By LACHLAN MOORHEAD
AS LORRAINE Riches put it, everyone knows of someone who has been touched by anxiety and depression.
Lorraine, the president of the Narre Warren Lions Club, reflected on her late mother’s battle with depression.
“My mother was diagnosed with depressions as a young child and she lived with it all her life,” Lorraine said.
“And with her generation you were told to just get on with it, you didn’t speak about it.”
Later this month Lorraine will convene a special depression and information session at the Casey council chambers, held in conjunction with the Narre Warren Lions Club and Beyondblue.
The Pakenham and Endeavour Hills Lions Clubs, and the Berwick Lionesses, are also lending their support to the upcoming event.
It comes as Beyondblue and the Lions Clubs of Australia joined forces last year to create the Joining Hands initiative, a project which will focus on raising awareness around anxiety and depression.
“It’s to show people that they aren’t alone,” Lorraine said of the upcoming Casey event, to be held on 23 April.
“You may be too afraid to seek help because you’re afraid of what people might think.
“So to break that down there’s a lot of avenues out there, and you don’t have to feel ashamed.”
The Casey event will include a presentation from someone who has experienced depression and come through the other side, while a light supper will also be organised.
Working as a nurse, Lorraine said she continually sees how depression and anxiety can leave its victims helpless and not knowing where to turn.
“Some people are left almost catatonic, and they can’t function,” she said.
“Others just go through the motions.”
The gold coin donations raised from the event will all go towards Beyondblue.
“Even some people feel alone within their own families and are reluctant to speak to anyone,” Lorraine said.
“Everyone’s been touched by knowing somebody with anxiety or depression in their lives.
“And with the stigma and their response, sometimes you just don’t how to approach them.”
For more information, contact Lorraine on 0450 806 744.
Those in need of immediate assistance or who need someone trustworthy to talk to can phone Lifeline on 131 114.
