THE 21st of June, the winter solstice, was the shortest day of the year, and the longest night.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
From today, the days will become longer.
The sun will shine longer, and it will shine brighter.
On that, the darkest of the cold, winter nights, more than 1000 people came to QEII Square in Albury to shine a light on the silent issue of suicide.
But it was not a night of sadness or sorrow.
Though there were moments where the assembled crowd reflected on loved ones lost to mental illness, this was a night of hope.
Professor Jane Burns, one of three keynote speakers at the annual Survivors of Suicide and Friends event, said she was moved by the concept of a community gathering together on the longest of winter nights.
“The fact that you've got children, young people, older people, people with a disability, all coming together to celebrate life, is incredible,” she said.
“It's powerful, an amazing reflection of the spirit of humanity.
“People want to support each other, people want to look after each other.
“They do care, they are trying – given where we're at in the world at the moment, the more of these events, the better.”
Professor Burns helped lead the youth agenda for beyondblue when it was founded in 2000, and also founded the Young and Well Co-operative Research Centre.
With mental health services more difficult to access for rural and isolated people in need of them, Professor Burns believes technology, particularly mobile apps, can play a crucial role in closing the gap between regional and metropolitan Australians.
“Our services are open from nine to five, but when people are in stress it's often in the middle of the night, at two in the morning,” she said.
“What we're saying is, let's not take away face-to-face services, but how do we build on that to ensure that if you are not well and need support you can get it.
“The way we're moving is using apps to support mental well-being, apps like Breakup Shakeup, Recharge and Headspace, they're all tools you can put in your toolbox.
“That to me is the bit that is really critical – what suits you will not suit me, what suits someone with complex needs may not suit someone with a different mental illness.”
Journalist Tracey Spicer and former NRL player and boxing world champion Joe Williams also spoke.
