They're celebrating the little things in life, things we all took for granted pre-pandemic.

We almost didn't get there however, with lockdown and anti-vax protestors calling for an end to the public health measures that kept millions safe.

Under the guise of mental health they called for an end to lockdowns, championing a cause that whilst not baseless, was weaponised for an anti-public health agenda.

This period we are all living through is not enjoyable, placing millions of Australians in varying levels of mental duress. However, by pitching themselves to the banner of mental health anti-lockdown protestors have inadvertently pitted mental health against our struggle with the pandemic.

In 2020, suicide was the 15th leading cause of death nationwide. The age standardised suicide rate was 12.1 per 100,00 people, the lowest recorded since 2016.

Lifeline's (13 11 14) statistics indicate a rise in calls for mental health support from 2019 to 2020, death by COVID-19 would have been astronomically higher, in the hundreds of thousands potentially if restrictions had not been used.

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Mental health is not a matter of agenda, and whilst there are real repercussions of lockdowns, pandemic stress and isolation are not tools to be weaponised. Instead focus on recovery, on accessible mental health support services for those in need.

Just last month, the Murrumbidgee Local Health District opened a 'Safe Haven' in Griffith as an alternative to an emergency department, offering people a place to unwind and seek support. GROW have continued to operate peer to peer support groups. Guy Sebastian started running his 'Open Parachutes' mental health program in schools and Big Brothers Big Sisters Australia are looking to expand to the region.

The Griffith Suicide Prevention and Support Group (1300 133 911) also operates a 24 hour telephone crisis line and offers counselling, advice and referral support for community members who are lonely, depressed or affected by suicide.

Mental health is far more than a political football to be kicked - it requires sincere efforts by decision makers and the community to address the issue in our community.