Mother and daughter Andrea and Tammy Vos know the struggle of helping a loved one battle mental illness.
They speak to Luke Voogt as they prepare to walk 280 kilometres along scenic Surf Coast trails and beaches next month to raise awareness for caregivers.
A close-knit family, running their own business and involved in local sport and community events, the Vos clan were the picture-perfect unit.
When a family member began struggling with depression, again, they transformed their lives to care for them and keep them safe.
Andrea became a full-time carer for the family member, currently receiving treatment, who she wished not to identify out of respect for their privacy.
“You see the highs and the lows – and the lows are pretty bad,” she said.
The Highton local stepped back from the family business, TTS Electrics, to check on the wellbeing and personal hygiene of that family member, help them with chores, and make sure they were eating properly.
“It’s really, really difficult,” she said.
“You’re sort of running their house because they can’t do anything.”
With Andrea caring for the family member, Tammy took over running the family business, which tags, tests and installs electrical equipment, and employs 13 people.
“Tammy has stepped up and she’s doing an amazing job,” Andrea said.
Tammy remembered the family member being “quite ill” when she was a child.
“They were suffering chronic and severe depression, along with anxiety,” she said.
During her teenage years the family member’s condition improved as “a lot of the treatments they were receiving began to work”, Tammy explained.
“It was just under control and treated properly for a long period of time.”
But “over the last four or five years it kind of flared up again”, Tammy explained.
“There was a change in medication and a lot of changes in [their work], and a lot of pressure and stress came with that,” she said.
“There were a lot of times where they would not be able to get out of bed.
“They were very good at putting on a face – it was not obvious to other people.
“We knew what was going on but it was really hard to see outside of the family.
“That was when I ended up taking over the business, so mum could step back and look after their well-being.”
The recent Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System identified several shortfalls in treatment and support for people struggling with mental health issues.
State government last week announced a raft of measures in response to the commission’s report, including naming Geelong as a priority site for expanded mental health services.
Tammy and Andrea accessed several services to help their family member over the years.
But their experience revealed a lack of support available for caregivers.
At times they had no idea where to turn for help dealing with their own stress and fatigue from helping their loved one.
“You’ve never really been told who to call if you’re witnessing someone who’s unwell,” Tammy said.
“We just felt a little bit lost some times seeing them sick or really struggling, and not knowing how to help.
“It kind of goes unnoticed. You never want to bring the attention to yourself, that you’re giving a lot of care and don’t know how to do it.”
“There’s nothing,” Andrea agreed.
“Even to get into the clinic there’s a two-week wait and there’s no support for the carers. You are a person who is holding it together, so you do matter.”
“I said to Tammy, ‘surely we can’t be the only ones, there have to be people going through the same things’.”
So the mother-daughter duo is planning to walk 280km next month along beaches and trails from Port Campbell to Whites Beach, Torquay, over 11 days to raise awareness for mental health caregivers.
They have already raised more than $4400 of their $10,000 goal for Australian mental health charity This Is A Conversation Starter (TIACS), which provides free mental health support to blue collar workers.
They will step off on their “You Matter Too” walk on April 28 with personal trainer Nathan Moore.
The public can join the final 10km leg of their journey from Bells Beach to Whites Beach on May 8, with entry fees going towards TIACS.
“It’s going to be an adventure, I’m sure it will be fun and challenging,” Tammy said.
“We’re raising money for a great charity.”
“The training’s been fun,” Andrea added.
“We found that walking together actually helped us in our own mental health journey.
“We wanted to walk this distance because it gets more attention than just doing a short walk.
“We’ve had some amazing businesses jump on board wanting to sponsor the event – the response has been incredible.”
Details: mycause.com.au/events/youmattertoo-walk
For help phone Lifeline on 13 11 14.
