RIDING FOR MENTAL HEALTH - November  2011

(Megan Anderson aged 16 of Bendigo)

 

Megan Anderson, a member of one of our Bee Happy families in Bendigo, has just completed fundraising for the two local organisations that provide help for people with anxiety and depression, Headspace and St. Lukes.  She rode 500 laps of the cycling track in Bendigo on Friday, 14^th October which was during Mental Health Week where she was joined by the local cycling club members and groups as hundreds of her school mates and supporters rode with her and cheered her on. She has also held a breakfast ride and hosted an Open Garden Day in Bendigo on November 26^th with the total of funds raised in excess of $15,000.

 

Whilst there is a lot of publicity about the physical health of our young generation, there are a lot of mental health issues that so many are unaware of.

 

Megan Anderson has been diagnosed with psychogenic seizures after years of fainting and a failure to be correctly diagnosed.  She is 16 years old and goes to Bendigo South East College.  At the age of 12 she began having fainting spells.  “It was a time when there was pressure at school and home and within friendship groups,” Megan said.

 

Initially, the family sought help through school counsellors and their GP who referred them to a paediatrician.  She was diagnosed with neurocardiac dysfunction, which involved cardiac testing, monitors and blood tests, but the fainting spells kept getting worse and she began to have full body seizures with prolonged loss of consciousness. Meg then had EEG’s and brain scans when she continued to present at BHCG in ambulances.  Megan’s mum Jacqui said, “We had to persevere to get a referral to the neurological unit at Royal Children’s Hospital as the public waiting list would’ve meant months and months of waiting.”

 

Whilst the condition is not treatable with medication, it is important to recognize the triggers that bring on these seizures to help either avoid them or minimize their impact.  These triggers vary with each person, and Meg struggled with anxiety and depression while trying to stabilize her life.  The fact that there is often no warning prior to a seizure means that is has been difficult for Meg to avoid physical injury when she collapsed, often hitting her head on surrounding objects.  Read more below and on our 'What's News' page.

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A NORMAL LIFE FOR MEG - November 2011

Whilst Megan has had some setbacks, she has been able to lead a relatively normal life.  She has missed out on some school excursions and school camps, but she plays netball, has performed in the Rock Eisteddfod and has taken up cycling.  She also believes that having a physical outlet has been an important part of her ongoing recovery. She wants to go to University and study Mental Health. She hopes that she will learn to control her condition, and eliminate the seizures, but Megan did say, “I won’t let anything get in the way of reaching my dreams, being resilient is the best way for me to keep hope.”

 

WHERE TO GET HELP WITH MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES

Headspace

Headspace is the National Youth Mental Health Foundation in Australia founded by the Commonwealth Government in 2006.  They help get young people aged 12-25 get through tough times.  They are about to open an office in Bendigo and offer a safe place where young people can go for help or someone to talk to.  You can find more information on their website, www.headspace.org.au

 

St. Luke’s

Whilst established by the Anglican Church in 1979, the staff represent the same diversity of beliefs as the broader community, many without any religious affiliations and they all share a common respect for the individual.  Whilst offering a range of services, they are particularly helpful in working through mental health issues with young people.  They are located in Bendigo and can be contacted on 5440 1100 or go to their website www.stlukes.org.au

 

 

 

GREAT HEIGHTS TO FOOTY SUCCESS - Nathan Holt - November 2011 (aged 15 of Wedderburn)
 

At 187cm and only 15 years of age, Nathan has a great height advantage and good ball skills that helped him make it into the Country Victoria Football Team that went to the National School Boys competition in July this year.  He competed in the 15 and under division.

 

Nathan has been playing footy for five years and plays in the North Central Football League (NCFL) for the Wedderburn Redbacks.  His selection for the Country Victorian team came when NCFL combined with the Mallee League where 50 potential players were chosen and invited to Melbourne to train and play.  The number was then reduced to 25 players with Nathan earning a spot in the side.

 

In Canberra, Nathan played all five games.  There were 8 teams that came from all over Australia.  Country Victoria came third after losing a final to the eventual winners Big Metro (the representative side from Melbourne).

 

Nathan is in year 9 at P-12 Wedderburn College.  He loves all sport and plays basketball year round and cricket in the summer, in addition to football.  He has been concentrating more on his football to try and further his chances of progressing up the ranks.  As a back up to a sporting career, Nathan plans to go to university and study engineering or math related subjects.