OUR SAY: We must walk with each other through these tough times

Whether you've lost your job, are separated from family or simply overwhelmed by living in a pandemic, 2020 has been tough.

For the Upper Murray community it's been a truly terrible few months, marred by bushfires, COVID and the untimely deaths of three young men - James Penman, Sam Hill and Jake Evans.

Upper Murray paramedics Meaghan Daly and Marita Harrison are the first port of call when a death occurs in the community.

It's the ones they can't save that haunt them.

In the past six months Mr Evans died from cancer, while Mr Hill and Mr Penman died by suicide.

The community's grief has been made even harder by their inability to gather together and help each other through.

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Mrs Daly and Ms Harrison have seen the toll this year and this mourning has taken on the community. They don't want to attend anymore deaths.

The pair have released caps with the message "You will never walk alone" to remember the lost men, get the community talking about mental health and remind them support is out there.

It's a message we could all do well to remember.

We don't know how long this pandemic will last or how long it will be until there is a vaccine that will help us return to life before 'COVID normal'.

What we do know is that the mental health impacts of isolation, business closures and the recession will be felt for years to come.

We need to begin the conversations now, to normalise seeking help and talk about the tough times we're all living through.

We're all on different paths through this pandemic, some rougher than others, but we're not walking alone.

We need to remember that and reach out when we need support and to help others doing it tough by reminding them they're not alone.

We're all in this together.

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