Page 20 - Demo

18 EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW FROM PAGE 17 Tell us a little bit about yourself and your sister, Sam Frost. My name is Kristine Ross, I’m a 34-year-old trained youth mentor and qualified fitness instructor. I’m currently completing my children’s yoga teacher training. I’m a mum of two daughters (Bridie and Olive) and I live on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland with my girls and husband. I come from a large family. I’m one of six children and I’m so proud to say that my gorgeous little sister is the incredible, most loved and admired Australian actor, Sam Frost. Our sisterhood is special. We share a very close bond. We’re also business partners and genuinely the best of friends. There’s no denying that over the past few years, Sam has gone through a public battle with depression and anxiety. It was definitely tough at times and as her sister, it was hard to witness. But it’s those experiences that have shaped her to become the strong and resilient woman she is today and I’m so proud of her for the strength she shows in speaking openly about her struggles, with the intention of helping others. What sparked the idea of creating the Believe by Sam Frost and Stronger by Believe platforms? Through Sam’s public mental health battles, she received a large amount of support and love from people who’ve reached out to her personally, via email and social media, to detail their own dark battles, with many of them asking for advice and guidance. It was the vulnerability in these stories that moved us so deeply, inspiring us to create Believe by Sam Frost. ‘Believe’ is a mental health initiative for young girls and women, focusing on depression, anxiety, toxic relationships and navigating the sometimes challenging world of social media. ‘Believe’ is a safe place where everyone’s invited, included and accepted. It’s a place where imperfections are celebrated. You’ll find uplifting stories of strength and resilience, with advice from psychologists and others who have walked a similar path. Soon after the launch of ‘Believe’, many parents had reached out to us, hoping for more support for their daughters. This then sparked us to create our sister site, Stronger by Believe. ‘Stronger’ offers practical, fun and supportive mentoring sessions, workshops, school talks and courses for preteen and teen girls across Australia. The programs have been designed to help girls learn the essential tools to boost confidence and self esteem; build inner strength, self belief and resilience; grow friendships, manage stress and improve their overall health and wellbeing. ‘Stronger’ is a safe space for young girls to feel heard and valued. What are your roles within each of these platforms? Both Sam and I are very hands on with the platforms. We workshop ideas for both sites and then seek to activate and develop the ideas we have for each. Sam is the content creator of ‘Believe’ and I’m in charge of the behind-the- scenes administration. With ‘Stronger’, I’m the content creator and workshop facilitator. When Sam’s schedule allows, she also attends the workshops. What are the aims of the platforms and who are they targetted at? ‘Believe’ is a sisterhood that shines some much needed light on mental health. It’s been designed for women from the age of 18 years. Our mission at ‘Stronger’ is to give the next generation of women the tools and confidence to face the world feeling stronger. Our ‘Stronger’ programs are designed for girls aged from eight to 17 years. On the Stronger by Believe platform, you have a section that’s all about self care. Why is self care important and how can we practice it daily? We believe self care is vital for your overall health and wellbeing. When you’ve taken steps to care for your mind and body, you become a better version of yourself. To help you get started, we’ve created a 21-day self-care challenge, gratitude journal and goal setting worksheet that you can download free from our ‘Stronger’ website. Self care can be as simple as taking a little walk in your neighbourhood, making a cup of tea and getting some fresh air, listening to your favourite song or writing down three things you’re grateful for. What’s your self care routine? My self-care routine has changed a little since COVID-19 as, like many people, I’m trying to balance working from home, study, home schooling, caring for my children around the clock and household chores. Squeezing in my daily self-care rituals can at times be difficult, but I do try to make it a priority every day, as I understand how important it is for my overall health and wellbeing. So, I wake up before the kids, to exercise. I either go for a run or a walk, or do some yoga or strength training. I like to find 10 minutes in my day for stillness. I usually do this after lunch when my two- year-old is sleeping and my six-year-old is occupied with schoolwork or reading. I drink plenty of water, at least 2-3lt a day. I like to burn essential oils. Lavender’s my favourite. I sometimes put a couple of drops on my pillow before I sleep, too. I like to practise positive affirmations. The easiest way I do this is, I write affirmations on my mirror in my bathroom, so every time I see them, I read them to myself. The affirmation on my mirror at the moment says, ‘I am strong, I am healthy. I can and I will get through this.’ Connecting with family and friends via email, phone, social media or FaceTime is essential at the moment. And just before bed, I like to either read or journal. Kristine, I understand you’re a trained youth mentor. What does this role involve and how has it helped you to create the ‘Believe’ platforms? Being a youth mentor has allowed me to facilitate supportive and nurturing workshops and one-on-one mentoring sessions for preteen and teen girls. I became a youth mentor as I’m so passionate about being a positive role model to the younger generation, and to be that person who I needed most when Kristine’s tips for maintaining mental health include: • Go for a walk outside. • Work in the garden. • Call a friend. • Listen to your favourite music. • Don’t be afraid to ask for support and guidance. Reach out to us through our ‘Believe’ platforms. RETAIL PHARMACY ASSISTANTS • MAY 2020