Depression is a serious public health issue with around one million Australians currently diagnosed.

We also know that up to 20 per cent of the Australian population doesn’t undertake any regular physical activity, which may significantly increase their risk of developing depression in their lifetime.

The Black Dog Institute’s Exercise Your Mood campaign runs until Sunday.

It aims to change these statistics by encouraging everyday Australians to improve their mental fitness by taking on at least one hour of exercise each week. 

Though it can be hard to take the first step, one hour is a very achievable goal.

It’s something we would like to encourage your readers to build into their weekly routine.

If they are already on track, keep up the good work.

Your mental health will thank you for it.

Helen Christensen,

director, Black Dog Institute

I FELT the need to write concerning the opinion piece by Nieves Murray in the Wimmera Mail-Times on Wednesday.

The article spoke about suicide rates across Australia. 

I have recently been going through a lot of stress and recently I had suicidal thoughts.

I said goodbye to my fiancée and locked myself in my house. I was ready to end it all.

Luckily, he cared enough to ring my mother, who got to me in a very short amount of time. Her question to me was: “Are you alright?” 

This sent me into a wave of tears and I was able to let out all my feelings and after a really good talk. 

I felt somewhat better.

This has come from the stress of an estranged son and the fact that I cannot find work.

I have applied for at least 50 jobs in the past few months and still can’t get any work.

I desperately want to work, but cannot get employment. It is a huge issue in this town.

As some readers said, it's not what you know, it's who you know. In my experience, this really is true.

The jobs are advertised but a lot of the time, the positions are already filled.

Then they don't even bother letting you know. It all really gets too much at times. 

Lucky that some people do show they care.

Name withheld

Editor's note: If you, or someone you know, needs help phone Lifeline on 13 11 14.

OUR mothers start caring for us as soon as we’re conceived.

And there’s another special group of women who begin caring for us before we’re born, too – midwives.

On International Day of the Midwife on May 5, we ask all Australians to take a moment to reflect on this important profession and the remarkable women that likely assisted their entry into this world.

Midwives lead the way with quality care.

They are highly educated, highly skilled health professionals who work in partnership with women to give support, care and advice during pregnancy, labour and the postpartum period.

They are able to provide comprehensive care to healthy women and work collaboratively to provide midwifery care to women whose pregnancy requires medical input.

The World Health Organisation has identified that midwives are the key to achieving reductions in maternal and newborn deaths and disabilities.

Globally more than 340,000 women and almost three million infants die each year, as a result of preventable pregnancy and childbirth complications.

Most of these deaths would be prevented if there were enough qualified and adequately resourced midwives.

Well resourced maternity care is critical for pregnancy and birth, but it can also create a lifetime of good health and wellbeing. 

The Australian College of Midwives supports a continuity of care model where pregnant women receive care from the same midwife throughout their pregnancy, during labour and the postnatal period, advocating that every woman has a known midwife.

We know that women who receive that continuity of care are more likely to have a normal birth, breastfeed their babies and cost the health system less.

Their babies are more likely to be born healthy and at term.

Midwives lead the way, ensuring women and their newborns navigate pregnancy and childbirth safely.

Australian women who do not or cannot choose this model of care, suffer unnecessarily high rates of intervention. 

Show your support for Midwives this IDM and join a Walk with Midwives.

Walks all around the country are listed on the ACM website www.midwives.org.au with all proceeds from walk registration going to the Rhodanthe Lipsett Midwifery Charitable Fund which provides scholarships for Indigenous women to become midwives.

Terri Barret, president, Australian College of Midwives