Ambulance Victoria is urging Sunbury residents to check in with family, friends and colleagues this R U OK? Day and start conversations that could save lives.
If you or someone you know is struggling, support is available. Call Lifeline on 13 11 14 for immediate crisis support. For professional advice, contact your doctor, local health service, or Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636. A full list of resources can also be found at www.ruok.org.au/findhelp.
The annual awareness day (11 September) is built around four simple but powerful steps: Ask R U OK?, Listen, Encourage action and Check in.
In Sunbury, local paramedics and emergency crews are echoing the call to put mental health front and centre. First responders know too well the toll stress, trauma and long hours can take.
Ambulance Victoria offers a wide range of support programs for staff and volunteers, including counselling, peer support and the innovative Peer Support Dog Program, which recently welcomed two new Golden Retrievers, Nala and Sadie. Their handlers, paramedics Melanie Burns and Kathryn Hart, will be among those visiting ambulance branches and hospitals to offer comfort and connection.
Principal psychologist Dr Megan Dobbie said the dogs help create space for conversations that might not otherwise happen.
“Our Peer Support Dogs and Handlers create a space where people take the time to stop, have a minute for themselves and talk to a trained peer responder about how they are doing,” she said.
Wallan paramedic Matt Arcieri said it was vital that first responders – including Sunbury’s crews – looked after their own wellbeing.
“Having strong mental health is important for our work as paramedics because it helps you stay calm, make clinical decisions and maintain operational safety,” he said.
Acting Timboon team manager Andrew Berry said asking the simple question could make a big difference.
“If we’re called to a mental health patient, it’s usually because they have reached a crisis point,” he said. “The earlier we check in on people and get conversations happening, the more likely we are to avoid reaching that point.”
Local community groups in Sunbury – from CFA brigades to sporting clubs – are also expected to take part in R U OK? Day activities, reminding residents that support networks are strongest when conversations start early.