This year’s Old Boys’ Day and BBQ saw many students, Old Boys and their families join us on Main Oval at Churchie to spectate the exciting rugby games against BBC. There is no doubt that the sensational Long Lunch the previous day and the triumphant First XV team were hot topics for discussion amongst attendees. However, thanks to the presence of teams from Roses in the Ocean (lived experience of suicide) and TIACS (This is a Conversation Starter), everyone left the event more prepared to talk about mental health and wellbeing, and with greater awareness of these two organisations and our 1300BLUEGREY warmline as part of our Viking Wellbeing initiative.

The Viking Wellbeing initiative was originally proposed by Old Boys John Stavrou and Damien Edmonds after Tim Borthwick, a member of their 1987 cohort, took his own life in July 2018. Of those men who have already passed away from the 1987 cohort, approximately 25% were a result of challenges with anxiety and depression.

1300BLUEGREY is a mental health advocacy service that has been set up to support Churchie Old Boys and their families by providing a wellbeing service for emotional healthcare. It provides anonymous access to a confidential counselling service and importantly, as it provides anonymity for users, it does not reflect on any potential health care records.

Churchie Old Boys and their families can rely on this service to assist overcoming emotional and mental challenges.

This service can be used to seek advice to address wellbeing concerns for yourself, a family member or a friend.