At 15, Amy Simmons tried to take her life for the first time. At 16, she tried again. In the years that followed, Amy's tumultuous relationship with mental health and consequent issues continued unabated. She battled homelessness, addiction, public humiliation and stigma, and saw her loved ones succumb to various illnesses. At 20, the Australian finally worked up the courage to walk through the door of a counselling centre and seek the help she so desperately needed.

Now at 25, Amy is steadily on the path to healing and has channelised her lingering internal pain and turmoil into creating Be Kind Townsville, a social enterprise that aims to initiate public dialogues around mental health through myriad social events like Sausage Sizzles, talks in Schools, and by selling merchandise. The initiative encourages people to be kind and compassionate towards not only those with fragile mental health well-being but everyone; for, all of us, says Amy, is fighting an invisible battle. 

TAL caught up with the Townsville (North Queensland, Australia) resident to learn more about her wonderful initiative, the factors that led to its creation, the stigma she faced during her troubled teenage years, and her steadfast attempt to stop someone else from walking the path she did. 

Before we speak more about your initiative, please tell us something about yourself. 

I am 25 years old and was born and raised in country Victoria in a small town called Laanecoorie. I stayed there till I was 14, then moved to Townsville, North Queensland.

I love being creative and enjoy graphic design and painting or creating shirts. I also look after my new puppy; she’s hard work, but she makes me very happy! Professionally, I am a youth worker working with young people in residential care. I also volunteer as part of the Youth Reference Group at headspace Townsville, and I run Be Kind. 

What prompted you to start Be Kind Townsville? Was it a conscious decision to include “be kind” in your name? Was it an attempt to reinforce the idea of kindness and the importance of it when dealing with people with mental health issues?   

After facing years of mental health concerns, homelessness, addiction, trauma and grief, I eventually built up the courage to seek help through headspace Townsville. My time there was a crucial turning point in my life and recovery. However, it was the kindness, patience and acceptance shown by my therapist and even her therapy dogs that got me thinking about the vital role kindness plays in rebuilding the fragile emotional state of those suffering from mental health issues. That experience prompted me to start Be Kind Townville which encourages people to talk freely about mental health, seek help when in mental agony, and approach those with mental health issues with compassion. 

The title Be Kind was an easy decision to make. I wanted to remind people that there’s much kindness out there and use the name of my business to reinforce the fact. It seemed simple, easy and got straight to the point of what we’re about.

You mentioned that Be Kind Townsville was born out of your personal mental health experiences. Do you mind sharing your mental health journey with us?

I have struggled with mental health problems since I was a kid. But, back then it was never spoken about, never acknowledged, and had so little awareness. From age 14 till now, my life’s seen severe ups and downs. I dropped out of school, battled with addiction, struggled with homelessness and entered through the doors of hospitals and courtroom far too many times.

I also lost five friends to suicide, watched my father fight cancer and saw loved ones succumb to sudden illnesses. I tried to kill myself twice - at ages 15 and 16. Life was bleak for many years.

I attempted to seek help numerous times over the years but was scared to go through with the appointments, cancelling last minute. It was only when I turned 20 that I knew I really needed help, and finally found the right therapist. My interactions with my therapist and subsequent healing process made me realise how we as a community can help create a kinder world to live in; a society that hopefully prevents others from going down the path I did.

Did you face stigma while experiencing mental health issues? Or, was it easier to speak about it to people around you?     

I faced stigma, 100 per cent! Terms like attention seeker, lazy, and crazy were often thrown at me. I had my first suicide attempt publicly mocked online and in person, and that experience encouraged me to speak about my mental health issues more defiantly. I didn’t want others to have power over my story and distort it as they liked. So, I ended up telling it myself on social media which created a massive shift in perception; those mocking me were ignored, and a community of compassionate and understanding people came forward to support me. 

How does Be Kind go about creating awareness about mental health in the state?

We create awareness by holding local events throughout the year - speaking at schools and organising community projects - and selling merchandise. Previous events include sausage sizzles, talks in schools, and a scavenger hunt. We also have one significant annual event called Kindness Walk where hundreds gather to walk along the beach, write kind messages and hear inspiring stories from local people who have either battled mental health issues or been helpful to those who have. 

Our merchandise comprises shirts, jumpers, singlets, hats, wristbands and water bottles. We ship our products both within Australia and overseas. Be Kind has a partnership with headspace Townsville, where a certain percentage of our funds raised from merchandise sales and events goes to them.

You mentioned about giving talks in schools on mental health well-being. Can you tell us a bit about that experience? Given that conditions like Depression and Anxiety are frequently spoken about nowadays, do you find kids are more knowledgeable about these issues than their parents? 

Whenever I give a talk at a school I look to my personal mental health struggles for inspiration. I try to tell my story in a manner that gives hope to those going through any distress or emotional breakdown. At each talk I am accompanied by a headspace professional who provides immediate professional guidance or support to any student who might need it. 

I find young people nowadays are more open to discussing and learning about mental health compared to even just ten years ago. I also see more parents asking questions and trying to understand mental illnesses to be better prepared to identify signs of distress among their children and support and help them better. 

How did you raise awareness about your organisation? Are there any branches and how many people work for the organisation?

Awareness around Be Kind was created by going out in public, holding sausage sizzles and starting conversations around mental health conditions with strangers. We then created our Facebook page to inform people about our latest events. I currently run the main centre of Be Kind Townsville, but I have five ambassadors based around Townsville, Magnetic Island, New South Wales and Victoria. I also have numerous volunteers that help us out at events.  

What are the challenges you continue to face in sustaining Be Kind Townsville?

Funding is probably the biggest challenge I have faced since the inception of Be Kind. Everything else has been just great! To sustain Be Kind and create public events we must continue selling merchandise and raise enough money at events. Eventually, with adequate funding we aspire to expand. 

How do you think we as a society can make a difference in the lives of those with mental health troubles, and help create a more sensitive community?

Letting people know that it is all right to speak about whatever they are going through - the good and the bad – is imperative to create a more sensitive society. Humans are storytellers, and we all love hearing a story, whether it is through social media, a book, a movie or in person. I always encourage people to tell their story because we all are affected by mental health issues directly or indirectly. 

One of the ways to make a difference is by organising events that encourage human interactions. I believe these connections go a long way in creating a community that will help support those with mental health issues and hopefully prevent those conditions from increasing. Prevention is better than Cure!

What are your plans for the future with regards to your organisation?  

We are looking to expand. We are in the talks with our Victorian ambassador about big things involving Australian Football League, schools and merchandise. Unfortunately, I am unable to disclose too much information on this yet as it is still early days.

To buy Be Kind Townsville’s merchandise, visit their website.

Connect with them on Facebook and Instagram.