiating from them.”
Knitter Joan Button has made more than 180 bears in almost four years with StandBy, something she does not for herself, but to give back to the community.
“I lost my husband 42 years ago and I think about what I would have wanted or needed someone to do for me during that time,” she said.
“You need a hug and someone to be there for you, the knitted bears are made with love and its a beautiful way to remember your loved one.
“It is just a small way we can be there for someone and I am very proud to be part of that.”
