What to do and who to contact when in crisis

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Survivors / Support / Resources for Survivors / What to do in a time of crisis

Resources for Survivors

What to do in a time of crisis

Crisis numbers

Lifeline
13 11 14
Kids Help Line
1800 551 800
Men’s Help Line
1300 78 99 78
Ambulance/Fire/Police
000
Poisons Information Centre
13 11 26
Child Protection and Family Crisis Service
132 111
Transcultural Mental Health Centre
1800 648 911

Survivors of child abuse can experience periods of intense emotional pain, and this pain may lead to self-harming or suicidal thoughts. This section of the website includes suggestions on what to do if you, or someone close to you, is feeling suicidal.

What to do if you are feeling suicidal

If you are feeling suicidal or unsafe you need to get help immediately by contacting LIFELINE on 13 11 14.

It is a good idea to have someone with you if possible. Call a friend, family member or neighbour you trust to be with you and to help get the professional help you need.

If you are having suicidal thoughts but are not in immediate danger, let your doctor or other health care professional know as soon as possible so they can help you prepare an action plan to keep you safe.

What to do if someone else is feeling suicidal

If you believe that someone else is in danger of committing suicide then get help urgently by calling 000 for either the ambulance or the police. On the phone, stay calm, explain the situation, give the address and relevant directions while at the same time staying to comfort and protect the person who is in danger.

Remember whenever anyone talks, writes or hints about suicide, take them seriously, listen and find professional help. Individuals who have attempted suicide in the past are at serious risk of attempting suicide again in the future.

My Story – by Lindy

My Story By Lindy

Just So You Know

Just so you know
I'm doing OK

Though not so much in the usual way.

There are things that I do

That help me keep calm

Like counting my steps as I walk round the farm.

Just so you know
I'm doing just fine
If I hang out the washing just so on the line.
It's important to use the right coloured pegs
When I hang out the shirt with the blue
Round the edge.

Just so you know
I'm doing just great
If I always leave early
And don't arrive late.
The car must start
The lights must be green
And my clothes must be pressed.
With a really straight seam.

Just so you know
I'm doing quite well
Though the story of you
Will take courage to tell.
I will tell a little
And see how I go
Though I'm fairly certain
It will be quite slow.

Just so you know
I'm living my life
Despite what you did
Despite all that strife.
It's not been easy
At times it's been tough
There's much that I do
That is bluster and bluff.

Just so you know
There are times that I laugh
It's when I forget
That you're in my past.
I throw back my head
And I let it all rip
I don't even stop
When my nose starts to drip.

Just so you know
I oft' times feel good
Though it's taken awhile
I'm not out of the woods.
But if I don't try
If I give up the fight
I'll have let you win
And that doesn't feel right.

By Lindy

Putting the Pieces of the Self Together One Moment at a Time

In Australia, 5 million adults (1 in 4) are living with the long-term impacts of childhood trauma and abuse. One such man is Ballarat child abuse survivor and advocate Peter Blenkiron, who has described himself as a damaged man, working full time to find healing from the abuse suffered at the hands of a St Patrick’s College Christian Brother when he was 11 years old.

Following two hugely successful runs in 2016 and 2017, including at the Art Gallery of Ballarat, the ‘Putting the Pieces of the Self Together One Moment at a Time’ exhibition, with support from Creative Victoria, will open in Melbourne on 30 June, and run until 21 July at The Dax Centre.

Curated by Blenkiron’s childhood friend and fellow advocate Vanessa Beetham, the exhibition serves to raise awareness of the impacts of childhood trauma, including mental health issues, suicide and premature death.

“Capturing his journey of healing through the lens of a smartphone, Peter’s photographic diary ‘Putting the Pieces of the Self Together One Moment at a Time’ offers a rare insight into the inner world of a child abuse survivor as he slowly learns to re-inhabit his body and mind’, said Vanessa.

The story of one, is the story of many. Included in the exhibition is a monumental artwork by Archibald Prize finalist 2016, Daniel Butterworth, featuring 30 portraits of child abuse survivors and advocates. It is a symbolic representation of the countless numbers of children abused in the Ballarat district. The participants share a vision of societies working effectively together to reverse the destructive ripple effect linked to childhood trauma.

On Friday 6 July , a fundraising event will also be held as part of the exhibition, which will be opened by Martin Foley MP, Minister for Creative Industries, Minister for Mental Health with guest speakers including Dr Judy Courtin, author of ‘Sexual Assault and the Catholic Church: Are Victims Finding Justice?’.

The fundraising event is open to the public and complimentary tickets can be booked online here.

All funds raised on the evening will help support Blue Knot Foundation and The Dax Centre, which works closely with artists and communities to increase understanding of mental illness and psychological trauma.

‘Putting the Pieces of the Self Together One Moment at a Time’, 30 June - 21 July 2018, The Dax Centre, 30 Royal Parade, Melbourne. Tel: 03 9035 6258

Email: info@daxcentre.org

A short film by film maker Andrew Sully and curator/producer Vanessa Beetham recount's Peter's personal story can be viewed at https://vimeo.com/239158731

Someday The Sun Will Shine Through

My Story by Christine - May 2018 Blue Knot Newsletter

One of my brothers died last year.

Prior to his death, he had been one of those people who chose to have no contact with his family. His life ended in a bare room in one of those miserable supported accommodation facilities.

Given his long absence and then death, I can only presume his reasons for making the choices he did. What I do know is that we grew up in a house that overflowed with anger, resentment, violence, and scant encouragement.

As a child, I was a scared little thing who discovered the (false) protection of withdrawing within myself and physically hiding. The oft-used comforter of food also became part of my limited repertoire for coping.

As a teenager, I was socially inept, struggled to connect with others and punished myself for my alleged awfulness by hitting myself on the head repeatedly. I still wear long-sleeved shirts to cover a few small scars wrought by a razor blade that paradoxically gave relief.

My brother was introverted and lacked confidence, and I really did not get the chance to know him at all.

Ours was a home in which you could be dragged out of bed and beaten with a thong, picked up while you were walking to school and taken back home to be punched and told how useless you were, have doors banged against you, and be smacked in the face in front of others and then beaten when they left.

You would await another brother’s homecoming from the pub to see if he would fall sleep or create havoc. This drunken brother has never been held to account for his many infractions, including trying to push our mother out of a window.

When I think of the claim that children are resilient – a platitude surely invented to excuse a multitude of sins – I think of unwell and lonely adults in places such as homeless shelters, prisons and psychiatric hospitals. I also think of all those people who do their best to function but who still struggle. My heightened flight response, fear of people in positions of authority, and anxiety sometimes still causes me difficulties.

My brother’s passing certainly reignited old hurts.

I have found some peace in recent years, however, courtesy of a private psychologist, yoga, meditation, a naturopath (seen due to gastrointestinal issues), and a wish to not let my whole life be dictated by the direness of its first decades.

When I think of my brother I think of the lyrics of a song by the band Free, from their Heartbreaker Album, 1972:

Throw down your gun, you might shoot yourself
Or is that what you're tryin' to do?
Put up a fight you believe to be right
And someday the sun will shine through

You've always got something to hide
Something you just can't tell
And the only time that you're satisfied
Is with your feet in the wishing well

But I know what you're wishing for
Love in a peaceful world.

When I think of adult survivors of childhood trauma in general, I think of this quote from The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma by the psychiatrist Bessel van der Kolk:

We have learned that trauma is not just an event that took place sometime in the past; it is also the imprint left by that experience on mind, brain, and body. This imprint has ongoing consequences for how the human organism manages to survive in the present. Trauma results in a fundamental reorganization (sic) of the way mind and brain manage perceptions. It changes not only how we think and what we think about, but also our very capacity to think.

Save the date!

Blue Knot Day – Monday 29 October 2018

Blue Knot Foundation’s annual awareness event, Blue Knot Day, will be held on Monday 29 October 2018, with events and activities happening throughout Blue Knot Week, Monday 29 October – Sunday 4 November.

Blue Knot Day is Blue Knot Foundation's national awareness day celebrated in October every year. On this day, we ask all Australians to unite in support of the 5 million Australian adult survivors of childhood trauma and abuse.

If you would like to organise a Blue Knot Day event in your community, volunteer your time or find out more about Blue Knot Day, please contact Fundraising Manager, Cath James on cjames@blueknot.org.au or 0466 788 371 or visit https://www.blueknot.org.au/BlueKnotDay for further information.

Grill'd restaurant supporting survivors

This month Blue Knot Foundation was selected as a charity recipient in Grill’d restaurant’s Local Matters community program, raising funds and awareness for local community services.

Each month Grill’d restaurants select three local community groups to support, with information about each group displayed on three separate jars in the restaurant.

“We are delighted to support Blue Knot Foundation through the Grill’d Local Matters program”, said Rebecca, Store Manager, Grill’d Neutral Bay. “The work of Blue Knot Foundation has obviously hit a chord with our customers, with the organisation receiving so much support throughout the month”.

Thank you so much to Grill’d, Neutral Bay and all the customers who supported Blue Knot Foundation.

Beyond the Blue Hair…

Blue Knot Foundation supporter Kirsty Pratt has been dying her hair blue for years in support of survivors, during her campaign to remove the Civil Litigation Limitations Period in Western Australia. Now that the legislation has passed, Kirsty is fundraising to support more survivors through the ‘BEYOND THE BLUE HAIR’ fundraiser, where she will be dying her hair back to its natural colour!

To support ‘BEYOND THE BLUE HAIR’, visit Kirsty’s fundraising page at:

https://give.everydayhero.com/au/beyond-the-blue-hair-1

Our congratulations and thanks to you Kirsty.

Resources for Survivors

What to do in a time of crisis

Crisis numbers

What to do if you are feeling suicidal

What to do if someone else is feeling suicidal

My Story – by Lindy

My Story By Lindy

Putting the Pieces of the Self Together One Moment at a Time

Putting the Pieces of the Self Together One Moment at a Time

My Story - by Christina

Someday The Sun Will Shine Through

Save the Date - Blue Knot Day 2018

Save the date!

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