General News
9 November, 2022
Pam shares mental health struggle
TERANG’S Pam Bell has shared her story of battling mental health issues as Let’s Talk continues its pilot of a new mental health initiative in the town.
TERANG’S Pam Bell has shared her story of battling mental health issues as Let’s Talk continues its pilot of a new mental health initiative in the town.
Ms Bell spoke in front of around a dozen attendees at the Terang Returned and Services League hall on Monday as part of the Let’s Talk Foundation’s community-led discussions on mental health.
She shared the story of her diagnosis with depression and anxiety around 16 years ago.
Ms Bell had known something was wrong even before her diagnosis. She had lost the vigour for life through which so many knew her for.
It would take two hours after her alarm went off to drag herself out of bed, and she had to similarly drag herself through the rest ofthe day.
“Things just got on top of me,” Ms Bell said.
“Prior to the diagnosis I had lost both parents in the space of around 17 months.
“There were lots of things happening in my life and it just sort of got on top of me.
“You try and put on a brave face, to show that you’re alright, but I wasn’t.”
Ms Bell initially sought medical assistance after a visit to her younger sister resulted in an innocuous but important question being asked.
“How are you really doing?”
Ms Bell said she broke down in response, and the following morning her sister made an appointment with the doctor.
“It was that first step to acknowledge what the problem was,” she said.
“My first time going out afterwards was New Years Eve and I was honest with everyone about my diagnosis and that I was on medication.
“Everyone was just saying well done, that they knew something wasn’t right and wanted to talk to me about it because they knew Iwas struggling.
“I never received a negative comment, everyone was so supportive.”
Ms Bell said she did not personallyexperience suicidal ideation when her depression was at its worst, but seeing the devastation families had experienced when losing a loved one was a catalyst for her to speak out.
“I’m happy to do anything to help because I know it’s to the benefit of our community,” she said.
“If you can help change even one person’s life, that’s one less family to go through horror.”
Ms Bell said openly discussing mental health had long been “hush-hush” but she could see the stigma lifting as more people, sufferers and advocates alike, spoke up.
While progress has been made, she said young men in particular needed to remain vigilant.
“With a lot of suicides, it is young men,”she said.
“Young men and boys really need to get the message that it’s nothing to be ashamed of, and if you talk you will find so many others are going through the same thing.”
She said her vigour for life had returned after receiving treatment, and encouraged anyone concerned about their mental health to seek medical support.
“Treatment has given me back my life, and I love life,” she said.
“Pick up the phone and make that first call because you will never regret it.
“Talk to someone - particularly around here.
“I think you’ll find Terang is a very caring community. Help is there. Go and get it.”
The Let’s Talk Foundation launched the pilot initiative in Terang earlier this year, with the goal of increasing community engagement to break the cycle of silence surrounding mental health issues.
To learn more visit letstalkaustralia.org.
You are not alone. Mental health support is available through Beyond Blue at 1300 22 4636 and lifeline on 13 11 14.
If you or someone you know is in crisis and needs help now, call Triple Zero (000).
