The family of a police officer, who tragically succumbed to the pressures of his work and took his own life, have led a campaign to create a limited-edition beer designed to encourage discussion about mental health.
The simply-named “Low Carb Larger”, brewed by the Sunshine Coast’s Your Mates Brewery, has been launched as a tribute to the late Det Snr Constable Russell Sheehan, who passed away almost seven years ago.
His wife Kathy Sheehan, two of his daughters, Kaitlyn Pobar and Amy Sheehan, and Amy’s partner Stephen Parr were present to assist with the launch.
“Dad died on 23 December 2015, two days before Christmas – it was a pretty awful time for us all, and I guess, since that day, as a family, we’ve been working to turn our pain into a passion and a purpose,” Amy Sheehan said.
The tribute beer campaign is being run in conjunction with Blue Hope, a not-for-profit service that supports police dealing with mental health challenges. Founder of the support service, Det Sgt Andrew Ayres, also attended the launch.
“There’s a message on the back of the can that says the beer is a tribute to Det Snr Const Russell Sheehan and all of his colleagues around the country who help keep us safe – and the message is simple, you know, starting a conversation with a mate over a beer could change a life, and it’s as simple as that,” Ms Sheehan said.
“We’re not saying alcohol solves mental health problems, what we’re saying is taking the time to just sit down and maybe have a debrief, maybe have a really open honest conversation with your mates, it could spark something bigger.”
Snr Const Sheehan had spent 32 years as a police officer, a time that saw him endure many difficulties and challenges on the job, pressures that eventually became unbearable.
“It’s a little insight into their job when you have uniformed officers arrive on your doorstep to tell you a loved one has died, and that was the day my sisters and I will never forget, but, ironically, that’s something my dad did, 100 times over, with other families – that’s part of the job, and that’s only a small part of his trauma,” Ms Sheehan explained.
“He was the first responder to the Childers backpackers fire, back in 2002, and I can only imagine what greeted him that night when he took that call.
“They’re just two things in what would be hundreds of little things that would stay with him and would haunt him, and we knew that he was haunted by things because he did tell us.”
The limited edition “Low Carb Larger” will be on sale at the ‘Meats for Mates’ function (tickets all sold out) at the Your Mates Brewery, Warana, on Friday, October 21. A limited run of 150 cartons and eight kegs of the beer (almost sold out) has been made available. Fifty cents from every schooner and tinny of the tribute beer sold will be donated to Blue Hope, with a goal of raising $25,000 for support services.
The event will focus on the importance of mateship, men’s mental health support and awareness.
“Dad was diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder about six months before he passed, but, looking back, the signs and symptoms were there a long time before that,” Ms Sheehan noted.
“I guess he just did well at hiding it, we just put it down to dad’s quirks, but I think internally he was battling some pretty big demons and, being the male of the family – with four daughters and a wife – he was always our strength, and I think he just tried to keep that going even though he needed strength from us.
“He felt at times that he was a burden; he was seeking support – he was seeing a psychologist and he was doing all the right things – I think it had just got to a point where he felt he was never going to get any better, but his death still came as a huge shock to us.
“After he died, people would say, ‘I’d never have thought that could happen to Russell, he was always so positive and bright and always had words of wisdom for everyone, and he had a laugh that would make other people laugh’.
“He was such a good colleague, a mate, a father … and it took everyone by surprise.”
Ms Sheehan and her family hope the discussions facilitated by having a beer with a mate will help prevent other tragic deaths.
“There are many people out there who are struggling and who aren’t speaking up, who are facing demons, and we just want them to know that there is help available, and things can get better.”
For information and support for police, contact Blue Hope online or phone the assist line: 1300 00 2583.
If you are experiencing an emergency or someone is in immediate danger, call 000. If you or anyone you know needs support, call Lifeline on 13 11 14, Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800 or visit Lifeline.org.au
