A professional counsellor in Melbourne and father-of-four, Santino Atem Deng knows firsthand the stress of a Stage 4 lockdown.
He works from his home in the city's west where he lives with wife Aweeng and their children, aged from eight weeks to six years.
He also volunteers his time to buy groceries for isolated families and provide mental health support to those struggling during the coronavirus pandemic.
“Those who are really struggling are those for whom language is a major barrier, maybe cultural barrier, maybe lack of knowledge about service provision and lack of knowing where to access information,” he told SBS News.
Santino and Aweeng were both born in Sudan. He moved to Australia from New Zealand and she came from Canada.
Santino Atem Deng volunteers to help others impacted by the lockdown. Source: SBS/Abby Dinham
Santino is a member of the African Australian Family and Parenting Support Service, which is giving help to those struggling under the restrictions. Currently, almost 400 families have reached out seeking support.
One of the hardest aspects for newly established African communities, he says, is not being able to have visitors in your home.
“We came from a very collectivist culture and this collectivist culture means we draw support from one another and you give each other support as much as you can,” he said.
He says the restrictions also remove a mental health safety net at a time when the community needs it the most.
Federation of Ethnic Communities Councils of Australia CEO Mohammad Al-Khafaji says such hardships are faced by all of society but have been amplified for migrant communities, particularly for people who lack established networks of family and workplace support and don't qualify for welfare payments.
Santino Atem Deng with three of his four children. Source: SBS/Abby Dinham
“We know a lot of our communities have been excluded from JobKeeper, JobSeeker, and there are no jobs out there for those with work rights, so there is a lot of anxiety and stress for migrant communities at the moment,” he said.
Mental health helplines across the country have reported increases in calls in recent weeks. Lifeline has reported a 25 per cent jump in calls compared to last year’s figures, receiving a call every 30 seconds on average.
Mental health research group the Black Dog Institute estimates between 25 and 33 per cent of the community will experience high levels of stress during the pandemic, while research from the University of Sydney predicts a 14 per cent increase in suicides this year.
Victoria’s Department of Health and Human Services says over the past six weeks, the total number of self-harm emergency department presentations have increased by more than nine per cent compared to last year. For those aged under 18, the increase is 33 per cent.
Executive director of Youth Activating Youth Ahmed Hassan says many young people are experiencing unprecedented levels of stress but are hesitant to speak about it.
“Mental health is an added layer and it’s having a huge impact in our communities, it’s just we don’t speak about it and we don’t address it and give it the respect it deserves,” he said.
He says increased pressures around education and employment are adding to the stress.
Ahmed Hassan says young people are suffering. Source: SBS/Abby Dinham
“Many young people are worried and concerned, what does the future of their livelihoods look like? What’s the future of education? Higher education? What’s the future of employment going to be? A lot of young people are very concerned.”
Studies from youth mental health service Orygen Youth Health found young people who have migrated to Australia from African countries are up to 10 times more likely to develop a mental illness than their Australian-born counterparts due to experiences of early childhood trauma, loss and separation.
The service's Associate Professor Brian O'Donoghue says COVID-19 is reigniting some of those issues.
“During the pandemic, a number of these factors, particularly social isolation, has increased, so what we’re seeing now is that the factors causing these mental health disorders are being amplified particularly for these vulnerable groups, the migrant groups and CALD [culturally and linguistically diverse] populations.”
The Victorian government has added almost $60 million towards mental health programs in Victoria, with about half of the fund going to provide acute mental health beds in public hospitals.
Community mental health clinics will receive around $4.1 million, while $7 million will go to after-hours psychiatry services and $7 million to outreach programs.
HOPE, an organisation supporting people who have attempted suicide after they leave hospital, will also get a funding boost of more than $4 million.
Associate Professor O'Donoghue says some funds should go into supporting culturally appropriate programs devised by community leaders.
“These communities are very resourceful, often they develop their own solutions to these challenges and we need to work alongside the communities and have partnerships.”
Santino agrees community leaders need to be engaged to deliver key messages around mental health.
He says the idea that 'we’re all in this together' needs to be told, not translated.
“I know some information has been translated, but sometimes verbalising it is really more powerful.”
Readers seeking support can contact Lifeline crisis support on 13 11 14, Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467 and Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800 (for young people aged 5 to 25). More information is available at and . supports people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
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Metropolitan Melbourne residents are subject to Stage 4 restrictions and must comply with a curfew between the hours of 8pm and 5am. During the curfew, people in Melbourne can only leave their house for work, and essential health, care or safety reasons.
Between 5am and 8pm, people in Melbourne can leave the home for exercise, to shop for necessary goods and services, for work, for health care, or to care for a sick or elderly relative.
All Victorians must wear a face covering when they leave home, no matter where they live.
People in Australia must stay at least 1.5 metres away from others. Check your state’s restrictions on gathering limits.
If you are experiencing cold or flu symptoms, stay home and arrange a test by calling your doctor or contact the Coronavirus Health Information Hotline on 1800 020 080.
