volume 7 number 32 5 September 2026
salvosonline.org.au print post approved PP100001474
R U OK? DAY
YOU DON’T NEED ALL THE ANSWERS Supporting each other in life’s tough times
7 Remembering Alex
10 A cry for help
12 Another chance at life
A mother’s journey through love, loss and legacy
From deep despair to complete trust
Healing and peace after trauma and addiction
“Be kind. For everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about.”
– Ian Maclaren
PHOTO BY JACK BRIND ON UNSPLASH
5 September 2026
Editorial What is The Salvation Army? The Salvation Army, an international movement, is an evangelical part of the universal Christian Church. Vision Statement Wherever there is hardship or injustice, Salvos will live, love and fight alongside others to transform Australia one life at a time with the love of Jesus. Mission Statement The Salvation Army is a Christian movement dedicated to sharing the love of Jesus by: • Caring for people • Creating faith pathways • Building healthy communities • Working for justice The Salvation Army Australia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land on which we meet and work and pay our respect to Elders, past, present, and future. We value and include people of all cultures, languages, abilities, sexual orientations, gender identities, gender expressions, and intersex status. We are committed to providing programs that are fully inclusive. We are committed to the safety and wellbeing of people of all ages, particularly children.
Scan here to connect with The Salvation Army services
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Founders: William and Catherine Booth Salvation Army World Leaders: General Lyndon and Commissioner Bronwyn Buckingham Territorial Leader: Commissioner Miriam Gluyas Secretary for Communications and Editor-In-Chief: Lieut-Colonel Paul Hateley Publications Manager: Cheryl Tinker Editor: Simone Worthing Graphic Designer: Ryan Harrison Enquiry email: publications@salvationarmy.org.au All other Salvation Army enquiries 13 72 58 Press date: 14 August 2026 Printed and published for The Salvation Army by Commissioner Miriam Gluyas at Focus Print Group, Chester Hill, NSW, Darug Nation lands.
Community “The love and support I received held me through an ongoing struggle I feared would overwhelm me.” “Just having people check in on me and knowing I mattered to someone changed my life.” “Having a place where I am welcomed and belong gives me new purpose and hope.” Genuine connection, unconditional love and ongoing support are essential in helping people through some of life’s toughest moments. As inherently social beings, we need each other – to celebrate the good times and to find support during the heartbreaking seasons in our lives. In this edition, we explore some deeply challenging and complex topics – mental health, addiction, suicide, grief and loss. These issues have no simple solutions or quick fixes. However, each of us can do our part by checking in on those around us, letting them know they are not alone, ensuring they get the support they need and offering to be there for them. The evidence shows this can make all the difference. To read more on these topics and access Salvation Army services, go to salvosonline. org.au or salvationarmy.org.au Simone Worthing Editor 3
Feature
Salvos Magazine
R U OK? DAY
Helping each other process, and get support, through struggles with mental health This year, R U OK? Day falls on Thursday 10 September. This day reminds us that it’s okay to say you are not okay. Each year on R U OK? Day, we are encouraged to check in on those around us who might be struggling in life. We don’t need to be an expert in mental health to reach out to others; we just need to listen. We all have moments in life when we need to lean on others. Almost half (42.9%) of Australians have, or will, experience a mental health disorder in their lifetime. Although this is so prevalent in our community, it can be hard to talk about. Around 70% of young people aged 12-25 do not ask for help when experiencing a difficult time; however, a corresponding 70% are willing to engage in meaningful conversations with a close friend. At a glance • 75% of all deaths by suicide are male (2024) •
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Two in five Australians have experienced a mental health disorder (ages 16-85) One in seven children and adolescents have experienced a mental illness (ages 4-17) in the previous 12 months, with males more likely than females to have experienced mental disorders in the 12 months prior to the survey
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Anxiety has been the most common mental disorder, with 17.2% of Australians experiencing it from 2020-22 (ages 16-85).
How can we help? As people who care about our family, friends and neighbours, how can we make a conversation about mental ill health easier? Talking about our own experiences of mental health and hearing the experiences of others who are journeying through their own struggles can normalise mental health issues and encourage healthy behaviours, like seeking help. What to do after you ask R U OK? • Listen without interrupting •
Offer to help them find a professional
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Keep checking in to see how they’re going.
We can also: • Have intentional and deep conversations with each other •
Invite people over for dinner; show hospitality
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Keep a list of appropriate referrals to share
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Send encouraging messages
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Make space for them – spend time doing something they love
Feature
5 September 2026
The mission of R U OK? Day is to inspire people to meaningfully connect with those around them and offer support. •
Even if your invitations are rejected, continue to stay connected.
The mission of R U OK? Day is to inspire people to meaningfully connect with those around them and offer support. It might feel overwhelming asking someone how they are doing when you’ve noticed they are not quite themselves. You might not feel equipped to have a conversation about mental health, or not know what to do or say next. Most people just want someone to listen to them, so you don’t need to have all the answers. But it can help to know where to point someone if they are experiencing mental ill health. Where to find help • Your local GP •
Psychologists or counsellors
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Lifeline 13 11 14
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Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636
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Suicide Call Back Service 1300 659 467
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MensLine Australia 1300 78 99 78
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Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800
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13 Yarn 13 92 76
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Q Life 1800 184 537
We can have the confidence to check in on our friends, family members, partners and colleagues, not just on R U OK? Day, but any day of the year. 5
Salvos Magazine
SHARE EACH OTHER’S TROUBLES & PROBLEMS, AND SO OBEY OUR LORD’S COMMAND. GALATIANS CHAPTER 6, VERSE 2 THE LIVING BIBLE
R U OK? DAY
WORLD SUICIDE PREVENTION DAY 10 SEPTEMBER 2026 6
PHOTO BY ADRIAN ‘ROSCO’ STEF ON UNSPLASH
5 September 2026
Feature
Remembering Alex A mother’s journey through love, loss and legacy by Lerisse Smith
Content Warning: This story contains themes of suicide and emotional distress that may be triggering for some readers.
Gai with her precious son, Alex, and a Psalm that is special in so many ways.
When Queen Elizabeth II famously remarked, “Grief is the price we pay for love”, the words resonated around the world. For Major Gai Cathcart, Salvation Army officer (pastor), that sentiment became deeply personal when her beloved son, Alex, died by suicide at the age of 22. In the aftermath, grief was all-consuming. “Alex was very creative, very intelligent,” Gai says, adding her son was a talented drummer who loved to cook. “Almost anything he put his hand to he was good at … He loved to make people laugh. He liked being the life of the party. He was very affectionate and we said ‘we love you’ every day. He was fiercely loyal to people who he knew would have
his back. He loved hanging out with his mates. If he didn’t have any, he would go and find some.” Yet alongside that vitality sat another reality – one that would eventually prove impossible to outrun. “His struggle with anxiety and mental health issues stole the joy of life from time to time and he thought we’d be better off without him,” Gai reflects. “He wasn’t in a place where he could sit long enough at, for example, a psychologist’s office or something like that to get the help he needed.” There were moments, too, when he spoke openly about the topic. In one conversation, about two years before he 7
Feature died, Alex stood in front of his mum, tears in his eyes, expressing his desire to end his life but not wanting to do so because he knew how much it would hurt her. For a time, that connection held him. But poor mental health, Gai says, has its own momentum: “It went downhill so quickly that eventually he couldn’t reason himself out of it anymore.” A devastating loss On 11 November 2017, Alex took his life. His passing devastated her world, along with her husband, Peer, and their three other children, who all loved Alex dearly. “It’s like nothing I’ve ever experienced before in my life,” she says. “The deep, deep pain. It just takes over your whole body; the noises that come out of your mouth from deep within you are uncontrollable … People would often say, ‘I can’t even imagine it’. And I would say, ‘That’s exactly right. You cannot imagine this kind of pain until you actually go through it.’ Even then, it’s still incredibly difficult to understand and explain and reconcile with.” When reflecting on the legacy she hopes her deeply personal story creates for others, Gai says it is one of willingness to have open conversations, particularly about death and suicide – a subject not talked about enough – as well as grief, which is not only attached to death.
Salvos Magazine
In the months after Alex’s passing, another reality emerged – the language of grief spoken by others. “All the clichés and sayings come out of the woodwork,” Gai recalls. “People tell you what you should be doing, saying and feeling … to just get over it. But you never get over it … there is never any closure. But your life does get bigger around it.” Community Community became a lifeline. Their house was filled with people who came, stayed and sat with them in their grief. And inevitably, life continued. At the time, their corps (church), which they loved like family, enveloped them with love and support after they bravely shared the news with their congregation. A few months later, another poignant moment arrived. Gai and her husband moved to Adelaide to start work with The Salvation Army’s Red Shield Defence Services. When they shared their story and vulnerability, a military leader told them, “You may have lost one son, but you’ve just inherited 680 more.” “What a beautiful thing to say,” Gai reflects. “God knew that I still had so much love to give. I wasn’t cut off from being able to love my son anymore. It’s given me a greater capacity to love.
“Grieving is not a dirty word – it’s a healthy process,” she says.
“In grief and loss, we all have a choice. You can either fade into the shadows and let that overwhelm you. Or you can make the life that you’ve lost worth something.
“And we all do it, whether we admit it or not. If we can name it, own it and talk about it, then we’re going to experience it in a healthier way.”
“One piece of advice from a coroner’s officer was: don’t be afraid to talk about their life. Alex is real. He existed. He still exists in my heart. Instead of saying
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Feature
5 September 2026
A beautiful memory captured in time ... Alex with his dad, Peer, and mum, Gai. Alex was a talented drummer and loved his mates.
‘I am so sorry for your loss’, I would rather people come and say, ‘Talk to me about Alex. What was he like?’” One key learning has been the importance of suicide awareness – to talk about it and encourage honest discussion about the consequences, even if it may not change the outcome. “Loss is loss. It hurts. It’s painful,” Gai emphasises. “I used to think that suicide was one of the most selfish decisions anybody could ever make ... but I believe my son was thinking that he was doing something completely selfless … that is, he would no longer be a burden to his parents.” Anchor of support Asked what has carried her through the years since Alex’s passing, Gai doesn’t hesitate: “My faith”. It has been her anchor. “What sustains me is my faith in God,” she emphasised. “My relationship with God. That’s the only way I survive.” Five years before Alex’s death, there was a moment of spiritual surrender. Gai
describes what she calls ‘releasing him to God’ due to his poor mental health. “I just had to trust God with him and know that for as long as I’ve got him, I will love and protect him and do my best with him,” she remarks. “So, when Alex died, I knew without a shadow of a doubt that he was in the arms of God. And that’s the only thing that gets me through ... that God saved him, and God saves me.” One special Psalm, read at Alex’s funeral – which Gai describes as the best funeral she has ever been to with more than 250 people in attendance, and organised by the family with help from Salvos Funerals – is Psalm 13 (see next page). “It says to me that even in the depths of my despair, when I am tempted to think that God has abandoned me,” Gai reflects, “he holds me with his unfailing love.” If you or anyone you know is struggling with poor mental health issues, please seek support and call your trusted healthcare professional. Or, call Lifeline on 13 11 14, Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636, or Suicide Call Back Service - 1300 659 467. 9
Salvos Magazine
A cry for help From deep despair to complete trust
O Lord, how long will you forget me? Forever? How long will you look the other way? How long must I struggle with anguish in my soul, with sorrow in my heart every day? How long will my enemy have the upper hand? Turn and answer me, O Lord my God! Restore the sparkle to my eyes, or I will die. Don’t let my enemies gloat, saying, “We have defeated him!” Don’t let them rejoice at my downfall. But I trust in your unfailing love. I will rejoice because you have rescued me. I will sing to the Lord because he is good to me. Psalm 13 This Psalm is close to Gai’s heart and was read at Alex’s funeral (see feature pages 7-9)
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5 September 2026
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My Story
Salvos Magazine
Another chance at life Healing and peace after trauma and addiction by Adam
Content Warning: This story contains themes of suicide and emotional distress that may be triggering for some readers.
I started roofing in Sydney when I was about 20 years old. We had a crane come down on us. I jumped off the roof, and the crane laid exactly down the line where I was running. I could have ended up with a disability or in a life-threatening situation, but through that, I developed PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). I medicated pretty heavily. I had a pretty pessimistic outlook on life. The glass was always half empty – or whatever it was. You don’t realise those things are impacting you so much. It is really hard to walk through the world. Depression and those negative feelings lead to thoughts that you would be better off not here. Suicidal thoughts are a terrible thing, you know? You look at what you have given your family; you look at what you have taken away from your family. Dealing with that for extended periods and not talking to people about it is something that has probably taken a toll on me and my family that I didn’t realise. My drinking got to a point where I was drinking in the mornings – and I had a job. My boss told me that it wasn’t good enough. But I was so lucky – my boss took me to an AA (Alcoholics Anonymous) meeting that night.
Support helped Adam turn his life around. 12
When you walk into AA, it says on the wall, “Admit that you can’t do this
My Story
5 September 2026
The support of Robbie (left) was pivotal to Adam’s recovery and new life.
yourself anymore.” The second thing is, “Admit that you need God in your life.” Having that written there I thought, “Well, now is my chance.” Supportive community I met Robbie pretty early on. I sort of reached out to him and said, “Where do I go?” And Robbie had been coming to The Salvation Army church and he said, “Come with me,” and we spent a lot of Sundays together. That was pivotal in what I am doing now. I believe that I was brought here for a reason. I came into the church and I was lucky. There are just so many lovely people here. It is the community as well as the church. One of the members prayed for me and I think it was in that time that my PTSD was healed, and I felt like I belonged. Walking close to the Lord has helped me use my heart more – through worshipping on my own and connecting and drawing the Lord close enough so that he could literally heal me. When I start to fathom how much healing, how much glory there is, it’s enough for everyone – that’s how it’s written. It is never-ending.
Real change One day after church, I was at home and had an opportunity to see my kids. My littlest boy was there and he was eight. And he looked at me in a way that he had never looked at me before in his whole life. That was because I was talking to him differently. I was really lucky to have that moment and to see what could happen if I just keep doing the right things and keep walking in the light. That was something that was pretty amazing. I am going through a bit of a hard season now, with work and things. I think all I can do is move forward positively, but I really look forward to a future where I can see my kids and watch my boys grow up. So, I really look forward to these next years of living a calm, peaceful life.
Scan here to watch Adam tell his story.
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Taste of Life
🍳
Salami pasta
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Salvos Magazine
Quiz
1. What was the colour of the brick road Dorothy followed in The Wonderful Wizard of Oz?
Ingredients 500g pasta; 1 tbsp olive oil; 350g salami, thinly sliced; 250g grape tomatoes; 100g cheddar cheese, grated; ¾ cup parsley, chopped. Method Cook pasta according to the directions on the packet. Heat oil in frypan over medium heat. Add salami and cook for 4 minutes. Add tomatoes, cook for 2 minutes while stirring. Drain pasta, return to saucepan and add salami/tomatoes, cheese and parsley. Mix well and serve hot.
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3. In what year was Stephen Hawking’s book, A Brief History of Time, published? 4. Who wrote The Picture of Dorian Gray? 5. Which Dickens character says, “Please Sir, I want some more”?
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Tum-Tum
Believe in Good: Tips
8 September is Pardon Day. This is a day to receive and give forgiveness, put aside your prejudices and be kind to everyone, forgiving those who may have hurt you. 14
2. How many detective novels did Agatha Christie release?
On which page of this week’s Salvos Magazine is Tum-Tum hiding?
Take Five
6 September 1522 The Spanish ship, Victoria, commanded by Ferdinand Magellan, became the first ship to circumnavigate the world. 8 September 1966 Star Trek makes its television debut. Created by Gene Roddenberry, the show is about the adventures of the crew of the starship USS Enterprise. 10 September 2014 The first Invictus Games is held at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, London, bringing together wounded armed forces personnel and veterans from around the world who compete in athletic competitions. Three hundred competitors from 13 countries took part.
Fill in the grid so that every row, every column and every 3x3 box contains the digits 1 to 9.
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Have a laugh
Why was the belt arrested? Why don’t eggs tell each other jokes?
What do you call a bee that can’t make up its mind?
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A drizzly bear.
What do you call a bear in the rain?
A maybe.
Answers
Because they crack up.
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🧩
Sudoku 2026 Puzzle #7
It was holding up a pair of pants.
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On this day
5 September 2026
Bible byte
“If your heart is broken, you’ll find God right there; if you’re kicked in the gut, he’ll help you catch your breath.” Psalm 34, verse 18, The Message
Tum-Tum: is hiding behind the dog on page 2.
Quiz: 1. Yellow 2. 66 3. 1988 4. Oscar Wilde 5. Oliver Twist 9
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2026 Puzzle #7
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2026 COMMISSIONING Ordination, Commissioning and Sending Out
THE
PROCLAIMERS OF Please mark your calendars for this significant occasion as we celebrate the Ordination, Commissioning and Sending Out of our Cadets and Auxiliary Lieutenants.
SAVE THE DATE 22 NOVEMBER THE KING’S SCHOOL FUTTER HALL 87-129 PENNANT HILLS ROAD, NORTH PARRAMATTA, NSW
The event will be available to stream online
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! 2 CORINTHIANS 5:17