You don’t have to suffer in silence
It is so important to talk about issues which can affect our health and well-being but sometimes those issues can feel awkward or embarrassing to talk about.
However, talking about the tough stuff ensures that ourselves, and others, don’t have to suffer in silence and have access to the support and information needed.
Recently Morrinsville Community House was awarded funding to provide a project to support women from low-income families with alternatives to disposable sanitary items.
Part of the funding process involved presenting the project at a regional conference.
When people learnt I was going to be doing this, they would ask ‘‘won’t that be difficult?’’ or ‘‘how are you going to talk about that subject?’’.
When asked, I would respond with ‘‘sure, there are easier topics to present on but I have the opportunity to highlight an issue that affects many families in our community and I want to give them a voice’’.
There are many topics that as a society we find it difficult to talk about for various reasons.
Those reasons may include cultural or religious beliefs, family upbringing and traditions, generational expectations, or historical influences.
It is difficult to challenge a norm in society and talk about a taboo subject. If we do so in a way which makes people feel uncomfortable we will only create more barriers. However, if a topic is approached in a respectful and sensitive way it can open the doors for empowering discussions and effective solutions.
So whether it is reusable menstrual products, or prostate checks, mental well-being, sexual health, family violence, or any other tricky topic, it is important that we have those difficult discussions.
We then know where to access support so that no one feels they need to face something alone. I can certainly testify that the more you talk about an issue the easier it becomes.
For more information on our project providing reusable menstrual products please contact Roslyn Nancekivell at Morrinsville Community House on 889 5355 or at roz@mvch.org.nz.