Fear of the unknown can grip all of us, at any stage of our lives.
Children can cry when leaving their parents for their first day of school, the wait for medical test results is often agonising and not being able to predict when you might work next causes great anxiety.
This past year has brought so many unknowns and the recent Victorian lockdown proves every plan can come unstuck within days, even hours.
When faced with uncertainty it's important to seek out trusted, expert sources to guide your choices, or at least explain what's happening.
As one of Australia's biggest-ever public health campaigns rolls out, factual, accurate information to educate the population and allay their fears is paramount.
He points out how the speed of Facebook's actions contrasted with the corporate giant's slow response to previous violent videos, such as the Christchurch massacre.
"When mistruths and misinformation was causing harm to human people they kept quiet and didn't do a thing ... but when it could affect their profit they can switch things off overnight. It's hypocrisy," he says.
IN OTHER NEWS:
We urge all readers to stay up to date with the COVID-19 vaccination program and to talk to their GP or other health professionals if they have any concerns or questions.
Sometimes the unknown can bring fear of immediate physical danger.
How disturbing for older people expecting a peaceful evening to be confronted by noise, disorder and the threat of violence from a stranger.
We don't know this woman's exact circumstances, be it issues of drug use or mental health, but this is not the first incident experienced at St Matthew's Village.
Hopefully evidence such as this will advance the case for more support for those suffering addiction and mental illness, to help make their future a little less unknown.
