There were many events for September 11’s acknowledgement for RUOK Day and Morgans Engineering, based at Singleton, sent the message strongly.
Ask ‘are you okay,’ listen to the answer with an open mind, encourage action for the person and check in afterwards.
This was the advice of the company’s general manager Jeremy Brett who emphasised the employment assistance program, that every employee anywhere should have access to, is there for a reason and offers confidential support for those needing it.
Special guest Mel McLachlan told her story to the employees which was listened to with intense silence. She shared that as a police detective she learnt how to cover her emotions when confronted with the worst society delivers. Traumatic scenes of death, traumatic scenes of lives impacted forever and how she was put in dangerous situations that could have ended with her own life taken by the hands of another.
“I learned how to lie to psychologists and I was very good at that. It was only when one confronted me with my truth that I understood I needed to be honest with how I was and that was a path to a new life for me,” Mel told her spellbound audience.
While Mel’s story is unique, she knows she is not alone in the feelings of isolation with no way out. Her message is to reach out, not to be afraid and with support you will get through and the most important thing is speak up when things get too much.
Jeremy emphasized there is light at the end of the tunnel when things get really bad and that it is not okay all the time.
“The first step is to recognised you need help,” he said.
