A Torquay woman is hosting a Big Blue Table for her late son and his best friend, battling mental health.
Carolyn Biram will host the Beyond Blue Big Blue Table campaign for the second year, running throughout October to help raise money for mental health support.
Ms Biram said she would host her table on October 28 for friends and family to remember her son and his best friend, who died of accidental overdoses at 27.
“In 2021 I lost my son to a heroin overdose and…in August this year his closest friend passed away in essentially the same way,” she said.
“I’m seeing it too often and I’m seeing it repeatedly with young men in their 20s who seem too really be struggling and I’m just not sure that they’re getting the support that works for them.”
Ms Biram said she liked that the Beyond Blue events created a safe and comfortable space for people to discuss their mental health.
“My son didn’t want people to see how he was dealing with it and what he was doing. So, he didn’t talk about it at all, and I know that ultimately had a detrimental impact on his life,” she said.
“Creating an environment where people feel comfortable to talk about mental health, breaks down that barrier, and the more we do it, the more comfortable people get having those conversations.
“The way people react to their mental illness is varied. It affects people in so many different ways, and until you take that walk yourself, I don’t think we should be judging.”
Help is available by calling Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636 or Lifeline on 13 11 14.
