‘Mental health doesn’t discriminate’: Carrie Bickmore says she’s ‘lost count’ of the number of people struggling amid the pandemic… and urges Australians to help each other cope
Carrie Bickmore has urged Australians to help each other cope amid the coronavirus pandemic.
In her column for The Sunday Telegraph’s Stellar magazine, The Project host said ‘mental health doesn’t discriminate’.
The 39-year-old revealed she’s ‘lost count’ of the number of people who have admitted to struggling, but feel guilty to complain as others are doing it tougher.
‘Mental health doesn’t discriminate’: Carrie Bickmore (pictured), 39, said she’s ‘lost count’ of the number of people struggling amid the pandemic… and urges Australians to help each other cope, in her column for The Sunday Telegraph’s Stellar magazine
Carrie told her readers that while we kept a sense of optimism at the start of the pandemic, some Australians are now struggling to keep their head above water.
‘I’ve lost count of the number of people who have said they are struggling, but don’t feel they can complain because there are others far worse off than them,’ she wrote.
Carrie encouraged Australians to not discredit their emotions or judge others who they perceive to not be doing it tough.
‘But diminishing our feelings is the worst thing we can do. Just as criticising people who at face value have nothing to complain about is not helpful either,’ she penned.
Cracks starting to show: The Project host told her readers that while we kept a sense of optimism at the start of the pandemic, some Australians are now struggling to keep their head above water
‘Everyone’s circumstances are different. It’s not a competition and mental health doesn’t discriminate,’ the mother-of-three added.
Carrie concluded by urging Australians to not judge, and help one another forward out of the pandemic.
The TV presenter’s column comes after it was revealed calls to suicide crisis service Lifeline have reached record levels, amid a huge spike in unemployment, business closures and loneliness.
Lifeline Australia chairman John Brogden said phone calls are being made to the suicide crisis service every 30 seconds.
In it together: Carrie encouraged Australians to not discredit their emotions or judge others who they perceive to not be doing it tough
Victorians have seen a massive 30 per cent increase in calls to the hotline since July, as the state battles a second wave of coronavirus.
Canberra has also seen a 21 per cent increase in calls – 4,400 a month, amounting to 900 more than any other month.
On June 30, the New South Wales government contributed $6million to Lifeline to ensure the services continue throughout COVID-19.
Lifeline’s Crisis Support director Mandy Larsson said it’s a dire situation and more help is needed for Australians.
Not a competition: ‘Everyone’s circumstances are different. It’s not a competition and mental health doesn’t discriminate,’ the mother-of-three added
‘It is a sensational number of calls and there are more and more callers in Canberra and across the nation that need support at the moment,’ she told the ABC.
Lifeline has taken additional steps in hiring more workers who want to help those in need.
‘We have started a new recruitment round and we have had an overwhelming response to our need,’ she said.
Ms Larsson said employees are working extremely hard to ensure all calls are answered and working longer days.
If you are struggling, please call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636.
Calls made every 30 seconds: The TV presenter’s column comes after it was revealed calls to suicide crisis service Lifeline, have reached record levels amid a huge spike in unemployment, business closures and loneliness (stock shot)