WENDY French has some simple advice for people who may be battling the holiday blues this Christmas: don’t wait for someone to come to you – offer help to someone in need first.
The 59-year-old Kings Meadows resident, who received the Community Development LiFE Award at the National Suicide Prevention Conference, said while Christmas was a time of joy for many, she had seen ample evidence that it was also a time when some became more aware of their own sense of loneliness and isolation.
While the tendency of depressed people was often to sit and ponder, Ms French said a proactive, community-spirited approach could be beneficial.
“Sometimes it helps to do something for someone else,” she said.
“Rather than waiting for someone to come visit, ask yourself ‘Could I go and visit someone else who might be doing it tougher than me?’
“It’s not about fixing people; it’s just a matter of letting them know I’m here and I care and asking what I can do to help.”
Ms French believes society today is less community-minded than in the past.
She grew up in an era when it was commonplace to turn up on a neighbour’s doorstep with a casserole to show support when something bad had happened.
“We don’t have so much of that in the community any more. We’ve become a bit of a casserole-short society.
“It’s partly because of technology; it’s a whole range of things.
“People are more transient these days, women are working and there’s not as much time to worry about what the neighbour is doing.”
Ms French worked in recruitment for two decades but decided to pursue her current field of suicide prevention more than eight years ago.
In her previous role, she worked with a number of young apprentices, some of whom were dealing with depression.
When one young man opened up to her about having suicidal thoughts she began to ponder even more on the nature of depression and suicide.
Since then she has spent five years managing a suicide bereavement service and two years working directly with communities disproportionately affected by suicide.
As well as actively trying to help others, Ms French said it was important to eat and sleep well and to exercise regularly to ensure the best possible physical health.
“It can also help to ask what are you good at and find time for those things.
“Every single person has a contribution they can make.”
- Lifeline: 131-114, lifeline.org.au
Suicide Call Back Service: 1300-659-467, suicidecallbackservice.org.au
