Local Big Blue Table prepares a second sitting

A SECOND sitting of the Big Blue Table in the Geelong region during Mental Health Awareness Week aims to be just as successful as the first.

The awareness-raising initiative run by Beyond Blue aims to fight the stigma surrounding mental health, one meal at a time, and calls on people to gather their family and friends for a feed, a chat and fundraise for Beyond Blue’s counselling services.

Like her debut event in 2022, Carolyn Biram will host the Big Blue Table in the memory of her eldest son Tom Farrall, who died in December 2021, and will this year also remember one of Tom’s best friends, Riley Patterson Boyd, who died earlier this year.

Ms Biram said Tom had been receiving treatment for anxiety for about 10 years, but unfortunately relapsed and died of an accidental drug overdose, and she was later diagnosed with anxiety and depression herself.

“At that time, I couldn’t work or really do much at all, and I came across a post on social media that really caught my attention.”

“I’ve always loved having friends and family at my house, and cooking, so to be able to do it and raise funds for a great cause and talk about a subject that was really close to my heart, especially at that time; I just couldn’t go past it.

“So I had an event at my house and the response that I received was really overwhelming, so I wanted to do it again this year.”

She said about 45 people came to her first Big Blue Table at her home in Torquay.

“It was a really nice night, with really great feedback from all ages, which is what made it work – from young people, and from my mum, who’s 80, about what she took out of it – there was something for everyone.”

Ms Biram said the guest list in 2022 was eclectic, including family, friends from work, friends from sporting associations and her children’s friends, and would hopefully be again this year.

She said the informal format of Big Blue Table was ideal in getting the conversation started.

“People don’t know what to say and no-one wants to do the wrong thing, so we all just kind of take a step back.

“But I’m hoping if we create environments like this and get a bit more comfortable with it, then we will be able to support our sons and families on a daily basis, because we’ll be much more comfortable in doing it.”

As of Wednesday this week, Ms Biram has raised $1,200 of her $4,999 goal.

Beyond Blue launched Big Blue Table last year, with more than 2,000 people hosting events and collectively raising more than $570,000.

To donate to Ms Biram’s Big Blue Table, head to bigbluetable.com.au/carolyn-biram

To find out more about the initiative and register to host your Big Blue Table event, head to bigbluetable.com.au