The team at Roses in the Ocean send our heartfelt thoughts to anyone affected by the bushfires that continue to spread around Australia. We share your pain, sorrow and fear. We also recognise that there is still a long way to go and the impacts will be felt for months and years to come.

We have found several sources of information that may help with your emotional and mental health, along with an article on how to support children during this time of crisis. Please see links below. As more resources become available we will add them here and share them on our Facebook pages.

In these extremely difficult times, we encourage you to look after yourself and maintain or even amplify your regular self-care routine. As a member of Roses in the Ocean Lived Experience Collective, we also know that you are empathetic and willing to offer assistance to those in need.

Emergency Services, local councils, numerous charities and community groups are all working together to best manage the social as well as economic and environmental impacts of the bushfires. Many of you may already volunteer for organisations such as Lifeline and we salute your selflessness during this national crisis.

Many organisations are already inundated with donations and offers of support, so you may want to consider your own localised initiatives; checking on neighbours, cooking and sharing a meal, taking the kids off their parents’ hands for a few hours, housing pets or livestock, or simply lending an ear to those who need to talk it out.

We know there may not be time or indeed the ability to read this information now, so please save the post or bookmark the website for a time that is suitable.

Stay safe everyone.

If you or someone you know is at risk of suicide, please seek help immediately.