Last week’s Baradine Scrubber’s Ball came at an important and fitting time, a charity ball dedicated to raising awareness for mental health just a week prior to today’s World Mental Health Day.  

Held on the 10th of October each year, World Mental Health Day was first celebrated in 1992, one of the first steps in a long journey to start conversations about mental health.  

Founder of the Baradine Scrubber’s Ball Eliza Bunner says that in rural Australia, we’ve come a long way in having those conversations.  

“I think we’re definitely improving, it’s nights like (the ball) that make you go ‘wow’, people are actually having a bit of a chat about this now,” Ms Bunner said.  

“I think more definitely needs to be done. You see that the suicide rates are way higher out in rural communities so just being able to get any kind of awareness is going to help,” she said.  

While the stigma around mental health conversations has receded in the last decade, Ms Bunner said often people right in front of you are struggling without you even knowing.  

“I was very surprised when I started being a bit more public about it, of how many of my mates actually seek professional help or are medicated or see psychologists often,” she said.  

“It blew my mind a little bit that I’ve had these mates for a very long time and we just never got to that deeper level to be able to talk about it.” 

After being born as a fundraiser for the drought - which adds its own challenges to mental health - the ball switched directions slightly this year after the death of a local rocked the Baradine community.  

Eliza Bunner (front row, 2nd from left) and friends at the Baradine Scrubbers Ball. PHOTO: Marnie Ryan

Having straddled both city and country living throughout her life, Ms Bunner said that there’s still a pretty obvious divide in normalising mental health between the two, particularly when it comes to men.  

“I found that a lot of mates from home were pretty reluctant to bring up stuff that they’re struggling with mentally, maybe that’s just the way we were brought up,” she said.  

The theme for World Mental Health Day this year is Making Mental Health and Well-Being for All a Global Priority.  

According to estimates from the World Health Organisation (WHO), both anxiety and depressive disorders rose by more than 25 per cent during the first year of the pandemic, while simultaneously mental health services were severely disrupted and the treatment gap widened.  

NSW Chief Psychiatrist Dr Murray Wright said today is a good opportunity to refocus on things we can do that are good for our mental health.  

“This could be doing some exercise, taking time for reflection, getting good rest and maintaining social connections with family, friends and colleagues,” Dr Wright said.  

“We know that once you begin to open up to a trusted person, small chats can lead to really important conversations. Most importantly, if you need help, make sure you reach out for it, whether through your family, friends or mental health services.” 

For anyone who is struggling, you can call the below helplines for support and advice: Lifeline 13 11 14 | Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800 | Beyond Blue 1300 224636.