The Social and Emotional Toll of a Pandemic

As Victorians emerge from lockdown, we are only beginning to tease out the long-term impacts of COVID-19 on the wellbeing, security and mental health of our state’s citizens. While the health crisis is easing, Victorians are facing new challenges as the recession bites, income supports are proposed to end and the mental health consequences of months in lockdown become apparent.

In the lead up to the coronial inquest into COVID-19 deaths in aged care and the findings of the Mental Health Royal Commission being handed down, Victorian State Coroner John Cain and mental health expert Professor Patrick McGorry discussed our next fight against the pandemic in a Melbourne Press Club webinar.

Moderated by MPC president Nick McKenzie, the event featured:

Professor Patrick D. McGorry is a mental health expert renowned for innovations in the area of youth mental health interventions. He is Professor of Youth Mental Health at the University of Melbourne and the Director of Orygen Youth Health and Orygen Youth Health Research Centre in Victoria, Australia. He was the 2010 Australian of the Year.

Judge John Cain has served as Victorian State Coroner since October 2019. His previous appointments include Victoria’s Solicitor for Public Prosecution (2015-2019) and Victorian Government Solicitor (2006-2011). He was previously CEO of the Law Institute of Victoria and a Managing Partner at Herbert Geer (now Thomson Geer).

Watch in the player above, or on YouTube.

Please look after yourselves and reach out for help in need:

Head to Health - headtohealth.gov.au
Australia’s mental health resource directory

Lifeline Australia - 13 11 14 (or text 0477 13 11 14)
24/7 online and phone personal crisis support and suicide prevention services

Beyond Blue - 1300 22 4636
24/7 online and phone mental health response service

Suicide Call Back Service - 1300 659 467
24/7 telephone, online, and video counselling and crisis support

Kids Helpline - 1800 551 800
Confidential 24/7 phone and online counselling for children and young people aged between five and 25 years

eheadspace - 1800 650 890
Email, chat and phone counselling for people aged between 12 and 25 years

MensLine Australia - 1300 78 99 78
Free professional 24/7 telephone counselling support for men with concerns about mental health, anger management, family violence (using and experiencing), addiction, relationship, stress and wellbeing

QLife - 1800 184 527
Anonymous phone and online LGBTIQ peer support and referral for discussing a range of issues

Apply to join the Melbourne Press Club

Membership is $100 for journalists, $150 for associate members and $40 for students.

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