Mental Health Awareness Week: the empowerment of ‘Self-Aid’

In honour of this year’s Mental Health Awareness Week, we interviewed Olivia, creator of Sari-Sari Handmade, on her journey of discovering ‘Self-Aid’ when it comes to mental health, and how she is empowering others to help themselves.

Can you tell me about ‘Sari Sari Handmade’ – where did the idea come from?

Sari-Sari Handmade was created after I discovered that using my hands to create things when I have episodes makes me happy, I’m bipolar, and sometimes I don’t sleep for days or even weeks.  I manage my condition by making handmade crafts; making things out of recycled materials and selling them.

After being diagnosed as bipolar, my working life changed dramatically. I turned to crafts as a form of self-expression and therapy, finding my passion for turning everyday objects into beautiful, unique gifts. And so Sari Sari was born.

As a business, Sari Sari came to life with a little help from Local Women Local Enterprise. After joining in 2015, and attending a range of training courses, the charity helped me to see that I could turn my craftwork into a viable business that enabled me to work from home.

How has working with Junction Point helped you to progress your idea?

I met Lizzy from Junction Point at the Building Future East Passion to Paycheque training. I explained to Lizzy what I want to do to help other people like me. I have suffered from severe anxiety, depression, and panic attacks for 15 years, and after breaking my leg I became isolated for a long time. However, I discovered ways to recover, and my mission today is to do my best to help people like me have a better life, and to educate about Emotional First Aid.

I attended a Community Hub Project workshop, where I learned to do mapping, planning, research etc.. to make my dreams come true. I was also invited to attend the Changemaker conference where I was inspired! When the time came to start the pilot project, Saint Vincent De Paul NCL Deaf Center respond and funded my Emotional First Aid Well-being Workshop. Throughout the process and from what I learned from the Junction Point course, the development of my idea to become a reality happened very quickly!

Junction Point have always listened, I am disabled and sometimes when I’m not well, yet I never feel discouraged because they deal with me so professionally, and use worksheets, templates and directly guide me if I don’t understand certain things. I have made new friends in the group, and they are all inspiring so if I feel down their presence affects in making me quickly become focus again on what I want to achieve!

At Junction Point they are real, authentic individuals. I’m so grateful to have met them and for them to be a part of my success.

Can you tell me about why it’s important for people to be aware of mental health, and practical tools to help them when they struggle?

When we become depressed our senses become paralyzed, that’s why we can’t find the motivation to do anything. Therefore, we can revive and exercise it by stimulating our senses. Our mindset is important in understanding the importance of taking care of our mental health, to lead a healthy happy life.

We are taught since childhood to take care of our physical health, for example brushing our teeth or using a bandaid for cuts. But we don’t have the information on how to deal with our mental health, yet mental health is as important as physical health.

If someone is struggling, the tools I would recommend are to move, and do something else. Getting up and moving when you have a bad thought interrupts the brain, especially if you do something with your hands.

You can also listen to music, dance, and spend time appreciating nature. You could make a notice board, and stick on it pictures of your happiest moments, and also the contact number of someone you can talk with about your concerns, maybe your mum or best friend. You can also add the Samaritan contact number which you can text or call, I find them very helpful. Arts like painting or coloring using brush & paint or apps are also good tools, as well as practicing meditation, yoga, Taichi, or going to the gym.