“As your Aunty and as somebody who loves you, it's my responsibility to help you see that other way out. Sometimes it gets dark, butI can see light at the end of the tunnel where you may not.”

Aunty Marcia Ella-Duncan created history on the court when she became the first Aboriginal to represent Australia in netball. Today, she’s making a difference off the court by reaching out to the people she’s worried may be going through a tough time.

“One of the things about being a woman, a mother, and an Aunty is that I have really strong instincts around caring and protecting.”

“If someone in my family is in distress or under stress, then I listen to my inner mother and set her free,” she says.

If someone you know – a family member, someone from your community, a friend, neighbour or workmate – is doing it tough, they won’t always tell you. Sometimes it’s up to us to trust our gut instinct and ask someone who may be struggling with life “Are you OK?”.

That’s exactly what Aunty Marcia did for her nephew Jake when she saw the signs that he wasn’t himself and reached out.

“You’re normally very warm, very open, so sometimes it’s really obvious,” opens Marcia.

“You answer in monosyllable, don’t smile much. Probably start eating a long of the wrong food. And you don’t really engage in conversation.”

Agreeing with her, Jake nods and is noticeably grateful to have the care and support he does.

This caring nature has time and again gotten him through some of the hardest struggles in his life.

As a community we all need to be there for our loved ones and create a network around the person who’s going through a tough time. Having a network in place to provide support when it’s needed is something Marcia credits for helping Jake.

“Sometimes, more than one person needs to know that we’re struggling”

“We need to weave a net around you, and it takes more than one person to be able to do that. Sometimes, your issue’s so big it’s impossible for one person to hold all of that.”

As he begins to tear up, it’s impossible not to notice how thankful he is for the net that Marcia has created for him.

“Oh, God, I’m gonna start crying in a minute,” he says.

“It’s a relief when I talk to you, I know I can say what I need to. I’m not gonna lie to you.”

“You’re gonna peel me back, layer by layer pretty much.”

This prompts a laugh and a smile from them both.

Auntie Marcia adds, “Yes, my favourite onion. Sometimes, it is about being very honest. That honesty is not easy to hear.”

“Sometimes, we do need to say, ‘Hey, pull yourself together,’ because we know what you’re capable of.”

Let’s talk. We’re stronger together.

This video was produced for the Stronger Together campaign. Get behind the campaign at www.ruok.org.au/strongertogether