World Mental Health Day 2020
Yesterday, October 10th, was World Mental Health Day. 
This year's World Mental Health Day comes at a time when our daily lives have changed considerably. The past months have brought many challenges for just about every Australian.
For health-care workers, providing care in difficult circumstances. For us students, furloughed from placement, adapting to taking classes from home, with little contact with teachers and friends. For business and workers, whose livelihoods are threatened. For the vast number of people caught in fragile humanitarian settings with extremely limited protection from COVID-19. And for everyone experiencing greater social isolation than ever before.
The WHO's goal in this year's campaign is to increase investment in mental health and social support services, the need for which is expected to substantially increase in the coming months and years despite chronic underfunding. Tuesday's budget was a step in the right direction, but more can be done - and now, it's more important than it has ever been.
In the meantime, here's our challenge to you this week: Reach out to a friend you haven't spoken to in a while. Give them a call or text, see what's been going on in their life, and tell them what's been going on in yours.
A small conversation can go a long way. 
