localised BB

[les]

i would love to see beyond blue become more localised . wouldn't it be nice if we could help each fix a lot of lonyness which does not help with depression. example when i am home alone i get very depressed and of course the cogs in my brain keep rolling around.

when i was working as a taxi driver and also a pilot for oversize vehicles all over oz. my fellow workers would say to me "boy you are the funniest bugger i have met" to a person. i put it down to be surrounded by people, which tends to gee one up.

if  BB was more localised to our respective area's we could mix and relate have meetups etc . just a thought but i think mixing with others helps ......les

[Neil_1]

Dear Les

I understand exactly what you're saying - but I guess just with the rules that are in place for this particular website, it's stressed that there can be no personal information given out - due to so many different people being here and so many different personalities and each person has their own issues/difficulties, so it's for the protection of all.

Beyond Blue this year and next have got a Roadshow that is happening and is trying to get to as many locations throughout Australia as possible.  It might be worth having a look at that on this website as you might still be a location for where the 'bus' will head too.

It is great Les that you've started to post and offer a few suggestions as well as replies.  I do look forward to hearing more from you in the coming weeks, and beyond.  Some one with your life experience and knowledge I believe will be invaluable to a site like this, to give out appropriate advice and guidance.

One last thing and I don't want to push or anything here, but just reading what you've written so far, I think your own story would make for some amazing reading.  As you've said, you've suffered this awful illness from age 17 through to now.

Kind regards

Neil

[Struggler]

Hi Les

BB do have some kind of meet up in real life. The last one was in Melbourne I believe but turn out wasn't great. Other posters can throw more light on this.  

Struggler

[Chris_B]

Hi Les,

Hope you're enjoying your time on the forums. We understand that many people find peer support helpful and certainly encourage people to explore this option if it’s something they are interested in. Unfortunately, beyondblue are not funded to provide a clinical service and so it’s not in our capacity to offer face-to-face support groups at this time. We do understand the importance of peer support though which is why we provide these online forums as one way for people to connect and share experiences or advice.

There are many other organisations who do offer face-to-face peer support groups which you may like to investigate. Your Medicare Local is a great place to start as they will be able to advise you of the services available in your local area. Use the map on the right-hand side of the page at www.medicarelocals.gov.au to find your local branch. The beyondblue Support Service also have access to a directory of services across Australia so may be able to assist you to find out what else is available near you. You can contact them on 1300 22 46 36.

As Neil mentioned above, we are using our National Roadshow as an opportunity to host forum meetups around the country as the bus travels around. We have had two so far, one in Adelaide and another in Perth. The next will be in Darwin, and we'll be posting announcements on here for future events.

Another option you might be interested in is Men's Sheds. We run another forum at The Shed Online, which is linked in with the Australian Men's Shed Association.