Rochelle Rich - Because life can be an absolute sh#% show!

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Because life can be an absolute shit show!

Eight Australians lose their battle with life and die from suicide everyday (ABS, 2021).

On Life Untangled, today I interview Rochelle Rich, Founder and Managing Director of a new social enterprise, Emotions, focused solely on the prevention of suicide.

Together, Rochelle and the team are on a mission to drive the everyday conversations that challenge life and its messiness, and give people hope - even when it all seems too hard.

The pandemic has had and continues to have a devastating impact on the mental health of society. Rochelle lost her niece to suicide on a fateful day on the 17th of May 2020. The impact on her close knit family was devastating….. and like all families, friends and colleagues touched by mental illness the ongoing roller coaster of emotions, questions and ‘what ifs?’ stay with us forever.

Some say, the COVID-19 pandemic, with its associated job losses, lockdowns, and economic uncertainty has brought mental health issues into focus….. a silver lining, so to speak - open conversations about stress, a reset on what matters in life and a whole new social movement driven by passion, purpose and a desire to make the world a better place.

Rochelle's idea is simple - everyday products to spark everyday conversations about the messiness of life. Environmentally friendly, made in Melbourne, toilet paper - because life can be an absolute shit show. Kitchen towels and wipes - a play on the principle of cognitive behavioural therapy, helping to reframe negative thinking with evidence-based advice on how little, everyday habits, can help people stay mentally fit, healthy and well.

On World Mental Health Day Emotions has decided to shine a spotlight on men and their mental health. Why……

We have a supply chain of everyday products, manufactured in Melbourne, that other industries that are male dominated can get behind - construction, defence, emergency services;
Fifty percent of the profits from the products purchased are focused on the prevention of suicide, in partnership with Lifeline, beyondble and the BlackDog Institute;
Stats show us that men take 10-15 years to reach out for help. Emotions aims to shift that dial - normalising conversations about our feelings, thoughts and how we behave when we feel stressed, and what we can do to regulate those emotions;
Men are more likely to take their own life. In Australia 75% of those who take their own life are male (ABS, 2021). The Lifeline Crisis Line number 13 11 14 is on every product, a strong reminder that support is only a phone call away.

I have worked in suicide prevention for 20+ years….. And this focus on men is not new. Great organisations exist that solely focus on the mental health of men….

Movember an iconic Aussie movement, started over a beer by two brothers…. And now a global phenomenon;
Mates in Construction, a peer support program targeting the construction industry;
Swiss8, Soldier On and Mates for Mates focused on military transition;
Life Again, Pucker Up and a host of male led initiatives aimed at educating the community by raising awareness and reducing stigma.

My chat with Rochelle builds on this great work and presents a practical everyday conversation starter built around everyday products.

Great product. Jobs in manufacturing. Brilliant cause.

Listen to the podcast here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/7J7sGerPdfYiRxLm9JY6Xv

Purchase products here: https://emotions.org.au/pages/our-impact

Watch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8yAMqfyhPHo&t=241s

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If you would like more information be in touch with Rochelle from Emotions rochelle@emotions.org.au

Interested in more information please visit:

https://wellandproductivecrc.com.au/

https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/health/causes-death/causes-death-australia/2020#intentional-self-harm-deaths-suicide-in-australia – the latest data on suicode and self harm;

https://labourmarketinsights.gov.au/industries/industry-details?industryCode=C

https://www.statista.com/statistics/1112231/australia-employment-in-construction-industry