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I was at The Old Bush Inn this week.
Gavin was enthusiastic about getting the first Pub Whisperer poster up on the noticeboard. The poster has a QR code for patrons to get help if theyre doing it tough. The code sends them through to a list of helplines where they can get support if they're suicidal or just overwhelmed by life. Check it out at www.thepubwhisperer.com Today is R U OK Day.
Not just the the one day on the calendar you're allowed to ask someone if they're OK, because that's everyday, but a day highlighting the issues of poor mental health in the community. If you're down the pub and you're worried about someone's mental health my best advice to you is: be genuine. Say: "This is what I've noticed. This is why I'm worried about you". Start the conversation. From there it could lead to a chat about the things that they're finding tough to deal with. And from there it could lead to any number of "therapies" - a psychologist, a men's shed, a men's group or even just a hug. This week, while out fund-raising for The Pub Whisperer project and Suicide Prevention Check-list, I met a lady who passed on this map...
It just so happens that I'm doing the World Suicide Day walk on Saturday, raising funds for Suicide Prevention. If you'd like to be a part of my team visit the link below. The coast from Maslins Beach to Moana really is beautiful this time of the year. We meet at 11am at the Maslins Beach playground. Hope to see you there... https://www.outoftheshadowswalk.org.au/fundraisers/thepubwhisperer Saturday is World Suicide Day.
Just a reminder this Suicide Prevention Checklist is available for free download for bar staff and publicans. Plus, if you're going through a hard time right now, there is a free dowloadable booklet from Jono "The OG Pub Whisperer" 🤠 which has the teachings of many "spiritual" teachers who assist in gaining peace of mind. Advice which has helped Jono to battle his own demons of depression. Go to www.greataussiepubs.com.au for more. And if you can, find someone you can trust to talk to. If there's no one you know then visit the following link to gain access to a variety of Aussie mental health support numbers.👇 https://www.thepubwhisperer.com/national-crisis-numbers---australia.html ![]() Pubs across the country have been suffering in silence since Covid19 hit with an array of new rules that have hurt the hospitality industry in the past 18 months. Rules around hotel patrons being unable to drink standing up, being unable to sing and dance or order a drink without a mask has taken its toll on communities. Mental illness is at an all time high, up 27% on hospital admissions since before COVID, with people unsure how to behave in their local. And as a result patronage has been in decline. Even before Covid19 statistics relating to alcohol abuse were alarming. Around the world 3 million people die of alcohol-related causes every year. Of that figure around 30,000 are Australians. It means a staggering 5.3% of all deaths worldwide are alcohol-related. That figure rose by 8.3% in 2020 in Australia, according to The Australian Bureau of Statistics. Then there are the statistics of suicide due to alcohol. An international review reporting that up to 69% of cases contain a positive blood alcohol concentration at the time of death. It is also responsible for around 70,000 therapy treatments in Australia every year. We need to address these statistics with answers to these problems. I took the opportunity. Here is the Pub Whisperer pitching at The Awesome Foundation's pitch night for $1000 at The Duke of Brunswick Hotel, Adelaide. Enjoy! It would be an amazing achievement to find solutions for pubs.
One idea the Great Aussie Pubs team would love to see... is for bartenders to be given Mental Health First Aid Training. So they can know how to respond to regulars doing it tough or if there is ever a mental health incident in the pub. It would also encourage mental health conversations in pubs. If you'd like to be a part of this process contact the GAP team here. Yes you are!Found this today: and it’s what I mean when I say “we may grow muscles by lifting weights but we grow powerful by lifting each other”.
The Pubs Supporting People Day assists the Just Listening Community. You can donate to them at https://gofund.me/5e058721 And/or tell someone today. And and/or accept the compliment with love and knowing if someone tells you that today. The podcast is liveCheck out the podcast here: open.spotify.com/show/4VN9MRzDwB6xiwGMcx4p8f?si=i8r1xzFyQmWvNNpG8NnTrA
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AuthorJono Hart is a former award-winning print journalist and commercial metro-city radio announcer. Archives
November 2024
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