As Murrumbidgee Primary Health Network’s (MPHN) Suicide Prevention Project Officer, Seryn Adams knows better than most that everybody’s experience with mental health challenges is different and help can take many forms. Seryn’s own story involves her Mum, a lengthy phone call, and three very important words.

In July 2022, Spencer McGill won the Enriching Consumer Experience Award at the Murrumbidgee Local Health District Awards for his work as a Peer Support Worker with MyStep to Mental Wellbeing (MyStep) in Deniliquin. It’s an honour that took him by surprise, but it turns out being a Peer Support Worker is a role he’s been preparing for all his life.

Using his voice is something Kane Stewart is determined to do.

As a member of the 2022 Regional Youth Taskforce, Kane represents young people from the Riverina Murray and provides advice directly to the Minister for Regional Youth on issues that matter to regional young people.

Richard Salcole spent 28 years in the Royal Australian Air Force, two years in the Australian Army Reserve and periods supporting veterans and he speaks from experience when he says, “Once you’ve served, you can never go back to being a civilian. The things you experienced are things most civilians don’t see.”

Peter McCallum might be retired but he’s never been busier. For him, that’s the key to keeping the blues at bay.

“Once they retire, a lot of people stay at home and vegetate. But you’ve got to keep going.

Nicholas Steepe was 15 when his big brother came at him with a question he wasn’t yet ready to answer. “Are you gay or what?”

At 11pm on Monday 5 January 2020, Pastor Debbie Gadd started packing her most prized possessions into her car as bushfires tore through the valleys surrounding her Tumbarumba home.

“It was something like we have never experienced in our lifetime. My husband Robert has been in the RFS for over 50 years and we've been married for 43, so for 43 years fire-fighting has been part of our life. Everything we thought could never happen happened. There was a huge fire coming towards Tumbarumba from Adelong. Then on the Holbrook side, another fire was raging our way,” Debbie recalls.

When Olivia Mullan talks about her five-year-old son, William, her eyes light up.

“He's the most amazing thing I've ever done. He's a ball of energy. He's smart, he's caring. He's creative and he loves doing things like Lego and playing. He's happiest being outside; running, jumping, riding his bike, scootering.”

For many people, it’s hard to image what it’s like to live in a refugee camp. It’s even harder to imagine life in a war zone. But for Constance Okot, war was the backdrop to her childhood and she spent more than a decade in an overcrowded and prison-like refugee camp in Kenya. Constance has experienced and witnessed unspeakable acts and survived against the odds. Her inspiring resilience and courage have helped her face the ongoing emotional and mental health issues she still battles 15 years after finding refuge in Wagga Wagga.

The COVID-19 global pandemic has meant a lot of changes for workers the world over, none more so than those in healthcare, and the general practitioners, practice nurses and administration staff of two Murrumbidgee general practices have accepted their role in the fight against the coronavirus like soldiers going to battle.

Growing up in Perth, studying in Adelaide, and practicing abroad early in her career, Dr Rachel James never imagined taking up practice in regional News South Wales.

But for a little over two years now, Rachel and her husband Ben have been the new doctors at a family-run practice in Deniliquin, where they have forged strong ties with the community and found a place they’re happy to call home.

When Aaron Corcoran’s 15-year-old daughter takes an interest in his studies to become an AOD (Alcohol and Other Drugs) counsellor, he’s quick to share what he’s learning. He’s just as forthcoming when she asks about his own past experience with drugs.

Charlee Masters was three years old before she saw rain for the first time. Born into a farming family, drought has been a big part of her life.

Like many kids from the land, Charlee, now 17, has seen her family and friends go through some of the toughest times they have ever known. The effect it has had on her is hard to say but Charlee’s mother Angela believes it takes its toll.

Julie Andreazza is proud to be an Australian farmer.

The mother of four runs a mixed cropping operation with her husband, Glen, in Willbriggie near Griffith. Having worked the land for the past 28 years, Julie knows firsthand the hardships of the present drought.

“We know that everybody will experience grief, sadness, devastation at some point. No one escapes it. It's how quickly you can recover that's so important.”

Katrina Myers is happy to talk candidly about her experiences with loss, anxiety and the importance of taking care of her wellbeing.

In his line of work, Greg Packer travels the region extensively.

Greg is Senior Land Service Officer /Aboriginal Communities with Riverina Local Land Services (LLS). It is his job to engage with Aboriginal communities, conducting cultural site assessments on farming properties and to provide advice to his LLS colleagues.

John Harper is an animated man, but when he starts talking about the wellbeing of regional Australians, his energy is contagious.

The retired farmer and shearer from Stockinbingal is a passionate advocate for mental health and the powerhouse behind Mate helping Mate, a self-help program to address depression in rural communities.

Dr Khaled Bardawil is on the frontlines of community health.

For the past 12 years, Khaled has been the GP in Lake Cargelligo, a town of about 1500 people located in Central West NSW. During this time, he has seen his community effected by population decline, economic downturn and weather events such as drought.

Ross Edwards is a practical man.

“If you're feeling a bit down, go and fix the worst set of gates on the farm. It’s one thing you can do to get your mind off the dry times and give you the satisfaction of getting those gates in order and swinging properly.”