The Finance Brokers Association of Australia (FBAA) is set to host its annual mental health event on 10 September, following a year which has delivered “more challenges than most people have experienced in a lifetime”, according to managing director Peter White AM.
The Get Broker FIT - R U OK? Day 2020 event will be held digitally, with a line-up of wellness and mental health speakers assembled to help attendees reorient their way of thinking and unlock their latent potential.
“R U OK? Day has a very special place in my heart,” said White.
“I took on an ambassadorship for this industry five years ago, because I could see what was happening to colleagues and friends of mine with depression and anxiety, and the way they were being treated and looked upon because of this.
“We’ve turned what was almost a taboo conversation into something that is commonplace and readily spoken about throughout the entire industry," he continued.
Data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) released at the end of August revealed that feelings of anxiety and depression due to the COVID-19 pandemic are being shared across the country.
“[We] asked Australians about feelings that impact on emotional and mental wellbeing. This included how often people felt nervous, hopeless, restless or fidgety, worthless, that everything was an effort, or so depressed that nothing could cheer them up,” explained ABS head of household surveys Michelle Marquardt.
Nearly half of the respondants reported feeling nervous (46%); restless or fidgety (41%) and that everything was an effort (41%) at least some of the time in the previous four weeks.
Given the widespread struggles, White emphasised, "It’s important for all of us to remember that it’s OK not to be OK."
Calling the industry “a close-knit family”, White reiterated that next week’s event is open to the entire industry, not only FBAA members.
