Symbols can be very powerful. They are usually simple things that lead us to go beyond what we see and create linkages to other concepts. For instance, a powerful symbol in my life is the 'bee'. My name, Debra, means bee in Hebrew and I have linked this association to other things about bees and me; bees share community and work for the good of all. Many times in my life, I have seen a bee at just the right moment when I needed help remembering how much I value community and strive to work for the good of all. From a little thing like seeing a bee, big things can come.
In Australia, we are very fortunate to have a symbol for Mental Health Awareness. It is the Flannel Flower, an Australian native that was chosen for this purpose because it is a bush flower that often grows in trying circumstances but it manages to live, flourish and flower. It is resilient and enduring. A great 'symbol' for mental health.
Mental Health First Aid Australia (MHFA), has a symbol, which is shown on our home page. It is the universally accepted symbol for first aid; the white cross on the green background and has a stylized flannel flower in the centre. This is an easily recognized symbol that is now known thought Australia where over 2% of the population are now trained Mental Health First Aiders. The symbol above is the flannel flower used by MHFA as the symbol for their Standard MHFA course. If you would like to know more about this course click here
.Mental Health First Aid Australia also has another symbol which is a koala named Algee who wears a white tee shirt with the MHFA symbol on it. Algee is friendly and a reminder/portal for Mental Health First Aiders to the acronym that reminds them how to help others. It is a powerful symbol that creates the link to the Mental Health First Aid action plan.
Symbols can be universally recognized or can be personal. If there is something you are trying hard to remember and put into action in your life...give it a symbol, something simple that will mean much more to you and help you remember the person that you are. Many indigenous communities name their children after things in nature that become a symbol to that person of all that their parents and community hoped for them. Try giving yourself a symbol that is meaningful and means YOU...the person you are, the person you hope to become.
Remember Mental Health is everyone's business.
