The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander crisis support hotline 13Yarn marked 50,000 calls this week.
Program Manager Marjorie Anderson said one of the greatest challenges when providing crisis support to Aboriginal people in rural and regional communities is the lack of access to culturally sensitive mental health support.
“We often have to think outside the box when putting together a safe plan for someone who’s rung 13Yarn in distress. We might say, ‘When you felt like this before, what’s worked to calm you down or make you feel empowered.”
“They might come up with something like sitting by the river, or doing some gardening, or walking my dog, or visiting their auntie. We want them to take control of their mental health journey.”
But there are times when this approach simply isn’t enough…