Mental Health

The Hon. G.G. BROCK (Frome) (16:43): Today, I would like to talk about the stigma of mental health. As people would be aware, I am very passionate about issues of mental health, especially with regard to people not seeking or acknowledging that they may have an issue with regard to their health and wellbeing. I have spoken previously in this house and also worked with relevant government and non-government agencies, holding forums to promote this issue.

It is in this regard that I recently took up a challenge to get rid of the stigma of people suffering mental health concerns. There has been for many years an issue of people who may be impacted by outside issues that may impact their health and wellbeing. However, as males, we still appear to have this attitude that we should not openly talk about this for fear of being seen as weak and/or not macho.

This feeling, and fear of the stigma being placed upon us, has to be addressed and brought into the open and addressed openly. This issue is not only confined to older males but also to many young people across both genders who are impacted with pressures resulting from not only the COVID-19 impacts but also schooling pressure, social media bullying, intimidation or financial issues.

It is with this in mind that I took up the challenge recently to raise funds for Lifeline to establish a Connect centre in Port Pirie to provide a facility for a location for these people to actually talk to a trained counsellor or other people who do not necessary need to be qualified but who may have experienced this issue and have come out the other end. This is sometimes the best opportunity because these people can talk from experience and they can personally relate to people who may have this issue. I might add that, to my information, people attending this facility would also not require a referral from their medical practitioner.

By accepting this challenge, I pledged to endeavour to raise $10,000, and if that could be achieved I would contribute $5,000 from my personal funds to go towards this project. This campaign has achieved a total of just in excess of $20,000, which is greatly appreciated. The challenges given were to either colour my moustache or shave it off. As I have not shaved off my moustache for the past 52 years, it was a very daunting experience—firstly, with colouring it, and then we had to find a suitable colour and somebody to colour it, and then shaving it off. As you can see, in some people's view it makes me look a bit younger, but that may be questionable.

My grandchildren asked their mothers what I looked like without my moustache. Even both my girls had never seen me without it, so it was a complete shock to all my children, including my grandchildren, that I would do this. This decision was met with a gasp from my youngest grandchild, Jax, who was fearful of the idea of grandpa not being the same. However, my daughter was able to convince him that I would be the same and to come with other members of my family to witness this process at 4.30pm last Friday.

I was invited to go to my daughter's home for Father's Day. Again, this was met with the same response: me not being allowed to attend my daughter's place on Sunday because of the same concerns. My grandson Jax thought that his grandpa would be different and he did not want to know anything about it. However, at 4.30 last Friday, my partner, Lyn, and I, and my family and other supports, did the deed. Firstly, we coloured the moustache purple and then we shaved it off in a public location. I must admit that I ensured that there was a defibrillator present, just in case, and also a first-aid attendant.

I sincerely thank everyone who donated, especially in these very trying and uncertain times, and I would also like to thank many of my colleagues in parliament who donated to this great cause. These donations were received from members of both houses of parliament. Even though the time for the challenge has expired, I am still encouraging people to donate further to this project. This can be through Lifeline at Westpac: BSB 032816, account 223182.

We must remember the people who may been experiencing these issues. We must reassure them that they are not alone, that we are walking this course and this journey with them and that we are here to support them.