The IDP team share some honest and raw mental health stories

Building a community of trusting relationships, we’re honoured to share the mental health stories of four of our people to normalise talking about mental health, to support each other, and seek help when needed.

The IDP team share some honest and raw mental health stories

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IDP Education
11 October 2022

Building a community of trusting relationships, we’re honoured to share the mental health stories of four of our people to normalise talking about mental health, to support each other, and seek help when needed.

At IDP, we lead with care and support each other to build our community of trusting relationships.

Several of our Australian team members have shared their honest and raw mental health stories, and we’re honoured to share them here. 

We are grateful to Andrea Hawkins, IELTS Test Centre Manager, Adelaide for sharing her experience with us.

Andrea, please tell us a bit about your mental health story…..

"I moved to Australia about 15 years ago with my husband, our daughter, and our greyhound. It was a very stressful time with a big lead up, selling our house, finding a new school, no job for me to come to. After about 3 months, I imploded. I felt worthless, I didn’t feel like I belonged, and I felt no grounding, or right to be here in Australia. I had no colleagues and no family. I was a mess and felt ashamed, lying in bed crying. Luckily, I was volunteering at the school library and the lovely team there took one look at me and asked if I was OK. Then it all came out. They found me a great doctor, who I still see. The doctor immediately understood, and got me back on track. I realise I had probably always suffered with the black dog, but somehow I had managed. I’m on a low dose of medication still, and my mental health is in check. I wouldn’t change this experience for anything, it has made me more empathetic, and I’m proving that having mental health issues doesn’t mean you can’t live your life, and perform. People need to know that."

What do you notice when you’re starting to feel not so OK, and what do you do…..

"I really struggle in winter, especially when it is dark outside. I’ve found an alarm clock that lights up the room when it goes off. And I’ve got a light box in the office. When I know my self-care is waining, I visit my doctor and talk things through. My friend is very good at noticing and reminding me if I haven’t."

What do you do to keep yourself feeling ok?

"Having friends at work is really important. I have some go to people that I feel really comortable with. We talk and listen to each other. Having a joke at work and getting into the office banter helps. I am also very aware and comfortable with the importance of my medication."

What is your advice to people that are not feeling ok?

"Please talk to someone, or access a support service. The service I have access to is excellent. Know that things are ok, there are alternatives."

What is your advice to people who notice that someone is not their usual self and might be struggling?

"Don’t be too busy to notice that people might be struggling. Ask them how they are. Have a conversation and point them in the direction of support services."

Thank you, Andrea! Our hope is that your story inspires others to have a conversation and ask, “are you ok?”

We are grateful to Reegan Imperial, IELTS Test Centre Operations Coordinator, Melbourne for sharing his experience with us.

Reegan, please tell us a bit about your mental health story…..

"I have spent 17 years working in education, but since the pandemic started I have worked in Real Estate Sales in the Phillipines. I arrived in Australia on 31 December, 2021, after deciding to take a break from that work. It was very exciting to come to Australia for my first time. But I didn’t have a job, I started to feel lost, and almost depressed. It felt like I had made the wrong decision, I didn’t have friends or family here, I was crying at night, and I thought I must work this out alone. I am studying my Diploma in Leadership & Management and I failed 2 assignments because I couldn’t concentrate. Then I found someone, who is now my best friend! He is my support system and he has a similar story. We are not alone. It is comforting to know that there is someone out there also going through this. That helped me survive. I got a call from a recruiter about this job at IDP at just the right time. I was about to head back to the Phillipines. This job brings me meaning and purpose, and aligns with my values. It’s relatable, I’m an educator; actually I’m a merchant – I sell dreams."

What do you notice when you’re starting to feel not so OK, and what do you do…..

"When I feel lonely or sad, I tend to stay home and not leave my room for days. Then I realise, I have to make a choice. Do what I’m doing, or, use the tools that I have from being a life coach, to help myself. I use a photo therapy tool – I look at special photos with some pre-prepared questions, and I write down thoughts. I also set 24 hour, 7 days and 30 days goals.What do you do to keep yourself feeling ok?

I love nature and I walk around my local lake for a couple of hours several times a week. I have a white board in my room and I force myself to write things down and to get out in nature."

What is your advice to people that are not feeling ok?

"Acknowledge your feelings, don’t suppress them. We are in control of our own spirits. If we drag ourselves down, others pick up on this and also drag us down. Make a list of people or resources around you that are tools to reach for when you need them. Seek the help of a professional, if you are out of resources. You are your own rescue."

What is your advice to people who notice that someone is not their usual self and might be struggling?

"Smile at people, say hello, ask them if they are OK. It makes a big difference. Make people feel loved and cared for. Let them know that they don’t need to go through this alone. We are all in this together and we are responsible for creating this caring community."

"I am because of who we all are."

Thank you, Reegan! Our hope is that your story inspires others to have a conversation and ask, “are you ok?”

We are grateful to Sally Gatenby, Marketing & Communications Manager, Events, Melbourne, for sharing her experience with us.

Sally, please tell us a bit about your mental health story…..

"I’ve suffered from anxiety and depression for most of my life – people might find that surprising! In 2002, my father died suddenly, leaving a huge hole in my family’s life. My family’s culture is British, and that traditionally means 'carry on, regardless'. I didn’t process the grief and pushed it down, hoping it would disappear. In 2004 I moved to the UK for work and to connect with my family in England. In hindsight I was running away from the grief.

I worked my way into a large tech firm in London and, doing what I’d seen as my dream job. I loved it, but it was also stressful, high pressure and very visible, and I began to burn out.

Everything became too much, and I had a breakdown. I was persuaded to take leave from work, but I was in complete denial that anything was wrong, until a friend of mine encouraged me to speak to a doctor and source a referral to a therapist.

My doctor suggested medication as “scaffold” to put around me whilst we “renovated” my mind, a great analogy. I was able to work on addressing my father’s death, and my huge well of grief. It’s taken a long time and multiple therapists over the years but I believe talk therapy to be the best money I’ve ever spent. In hindsight, I clearly had anxiety and depression as a teen, and experienced panic attacks at school. But I’d thought everyone was like that - because we didn’t talk about it openly. There is a hidden anxiety in many people, that we don’t see, so we don’t see how normal it is."

What do you notice when you’re starting to feel not so OK, and what do you do…..

"Some days I wake up feeling awful, and I know it’s a “down day”. I will contact my leader and explain where I’m at. We’ve worked together for a long time and she is always supportive, giving me the time and space I need. I also have depression buddies – friends who understand what its like and I can message to say, 'I’m not ok, I know I’ll be fine but I need to talk/be alone'."

What do you do to keep yourself feeling ok?

"I use reminder apps to provide the self-care I need to keep myself healthy. It’s a lot of calendars and alerts, but I’ve found that I do need to remind myself to restock the fridge, drink water, book a massage, call overseas friends, feed the cat, and get outside regularly."

What is your advice to people that are not feeling ok?

"Tell people about how you are feeling, and what is going on. Even a text or email, let someone know where you’re at. Be kind to yourself, and give yourself grace – allow yourself to just be, and do what you need to be in the now. There are support services that are really useful and a doctor can help with a mental health plan with a therapist. Medication is not something to be afraid of, you would be surprised how many people are on low doses of medication that makes such a difference to them."

What is your advice to people who notice that someone is not their usual self and might be struggling?

"Humans are great at pretending everything is fine – until it’s not. Many mightn’t know what they’re going through, so keeping an eye out for changes in mood or character – are they louder, quieter, snappier? – can be a clue to check in and ask are you ok? If they say they are not, I recommend listening to them, and help them find support, like a support service or a doctor."

Thank you, Sally! Our hope is that your story inspires others to have a conversation and ask, “are you ok?”

We are grateful to Tiz Loche, Executive Assistant, Melbourne for sharing her experience with us.

Tiz, please tell us a bit about your mental health story…..

"I have always suffered from depression and anxiety but for the most part of my life I was able to mask it and it went undiagnosed. In 2010, my husband had major heart surgery and there were complications. I was caring for him, our two children, and working full time. I thought I could do this and I didn’t drop anything. My background is Italian, and I look after everyone else first, and didn’t take care of myself. Something from my past was triggered. I ended up at my doctor, just crying. He acknowledged it, recognised it, and named the feelings. We put a plan in place to get back to myself. It took a long time, but it was a definite turning point. There are still ups and downs because that’s the nature of life but I manage it now."

What do you notice when you’re starting to feel not so OK, and what do you do…..

"I always have music in my head. But when that stops, I know something is wrong. It feels like a dark cloud over my head. I’ve become aware of if, and I look out for it. Then, I stop. I say “no – I’m not doing that”. I stop being everything to everyone, stay home, chill out, take the time to stop and breathe. I look after me."

What do you do to keep yourself feeling ok?

"I can’t give, if I’m empty. My family knows that I need chill out and alone time. To re-energise myself, I need to not be looking after everyone else. I need to restore my balance and take action by stopping and meditating. Meditation has become my medication."

What is your advice to people that are not feeling ok?

"Stop and take stock of what is going on. Don’t ignore what you are feeling. It’s OK to feel blah and to be a bit off. It’s OK to talk about it. Everyone goes through it – I really want people to understand that they’re not alone in feeling anxious or depressed sometimes and talking about it really helps. Tell people how you are feeling and take the time you need to reset. Let them know something is not quite right and let them help you. And more than anything understand and believe that this too will pass. That as dark and as cloudy as it can get, the sun will eventually come out again."

What is your advice to people who notice that someone is not their usual self and might be struggling?

"It is hard because you don’t want to intrude. But be a friend, be compassionate. Care enough to notice the behaviour changes. It means a lot. The part family and friends play is huge, even just by letting them know you are there to listen, without judgement. Be kind, ask the question, 'Are you ok?' And then sit down, shut up and just listen."

Thank you, Tiz! Our hope is that your story inspires others to have a conversation and ask, “are you ok?”