09/10/2026
Tomorrow is World Mental Health Day.
We spoke with our Pastor and CEO, Jon Owen, about his personal journey and why connection can make all the difference.
"Anxiety and depression. These were labels that I thought didn't apply to me. It's through my time at Wayside, and with friends who have been open and honest about sharing their struggles, that I have had to realise that I could hear my own story being reflected in theirs. Seeing the way they were able to speak about it, normalise it, not talk about it as a sign of weakness, encouraged me to go on my own personal journey.
I work with a therapist for anxiety, we have explored mental health, depression and - as I discovered which would surprise none of you - ADHD. Itās through the community around me and the connection I've received, that I've been able to go on my journey. So, when I see the frontline, I know the great work we should all be doing.
Many people that come through our doors are struggling with so many diagnoses, anxiety, depression, trauma and a whole lot of other dissociative disorders. It is the slow and gentle work of connection that enables us to be able to place more care around people as they go from where they are, to a better future with hope.
So, I want to encourage you to continue to support others as they support people who are struggling, but also to have the courage to connect.
One of the keys for my journey was a friend who was able to call me out on some of my behaviours that I just thought were normal. However, they were deeply rooted in the workings of my anxiety that was not being treated. He took a big risk in our relationship doing that and we'll be brothers for life. I really value his courage, but it could have gone either way and at some times, it does.
Thank you for reading this. Our mental health is an important part to fully accept our membership in the family of humanity."
