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NEWS
Cub helps tackle Black Dog
NSW camper trailer specialist supports life-saving road tripIt’s well known that camping can lift your mood, while travelling with a pet can also provide plenty of joy and comfort when away from home.
But it seems combining the two in a strategic fashion can also help overcome serious mental health issues, if the story of West Australia’s Paul Roadley is any guide…
Paul was an emergency services worker for 27 years before being diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). After his psychiatrist recommended “getting away” he and his wife Kirstine and three children decided to undertake the big Australian road trip,
They headed off in early-June and have established the ‘Driving Oz with the Black Dog’ website and Facebook pages to raise awareness of mental health issues.
But just as important as fresh air and freedom to Paul’s recovery is the family pet, Luna. The German Shepherd has been trained as a psychiatric service dog by mindDog Australia, a not-for-profit organisation that assists mental health sufferers with everyday living.
“My depression stemmed from 27 years in the emergency services, so over that time I’ve seen some really horrendous things in fire and rescue as well as ambulance,” Paul says.
“Luna saved my life. She started as a pet, we’ve had her since eight weeks of age and now I can’t go anywhere without her.
“When my anxiety is starting to go a little out of control, she’ll actually trigger and give me different warnings and telling me it’s actually happening and if I ignore it, she goes up another level and then another level to the point where she’s literally standing up at me and mentally takes me out of the situation I’m currently in.
“At night time she monitors me when I’m sleeping and when I have nightmares or night terrors she just wakes me up.
The Driving Oz with the Black Dog trip has attracted a number of corporate sponsors including Cub Campers and Nissan, and the family is aiming to raise $200,000 to go to phone counselling service Lifeline as well as mindDog.
Paul says that demand for mindDog’s services were so great they had to close their books last year, and the additional money will allow more dogs to be trained.
You can donate by clicking here.
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Written byChris Fincham
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