Jeff Kennett: Rock can help you out of a hard place

BEING chair of beyondblue teaches you the importance of finding a focus to help deal with stress and anxiety, writes Jeff Kennett.

ON TUESDAY I chaired my last board meeting of beyondblue before retiring from the organisation and handing over to my successor, Julia Gillard. I started my journey with beyondblue as a novice on all things to do with depression and mental health. I complete my time as a well-educated lay person.

I have spoken to thousands of people over the 17 years, many who suffer from stress, anxiety, depression or a mental illness. But perhaps I have spoken to more parents, family or friends of sufferers as they look for help.

GILLARD IDEAL FOR BEYONDBLUE’S NEXT CHAPTER

Immediate help can often be hard to find, particularly in more serious and urgent situations.

While accepting that many mental health illnesses are not the responsibility of an individual because of psychiatric or pre-existing conditions, changes in a person’s chemical makeup and in some cases hereditary influences, I am convinced most conditions exist because individuals are not prepared to admit they are suffering from stress, anxiety, or even early depressive illness.

True, many do not even recognise the signs that can develop into a depressive or mental illness, or even lead to suicidal thoughts.

I have said often that we are a complacent society. We seem to expect society to be able to meet our increasing needs, even personal ones. I think there is overwhelming evidence that people now take less responsibility for their condition than before.

Yet our physical and mental health is, mostly, down to us: our activities, what we eat, whether we exercise, how we live our lives. In an increasingly challenging world, we need discipline to deal with the things that cause us stress and anxiety, whether it be technology or our own expectations. If I had one wish in life it would be to abolish discrimination; it is so damaging to society and individuals. But as I can’t do that, I want to conclude my beyondblue service by offering a simple discipline to deal with stress, anxiety and depression that will stop it becoming a mental illness.

If you go to sleep having not addressed that which causes you discomfort, you will probably not sleep and wake up tired.

Identify the rock in your life: my rock is life itself. To wake up every morning is something to celebrate, a wonder that should not be taken for granted. When I ask those at conferences I address, “how many of you gave thanks for waking up this morning?”, few hands go up. Complacency? To me waking up is like listening to Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture, where towards the end the cannons are firing as the music builds to a crescendo.

When I awake, I have another day to live, so I give thanks and live that day to the full.

Too often now, people going about their business are at risk of being physically or mentally wounded or even dying — a shooting, a fire, a car accident, an assault, a home invasion — so celebrate life, give thanks for every day.

So, life is my rock. Others might say it is their family or their religion — it doesn’t matter as long as we have a base of value.

Use your rock to address the things that cause you stress, anxiety or a depressive feeling.

COMPARE the stress or anxiety with the value of your rock. In most cases you will find the stresses will be put in perspective.

You will be able to think clearly how to address the issue and start your next day fresh. There is much common sense in the adage, “don’t carry today’s problems into tomorrow”. If you go to sleep having not addressed that which causes you discomfort, you will probably not sleep and wake up tired.

I lost an election in 1999. I admit I was surprised by the result, but comparing it with my rock gave me perspective: no one was hurt and our defeat was part of the democratic process. How bad was it? On a scale of one to 10, perhaps a one, or 1½.

My parents died a year apart some years ago but they had lived good and long lives and suffered little illness before their deaths. I was sad to lose them, of course, but they died in the natural order of life. Against my rock their deaths were a one or a two.

Use your rock as a starting point and I am sure there would be less mental illness and fewer suicides.

Losing a job is for many very difficult in the short term, but I believe change represents opportunity, so the rating might be only be a three or four. I think a key to life is to learn every day, but never look back. Looking forward is what life is all about.

So identify your rock and each night rethink your day, consider the things that have caused you stress or anxiety and measure their importance against your rock.

But if after four weeks the stress or anxiety is still present, seek professional help.

Stress and anxiety, even many depressive illnesses, can be cured with the right help.

Use your rock as a starting point and I am sure there would be less mental illness and fewer suicides.

In short, we must take more responsibility for our condition. It is not that difficult.

So, as I give up the chair of beyondblue, I’d like to thank those who have served on our boards and in our administration and the supportive governments.

Thank you to the public and the media for your support, and to our many volunteers and donors.

Thank you to those seeking help who previously would not have. And thank you to those high-profile people who continue to speak publicly about their experiences. You make it easier for others to take the first step.

It has been my honour to have been part of beyondblue’s great team and it will keep delivering for you.

Have a good day.

Jeff Kennett is a former premier of Victoria.

@jeff_kennett