PARTICIPANTS of Ballarat Community Health\u2019s Voices for Change attended their graduation ceremony on Tuesday, December 11.<\/p>\n
The pilot initiative has run for 12 months, building a peer-support network of people who have experienced and been affected by health and social issues.<\/p>\n
As part of the trial, participants have codesigned the way VFC will run for future groups so people can best reconnect and seek help.<\/p>\n
Tash Fraser graduated from the program last week. Having lived with depression and disordered eating, she \u201calways wanted to reach out to other teenagers going through the same things.\u201d<\/p>\n
She is grateful BCH has created a safe space where anybody suffering and feeling alone feels less isolated and they can \u201cfind their tribe.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou feel like there\u2019s something wrong with you and just getting rid of the stigma associated with it by us sharing our stories\u2026it takes away some of that.\u201d<\/p>\n
Another VFC graduate, Leanne Stork lost her \u201cloving but abusive alcoholic father,\u201d and her \u201cwonderful\u201d brother and stepfather to suicide.<\/p>\n
Her mother suffers schizophrenia and her son has battled drug addiction following the suicide of his best mate, but Ms Stork said there is \u201calways hope.<\/p>\n
\u201cTime makes it easier to then come forward and think it\u2019s a good time now to be able to try and help others and try and fix what\u2019s needed in the community,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Before joining VFC, Ms Stork told her story to a retired tradesman who had been silent about his own attempt to commit suicide.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe couldn\u2019t thank me enough. He never thought of the aftermath that his son might do it as well.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe reason I\u2019m here is because I felt like I made that little tiny bit of difference by telling one person, so I thought, how do I reach out to more people?\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI want them to know the ripple effect if you do something like this it can affect your family in so many different ways.\u201d<\/p>\n
Project worker, Carlene Matthews said she was amazed by the transformations and courage she\u2019s seen.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re working with people that you don\u2019t necessarily know. You\u2019ve got to learn to know each other first before you start to disclose,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou don\u2019t come along to session\u00a0one and tell your story. People get to know you before they find out what the background is and we incrementally develop the story.\u201d<\/p>\n
The learning community built along the way is \u201clike a family and we all feel safe,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Having graduated, Ms Fraser and Ms Stork are looking forward to more opportunities, speaking to the community about mental health, self-care and the power of speaking up.<\/p>\n
Find out more about Voices for Change at bchc.org.au\/news\/voiceschange.<\/p>\n
If you need support, speak to a trained professional on the new 24-hour local line, 1300 BHS MHS.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
PARTICIPANTS of Ballarat Community Health\u2019s Voices for Change attended their graduation ceremony on Tuesday, December 11. The pilot initiative has run for 12 months, building a peer-support network of people who have experienced and been affected by health and social issues. As part of the trial, participants have codesigned the way VFC will run for […]<\/p>\n