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Helpful things you can do during Covid19

Portrait photo of Lou Shillingford

These are uncertain and anxious times for everyone. But, especially for vulnerable people in our community and the services working hard to provide support – hats off to everyone. Covid19 is a trigger bomb for some: isolation; change of routine/structure; separation; and pressure to speak on the phone or FaceTime. I work with people experiencing substance use/homeless/housing issues. My thoughts are with those who find the uncertainty overwhelming.

I am a massive supporter of Grassroots Suicide Prevention and their message to our community: talk about suicide. Suicide is everyone’s business and should not be taboo. Grassroots offer the ASIST suicide prevention course. It teaches you to have lifesaving conversations about suicide and talk to those around you.

Here are a some helpful things you can do during Covid19:

  • Check in with your mates and family and ask them how they want to stay in touch; some might find phone calls/FaceTime too much and would prefer text – ask!
  • Understand that people have different coping mechanisms for dealing with uncertainty; some use humour, others discuss things to rationalise it. There are lots of ways and none are wrong. Understand and ask what works for them.
  • Limit the amount of news you expose yourself to or share, ask people before sharing – are they in the right place to talk about it? 

Things are not as they were a few weeks ago. But there is a lot of good coming out of this. I have seen so many amazing things happening in the community. I hope we learn from this that in normal times we need to talk and look after each other – we all have a part to play. We can all do positive things, no matter how big or small.

‘No act of kindness no matter how small is ever wasted.’ – Aesop 

Stay safe everyone, keep on keeping on, and keep on checking in. 

– Lou Shillingford

Did you know 1 in 5 people will have suicidal thoughts at some point in their lives?

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