There is no doubting the fact that Whyalla's Kylie Clothier wears multiple hats, with her resume dotted with details of former days as a mine site truck driver, dental nurse, small business owner, gym class teacher and personal trainer.
But Kylie's latest mission has a greater rural focus, and, having just begun her journey as a full-time worker for mental health support organisation Hope Assistance Local Tradies, she is set to roll out mental health support events across rural areas of the Eyre Peninsula.
HALT was founded in Castlemaine, Vic, in 2013, with Kylie being the organisation's first worker based in SA.
She is in the process of organising mental health support sessions to be held in Cowell, Cleve and Kimba starting at the end of July, which will be presented by HALT founder Jeremy Forbes, and I'm Not Afraid To Talk founder Jeremy Edwards.
The sessions will be free and open to anyone, but will have a focus on tradespeople.
"When you become a tradie, you feel like you have to be tough, you're not expected to have feelings, you're not meant to cry, but you really don't need to have that tough exterior," Kylie said.
"Mental health struggles happen to everyone, in every sort of job, tradies shouldn't be afraid to come forward and admit they need help."
It's so hard for a man to put themselves into a conversation and say 'Are you OK', they more think 'Should I, shouldn't I?'
- KYLIE CLOTHIER
Kylie said reaching out for mental health support was even tougher for those in rural areas.
"I think it's hard in rural areas, because so many people are working largely on their own for many hours during the day, where they are in their own thoughts, and there also aren't as many places they can go to to get help," she said.
"So many of those rural areas now have mental health Facebook pages though, and I think if we can get those messages out there that you don't actually have to go into a place, you can get on Facebook or there are other means and ways of reaching out for help, that will be a big step forward."
Kylie said a key aim of the sessions - which will be presented at sport clubs, community halls, pubs and other local businesses - will be to keep them as relaxed as possible.
"We don't want people to necessarily feel like sessions are directed at them, we are just giving people the option to sit down in a relaxed atmosphere, listen, and try to take in the information without it being so formal," she said.
Kylie has had her own mental health struggles in the past, having previously suffered from anxiety and depression following traumatic pregnancies with six-year-old daughter Stevie and three-year-old son Corbin.
She said she would be willing to tell her story to help others.
"You feel that empathy, because you know what people who are struggling are going through," she said.
I didn't realise what was happening when I was struggling with my mental health, I just thought 'what's going on, why do I feel this way', but now I can really put myself in others' shoes a bit better now and understand what they're going through."
WELLBEING TOOLKIT MADE TO PROVIDE HELP IN PANDEMIC
MENTAL health support organisation Hope Assistance Local Tradies has developed a booklet toolkit to help people cope with uncertain and changed lifestyles brought about by COVID-19.
Whyalla's Kylie Clothier, who is HALT's first SA-based worker, said the pandemic had put extra strain on those who were already having trouble coping.
"The HALT COVID-19 Wellbeing Toolkit reiterates what we've talked about in the past. We have to be making sure we're still keeping in contact with friends, and if you find the last time you talked to them they seemed a bit more down than before, just make sure they're OK," she said.
"It's so hard for a man to put themselves into a conversation and say 'Are you OK', they more think 'Should I, shouldn't I?'
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The booklet provides tips on how to maintain good mental health, and how people can support themselves and others if they are struggling.
"Once you get past that first step of recognising that you need help, and you get the confidence to talk to someone who can say 'You're not going crazy, these are signs of anxiety or depression' and get some reassurance, it gets a bit easier after that," Kylie said.
"This toolkit gives people all the information they need on who you can ring, or places you can get support, so if you are having that tough conversation with a mate, you can show them that support is around."
- Details: Toolkit available at thehaltbrekky.com
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