With the festive season approaching and cost-of-living pressures continuing to af­fect households across the country, Beyond Blue and Financial Counselling Australia have launched a new free resource to help people manage their finances and look after their mental health.

The Money and Mental Health Toolkit in­cludes practical tips for managing thoughts and emotions, budgeting, having conversa­tions with banks or utility companies and finding the right support when you need it.

Its launch comes as demand for finan­cial support via the National Debt Helpline phone service remains high, with almost 170,000 calls and chats in the 12 months to the end of October.

Recent results from Beyond Blue’s Aus­tralia’s Mental Health and Wellbeing Check found financial pressure was the leading cause of distress for nearly half (46%) of all respondents.

Beyond Blue CEO Georgie Harman AO said the festive season could be a par­ticularly challenging time for many people, when financial and emotional pressures of­ten intensified.

“There are so many expectations around this season and that can bring added pres­sure, especially when money is tight,” she said.

Ms Harman encouraged those experienc­ing distress not to wait. “There’s always a way forward. Talking to someone can help lighten the load and give you hope that you can get through this.”

The Money and Mental Health Toolkit is available now on the Beyond Blue website beyondblue.org.au

Mental health and suicide prevention charity Talk2MeBro will host another of its regular Ladies Catchups in Forbes at the Ski Dam, this Sunday, 9 November, from 7:30am. The Ladies Catchups are cas­ual gatherings specifically designed to bring women together to re­connect with themselves, share, and build meaningful connections.

This Sunday’s Ladies Catchup provides mental health support through relaxed conversation, breathwork exercises, ice bath ex­periences, and authentic connection in a safe, non-judgmental en­vironment. All elements of the session are optional. Participants can do as much or as little as they feel comfortable with.

This gathering offers an opportunity for any women seeking stress relief, wanting to try new wellness practices, or simply looking to connect with other like-minded women in Forbes.

Women from all walks of life are welcome, whether attending alone or with family members. Register at talk2mebro.org.au

If you’re one of the estimated 20% of Aus­tralians that suffer with hayfever, Spring is not a time for celebration but rather a time of sneezing, mucous and the dreaded itchy eyes! Allergic conjunctivitis is the bane of many a hay fever sufferer so what is the best way to manage your itchy eyes?

1. Avoid your allergy triggers. Plants, grasses or pollens that trigger your al­lergy symptoms should be avoided. Try saving outdoor activities to evening or just before dawn when the pollen count is lower.

2. Keep allergens away. Regularly wash­ing your face, hair and around your eyes, frequently changing your clothing and linen can help to remove the little al­lergen particles that accumulate.

3. Treat your itchy eyes with medication. Over the counter antihistamine eye drops can provide relief for the symp­toms of allergic conjunctivitis. Avoid us­ing the “red eye” drops. These temporar­ily hide the redness without addressing the cause of your red, itchy eyes. For persistent allergy, use a mast cell stabi­liser eyedrop leading up to and during spring to act as a preventative. These are available as a combination drop alongside an antihistamine.

4. Treat any concurrent dry eye disease. Having dry eyes will exacerbate your al­lergic conjunctivitis symptoms and our tears act as a natural means of flushing allergens out of our eyes. Watch out with taking oral antihistamines as these can cause dry eyes.

Book an appointment at Hansens Optom­etrists where we can formulate a personal­ised plan. We can prescribe more effective eye drops and treat other eye problems that might be masquerading as allergy symptoms.

This Breast Cancer Awareness Month, eligi­ble women from Western NSW Local Health District are being urged to book a free mam­mogram, with 42 per cent of women in the region overdue for their two-yearly breast cancer screening.

For women aged 50-74, a breast screen every two years, through a population based screening program like BreastScreen NSW, is still the best way to detect breast cancer early – before it can be seen or felt.

Deon Adamson Manager, Breastscreen NSW (Greater Western), said with more than 250 local women expected to be diag­nosed with breast cancer this year, women need to put themselves first and book a screening.

“If you’re aged 50 to 74, make breast screening a priority. It only takes 20 minutes and no doctor’s referral is needed,” Ms Ad­amson said. “Early detection significantly increases a person’s chance of survival and can greatly reduce the need for invasive treatment like a mastectomy.”

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and BreastScreen NSW is encourag­ing clients, staff and the community to Tell a Friend about the importance of regular screening and how to book an appointment.

A record 36,500 women booked their breast screen in October 2024. This year, the Be A Friend, Tell A Friend promotion will encour­age more conversations so more women across NSW book this potentially lifesaving appointment.

For more information and to make an ap­pointment at a local BreastScreen NSW clinic or mobile van, call 13 20 50 or book online at www.breastscreen.nsw.gov.au.

As more than 200,000 Year 12 students across Australia prepare for their ATAR ex­ams, the stress they face highlights a bigger national issue: too many young Australians are entering adulthood without the coping skills to manage life’s challenges. Without those tools, pressures can accumulate and contribute to serious mental health con­sequences – with suicide now the leading cause of death among 15-24 year olds.

At the same time, the Federal Govern­ment is preparing to tighten restrictions on young people’s access to social media, acknowledging growing concerns about its role in anxiety, loneliness, cyberbullying and harmful self-comparison. While reduc­ing harmful online influences may provide some relief, bans alone will not solve the problem. Children also need to be equipped with the skills to manage stress, build resil­ience, and seek support much earlier.

LifeChanger Foundation is a preventa­tive youth mental health and wellbeing non-profit that empowers young people to thrive. Through evidence-based school and community programs, it builds the social, emotional and resilience skills young peo­ple need to navigate life’s challenges.

For information about LifeChanger www.lifechanger.org.au

Henry was born prematurely in 2021 and Ronald McDonald House has been helping him ever since. He often returns to Orange for medical appointments with specialists. Henry loves visiting ‘Hen’s House’ as he calls it – a comforting place for him that has been the family’s ‘home away from home’ for over 4 years.

Henry from Parkes has been staying with Ronald McDonald House, on and off, since before he was born.

During a routine antenatal checkup in Parkes, Lou and Gary were advised to travel to Orange hospital immediately where Lou was admitted that night and Garry was luckily offered a room at Ron­ald McDonald House Central West, within walking distance of the Hospital.

The next day Lou was asked to stay in Orange so that their baby could continue to be monitored. Lou was 22 weeks at this stage, and Ronald McDonald House in Orange became their ‘home away from home’.After two weeks the decision was made to transfer to Newcastle’s John Hunter Hospital Neonatal Intensive Care Unit suit­able for premature babies in anticipation of Henry’s arrival.

“The staff in Orange went out of their way to assist with travel and transfer arrange­ments,” said Garry. This also included booking them a room at Ronald McDonald House in Newcastle. “It eases the financial pressures and the physical toll of having to be a distance away.”

Henry didn’t keep Lou and Garry waiting long once they arrived in Newcastle – he was born the next day, at 24 weeks weigh­ing 560 grams.

To help support Henry, and kids just like him, you can enter the Ronald McDonald House Central West raffle and go in the draw to win a Hyundai Kona.

Simply buy a $25 ticket to enter and you’ll be in the draw to win, plus you’ll also be helping Ronald McDonald House sup­port sick kids from across the Central West.­All proceeds from the raffle stay in the Central West at Ronald McDonald House Central West and help support families with sick and injured children from across the region.

To learn more about Ronald McDonald House Central West and buy a ticket in the raffle to win a Hyundai Kona visit their website at www.rmchcwnsw.org.au