When I first started this work, much of it centred on grief and suicide prevention. That's where it began, and it remains an important part of why I do what I do.
Over time, though, people began to see me primarily through that lens. So I stepped back. I focused on mental fitness in workplaces and communities, allowing the suicide prevention side of my work to sit quietly in the background.
I've since realised that I don't need to do that anymore.
Watch the video below or continue reading:
Suicide Prevention Is About More Than Crisis Response
I'm encouraged by the broader conversation around suicide prevention and the importance of moving beyond crisis-only responses towards a whole-of-community approach built on prevention and connection.
That's what my work has always been about.
When we talk about suicide prevention, it's easy to focus on what happens when someone reaches a crisis point. Those responses are essential, but I believe we also need to pay attention to what happens long before that moment.
How do we build environments where people feel connected?
How do we develop the skills to recognise and manage the challenges we face?
How do we become more comfortable having honest conversations and asking for help when we need it?
These questions matter in our workplaces, our communities and our everyday lives.
Prevention isn't just about what we do when something goes wrong. It's also about what we build before it does.
The Gap Between Feeling Fine and Needing Help
People sometimes point out that I'm not a psychologist.
They're right. I've never claimed to be one.
My work isn't about diagnosing or treating mental health conditions. It's about mental fitness: the practical skills we can develop to navigate life's challenges and support our wellbeing.
Because there's a huge gap between feeling fine and needing a psychologist, and most of life is lived in that gap.
It's the space where we experience stress, navigate difficult conversations, manage uncertainty, deal with setbacks and try to make sense of what's happening around us.
We might not be in crisis, but that doesn't mean everything is easy.
I believe there's real value in equipping people with practical tools they can use in these everyday moments, while also recognising when professional support is needed.
Where Workbench for the Mind Fits
This is where Workbench for the Mind sits.
My work focuses on practical mental fitness tools that help people develop skills before a crisis occurs. It's about building awareness, strengthening our ability to navigate challenges and encouraging healthier connections with the people around us.
Workbench for the Mind is accredited by Suicide Prevention Australia. It doesn't replace an organisation's Employee Assistance Program (EAP), psychological services or other professional support.
Instead, it complements existing support by helping people develop the skills and confidence to recognise when they need help and make use of the resources available to them.
I see this as an important part of creating workplaces and communities where wellbeing is something we actively build, rather than something we only talk about when things go wrong.
Why I'm Talking About This More Openly
For a long time, I allowed the suicide prevention part of my work to sit quietly in the background.
I've realised I don't need to separate it from my work in mental fitness.
The two are connected.
Building mental fitness doesn't mean we can prevent every crisis, and everyday skills are never a substitute for appropriate professional care. But learning to navigate challenges, strengthening our connections and becoming more comfortable seeking support can all contribute to a stronger culture of prevention.
That's why I'm going to talk about this more openly.
Not because every conversation needs to be about suicide, but because the everyday skills we build are part of how we help prevent it.
Prevention Starts Before the Crisis
I want to see mental fitness become a more natural part of how we approach life, work and community.
That means creating opportunities to learn practical skills, encouraging meaningful connection and making it easier to talk about wellbeing before someone reaches breaking point.
It also means recognising that we all have a role to play in creating supportive environments, while understanding the importance of professional help when it's needed.
For me, this has always been about helping people build the skills they need for everyday life.
And I'm ready to talk about that connection more openly.
Because prevention isn't just about responding to a crisis. It's also about what we do, what we learn and how we connect long before one happens.
That's the work I believe in, and it's why I continue to do what I do.
Need Support?
If you or someone you know is struggling or needs someone to talk to, support is available.
Lifeline Australia
Phone: 13 11 14
Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Website: https://www.lifeline.org.au/
If there is immediate danger, call 000 in Australia.