Mental illness can strike someone you know well, even when you haven't suspected a problem.
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It was a point made by the impromptu guest speaker at the 2020 One Door Mental Health In The Workplace Lunch on Friday.
When a health issue prevented keynote speaker Katie Tonacia from attending, former Australian Idol winner and Wave FM breakfast co-host Damien Leith stepped in on short notice.
Leith started his talk by describing how his Irish father's work took the family all over Africa. As a young child he attended 17 different schools and in the middle of all that moving it was discovered he had Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. Among the ways he dealt with OCD was writing, which eventually led him into the entertainment industry.
The thing about any mental illness was it often went unseen by others, Leith said. It was always important to reach out and ask more questions if you thought someone wanted to tell you something but hadn't been able.
"Don't be afraid to delve a little deeper because you really don't know what people are going through and what they are disguising," he said.
Leith spoke about something he wasn't prepared for recently, involving someone he hadn't thought to quiz a little further about how they were. It was one of the crew he got to know well during filming for a new movie called Just Ruby which Leith co-wrote with his wife.
The film is the story of two sisters who lost their father to suicide. After the crew returned home to their daily lives Leith was shocked to learn one of them had succumbed to a mental health issue while feeling isolated during COVID lockdown in Melbourne.
"It has absolutely rocked us to the core. We had just made a movie highlighting the struggles people deal with. In the midst of that there was a guy suffering in our team and we still had no idea what he was going through.
"It is a constant reminder to me that even people you know so well can be struggling without you knowing it. Which is why it is so important to keep asking people if they are okay."
Leith said he now knew many people in the entertainment industry who were struggling. That was also being reflected in the wider community with so many challenges and uncertainty around COVID-19.
The One Door Mental Health Clubhouse committee was determined Friday's annual fundraiser went ahead despite COVID. Numbers were restricted but many businesses such as IOH and HumeCoal still supported the event generously.
Committee chair Professor Frank Deane said the clubhouse had been running 14 years and is now running four days a week which is why funding is so important. Especially during the coronavius crisis.
Prof Deane said providing purposeful work and creating social connections to reduce social isolation were among the most important things the clubhouse does.
"That has never been more important than during the pandemic," he said.
"I am sure we have all felt some of those aspects of isolation because we have been more socially disconnected."
Prof Deane said in March when the clubhouse had to close its doors it was still ale to provide support through video and telephone conferencing until it reopened on June 9.
"We were even able to continue running some of the groups activities as well as mindfulness and self care groups," he said.
Prof Deane said the clubhouse was immediately busy again when it reopened and that was only possible with the continued support of so many generous businesses and a dedicated and determined committee.
If you or someone you know needs help phone Lifeline on 13 11 14.
Read more:
- Governor General David Hurley's first visit to Wollongong in his new role is at a mental health lunch
- John Brogden's inspirational message at Mental Health in the Workplace Luncheon
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- Why stories and conversation are important to mental health
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