Latest / 360 with Katie Woolf / Katie spoke with CEO Northern Territory Primary Health Network Gill Yearsley about mental health support during the Christmas holidays

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Katie spoke with CEO Northern Territory Primary Health Network Gill Yearsley about mental health support during the Christmas holidays · 360 with Katie Woolf

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  Speaker 1: We know that the impacts of COVID nineteen have certainly
• 0:03
  Speaker 1: been felt across the board in a lot of different ways,
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  Speaker 1: and it's meant for some families we're probably not going
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  Speaker 1: to be able to get together this year, or it
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  Speaker 1: may be much harder than what it has been in
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  Speaker 1: the past. Now, the Northern Territory Primary Health Network has
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  Speaker 1: launched a series of holiday messages and a campaign to
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  Speaker 1: really try to help people care for their mental health.
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  Speaker 1: And joining me on the line right now to tell
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  Speaker 1: us a little bit more as Jill Yearsly, the CEO
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  Speaker 1: of the Northern Territory Primary Health Network. Good morning to you, Jill.
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  Speaker 1: Morning Katie, and I apologize that we're running late this morning.
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  Speaker 2: Jill.
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  Speaker 1: Can you tell us a little bit more about what
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  Speaker 1: the Primary Health Network is doing to help people to
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  Speaker 1: focus a little bit more on their mental health over
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  Speaker 1: the festive season.
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  Speaker 2: Yeah, thanks, Katie. Look, we're partnering with our colleagues in
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  Speaker 2: the Northern Territory Government and in Amsan. We've got a
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  Speaker 2: website called the Mental Health Anti Website, which is really
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  Speaker 2: a one stop shop really for people to just click
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  Speaker 2: on and get information about where they can go to
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  Speaker 2: to find really relevant services relating to what their specific
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  Speaker 2: needs are. We've put some examples up. We put bus
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  Speaker 2: raps around the city in Darwin in analys and we've
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  Speaker 2: also got them on our web pages and on social
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  Speaker 2: media for people to access food.
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  Speaker 1: Jill, we're just having a little bit of trouble hearing you,
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  Speaker 1: but just I guess we know that it's been such
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  Speaker 1: a tough couple of years for so many people, and
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  Speaker 1: over the Christmas period there is that real uncertainty at
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  Speaker 1: the moment as to whether people will be able to
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  Speaker 1: travel away to see their families and whether they are
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  Speaker 1: going to be able to connect to their families maybe
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  Speaker 1: they haven't been able to see for quite some time.
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  Speaker 3: What are some of the.
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  Speaker 1: Important things that we need to sort of to know
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  Speaker 1: when to really try to focus on.
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  Speaker 2: That's a really good point, Katie. I think it's really
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  Speaker 2: about finding ways to remain connected. You know, we've got
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  Speaker 2: lots of digital technology now, we've got telet we've got telephones,
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  Speaker 2: we've got you know, the Internet. We can we can
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  Speaker 2: engage with people. We don't necessarily have to be in
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  Speaker 2: the same room as them or you know, in the
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  Speaker 2: same state, which given some of the complexities around travel,
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  Speaker 2: this year are going to be really problematic, so really
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  Speaker 2: being able to connect with people and engage with them
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  Speaker 2: in a meaningful way, but also about taking some time
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  Speaker 2: to look after yourself in a tough year for so
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  Speaker 2: many people. Things like getting outside, going through some exercise
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  Speaker 2: and enjoying some fresh air, going to eat some nice
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  Speaker 2: food somewhere, play some good music, call a friend for
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  Speaker 2: a chet, go and see someone sit on the beach.
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  Speaker 2: You'll watch the beautiful vistas that we have here in
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  Speaker 2: the Northern Territory. Just take some space to think about
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  Speaker 2: what's going on in your life and just reflect and relax,
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  Speaker 2: try not to be too rushed.
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  Speaker 1: Yeah, it has been such a tough time, I think
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  Speaker 1: for so many people, and that uncertainty really sort of
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  Speaker 1: contributes to it.
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  Speaker 3: So I think that that is good advice, and.
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  Speaker 1: You know, just taking that time for yourself to really
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  Speaker 1: try to look after yourself your mental health.
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  Speaker 3: Of course.
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  Speaker 2: Yes, I mean it's such a there's a lot of
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  Speaker 2: expectation always attached to the Christmas or the festive period,
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  Speaker 2: and there's a lot of imagery that we see in
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  Speaker 2: media and around us, and the expectation that people should
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  Speaker 2: be happy and enjoy themselves and for so many people.
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  Speaker 2: It's a tough time for so many different reasons, and
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  Speaker 2: I think it's really important that we recognize that and
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  Speaker 2: we understand that it's okay not to feel okay and
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  Speaker 2: give ourselves space to go and get some assistance or
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  Speaker 2: help or time.
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  Speaker 1: Now the website is obviously mentalhealthant dot com dot au
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  Speaker 1: and it will help to guide people through a range
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  Speaker 1: of local resources and support that they can head to
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  Speaker 1: to get some additional I guess like it says they're
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  Speaker 1: additional resources and find out locally where they can maybe go.
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  Speaker 2: Yes, that's right, and it's about engaging with people that
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  Speaker 2: you know locally. So we've collaborated with local AFLNT to
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  Speaker 2: get some footy messages for the social media messaging so
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  Speaker 2: that you can hear people that might have a voice
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  Speaker 2: that reminds you of who you are and where you are.
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  Speaker 2: And also about those people with multicultural needs. We've worked
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  Speaker 2: with people in the Office of Multicultural Affairs and there
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  Speaker 2: are some radio messages and messaging in language which are
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  Speaker 2: being put out through our remote regions so they can
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  Speaker 2: also engage in ways that makes them feel more connected
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  Speaker 2: to their communities.
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  Speaker 3: Oh, Jill, I think it's a good thing to do.
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  Speaker 1: And like I say, I know that there are a
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  Speaker 1: lot of people that you know that the festive season
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  Speaker 1: isn't so festive, particularly after what's been a difficult couple
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  Speaker 1: of years.
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  Speaker 3: So I think this is really important.
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  Speaker 2: Yeah, yeah, it is. And I think it's just about
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  Speaker 2: giving each other a bit of space and time and
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  Speaker 2: allowing ourselves to enjoy our time away from the office maybe,
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  Speaker 2: but also just to you know, not to put too
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  Speaker 2: much expectations on yourself for those around you and just
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  Speaker 2: try to enjoy the time that you have to relax.
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  Speaker 3: Yeah, good advice.
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  Speaker 1: Jill years Lely the Sea of the Northern Territory Primary
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  Speaker 1: Health Network. I really appreciate your time this morning. Thanks
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  Speaker 1: so much for speaking with me.
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  Speaker 2: Thanks Katie, it's always much as we thank you.