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    07 Oct 2020

    Aussie athletes logging on to support Lifeline

    COVID-19 restrictions aren’t stopping Australian athletes from showing their support to Lifeline Australia ahead of World Mental Health Day on Saturday 10th October.

    07 October 2020

    COVID-19 restrictions aren’t stopping Australian athletes from showing their support to Lifeline Australia ahead of World Mental Health Day on Saturday 10th October.

    With in-person community visits and events currently on hold due to COVID-19, the 22 athletes involved in the AIS-Lifeline Community Custodians believe it is more important than ever to ensure people are taking care of their mental health.

    Now in its second year, the Lifeline Community Custodians program is in place to draw the spotlight on mental health, reduce the stigma around mental illness and encourage people to reach out and get help when they need it.

    To fundraise for Lifeline and raise awareness around suicide prevention, the AIS has setup a virtual garden as a place to come together, fundraise for Lifeline, reflect and raise awareness around suicide prevention. The virtual garden will be open until World Mental Health Day.

    The virtual garden will be open until World Mental Health Day on October 10, 2020. Visit https://www.outoftheshadows.org.au/AIS, opens in a new tab for further details.

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    A post shared by Lifeline (@lifelineaustralia), opens in a new tab on Sep 7, 2020 at 2:45am PDT

    In early September, a number of Custodians also took part in Lifeline’s Out of the Shadows walks coinciding with World Suicide Prevention Day. Since 2012, Out of the Shadows has involved community gatherings being held across the country to provide a safe place for people to come together and remember those lost to suicide.

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    A post shared by Nathan Katz @nathankatz66, opens in a new tab on Sep 7, 2020 at 2:45am PDT

    This year with physical distancing restrictions in place, many Custodians walked solo to reflect and observe the significance of the day, and also took to social media to send messages of hope to those who are struggling.

    Victorian boxer Kristy Harris said it was great to see her fellow athletes finding creative ways to show their support.

    “With in-person events unable to go ahead this year, it is really important to keep spreading the message that people are not alone, and there is support available to anyone who needs it,” said Harris.

    “We know that every 30 seconds in Australia a person reaches out to Lifeline for help, and while we can’t take part in the usual community visits this year, we can all play our part in supporting Lifeline and the life-saving work that they do every day.”

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    2020-21 Lifeline Community Custodians

    Read full athlete bios -https://ais.gov.au/custodians, opens in a new tab

    Alexandra Viney, Rowing Australia, Victorian Institute of Sport

    Amanda Bateman, Rowing Australia, Victorian Institute of Sport

    Amber Merritt, Basketball Australia, West Australian Institute of Sport

    Belle Brockhoff, Snow Australia, NSW Institute of Sport/ Victorian Institute of Sport

    Caitlin Thwaites, Netball Australia, VIS

    Catriona Bisset, Athletics Australia

    Dane Bird-Smith, Athletics Australia

    Erik Horrie, Rowing Australia, NSW Institute of Sport

    Georgia Wilson, Hockey Australia, West Australian Institute of Sport

    Jenna O’Hea, Basketball Australia, Victorian Institute of Sport

    Jonathan Goerlach, Triathlon Australia, NSW Institute of Sport

    Joshua Di Nucci, Gymnastics Australia

    Juliet Haslam, Hockey Australia, South Australian Institute of Sport

    Karen Murphy, Bowls Australia

    Kristy Harris, Boxing Australia, Victorian Institute of Sport

    Lily Gresele, Gymnastics, West Australian Institute of Sport

    Louise Ellery, Athletics Australia, ACT Academy of Sport

    Matt Lewis, Wheelchair Rugby

    Monique Murphy, Swimming Australia, Queensland Academy of Sport

    Natasha Scott, Bowls Australia, NSW Institute of Sport

    Nathan Katz, Judo Australia

    Rachael Lynch, Hockey Australia, Victorian Institute of Sport

    You can contact Lifeline by phone on: 13 11 14 (24 hours / 7 days) or chat to a Crisis Supporter via text on: 0477 13 11 14 (6pm – midnight.)