news, local-news, bendigo, CFA, terry heafield, mental, health, illness, stigma, don't do it alone
CFA Operations Officer Terry Heafield made a stop in Bendigo on Monday on a 2,500 kilometre bike ride to raise awareness of mental health issues among Victorian firefighters. The married father of two teenage boys has experienced depression and anxiety as a result of his work. The many high-stress incidents he had attended throughout the years – bushfires, house fires, rescues and car accidents – had taken their toll. “For a long time I was in denial that I had any issues, but I’d come back from work, sit on the couch and I didn’t want to do anything,” Mr Heafield said. “I couldn’t face going outside.” He said he found being thanked by the people he had assisted one of the hardest parts of his job. “I never felt like I deserved it – it never sat well with me,” he said. “They’d just lost everything after their house burned down and they wanted to thank me. “I was just doing my job.” It was frankness about challenges such as these Mr Heafield hoped would raise awareness of post traumatic stress disorder and mental health issues during the course of his ride. The trip was planned around Mr Heafield’s desire to visit each of Victoria’s integrated fire stations to talk about his experiences and encourage people to speak up. The name of the campaign – Don’t do it alone – reflects his desire to inspire people to seek help as soon as they can. “It’s okay not to be okay,” Mr Heafield said. He started his journey in Wodonga on July 30. Bendigo was one of the first stops in his trip, which encompasses 43 fire stations and ends in Melton on August 21. Mr Heafield said he had been humbled by the support he and the campaign had received. His wife Kylie and his family have been supporting him during his ride. “We are really excited and proud of him for coming out and speaking up about mental illness,” Mrs Heafield said. “I’m also a bit nervous because it’s a big ride.” Sons Lachlan, 17, and Jake, 14, intend to join their father in the final leg of the journey, from August 12. “It was really hard, I knew he wasn’t travelling well, he just kept hitting brick walls,” Mrs Heafield said of her husband’s experiences with PTSD and mental illness. “Just keep letting them know you are there for them.” Mr Heafield intends to arrive in Charlton on August 2.
DON'T DO IT ALONE: CFA firefighter Terry Heafield arrives in Bendigo to the support of colleagues during his 2500 kilometre bike ride to raise awareness of mental health issues affecting firefighters.
CFA Operations Officer Terry Heafield made a stop in Bendigo on Monday on a 2,500 kilometre bike ride to raise awareness of mental health issues among Victorian firefighters.
The married father of two teenage boys has experienced depression and anxiety as a result of his work.
The many high-stress incidents he had attended throughout the years – bushfires, house fires, rescues and car accidents – had taken their toll.
“For a long time I was in denial that I had any issues, but I’d come back from work, sit on the couch and I didn’t want to do anything,” Mr Heafield said. “I couldn’t face going outside.”
He said he found being thanked by the people he had assisted one of the hardest parts of his job.
“I never felt like I deserved it – it never sat well with me,” he said.
“They’d just lost everything after their house burned down and they wanted to thank me.
“I was just doing my job.”
It was frankness about challenges such as these Mr Heafield hoped would raise awareness of post traumatic stress disorder and mental health issues during the course of his ride.
The trip was planned around Mr Heafield’s desire to visit each of Victoria’s integrated fire stations to talk about his experiences and encourage people to speak up.
The name of the campaign – Don’t do it alone – reflects his desire to inspire people to seek help as soon as they can.
“It’s okay not to be okay,” Mr Heafield said.
He started his journey in Wodonga on July 30.
Bendigo was one of the first stops in his trip, which encompasses 43 fire stations and ends in Melton on August 21.
Mr Heafield said he had been humbled by the support he and the campaign had received.
His wife Kylie and his family have been supporting him during his ride.
“We are really excited and proud of him for coming out and speaking up about mental illness,” Mrs Heafield said.
“I’m also a bit nervous because it’s a big ride.”
Sons Lachlan, 17, and Jake, 14, intend to join their father in the final leg of the journey, from August 12.
“It was really hard, I knew he wasn’t travelling well, he just kept hitting brick walls,” Mrs Heafield said of her husband’s experiences with PTSD and mental illness.
“Just keep letting them know you are there for them.”
Mr Heafield intends to arrive in Charlton on August 2.
