Posting to her 675,000 followers, the Dance Monkey hit maker took aim at the NSW Government for putting people “into a position of huge pain and suffering”, claiming “there has not been enough conversation around mental health and suicide” as the state grapples with the spread of the highly-infectious Delta variant.Declaring Australia “f***ed right now”, the artist then directly addressed small business owners in her caption, urging fans to reach out so she can help get 10 struggling Aussies get back on their feet with promotion and “$5000 cash”.While her passionate message garnered plenty of praise from followers, others slammed what one person called an “inflammatory, uneducated” stance.RELATED: Follow our live coronavirus updates hereAccording to Lifeline, nine Australians die every day by suicide. In Australia, there have been 940 deaths from covid, with 4.3 million worldwide.The World Health Organisation reports more than 700,000 people die by suicide worldwide each year.“Everyone is loosing everything, small business’s have gone under, people are locked away from friends and family, walking on the beach is becoming voodoo (sic),” the singer went on to write in her series of posts.“You have created a situation where people are staying in doors (trying to do the right thing) but it’s gone on for so long that we have forgotten what “life” we are even fighting for!” she concluded in the message.In her caption, Tones and I, whose real name is Toni Watson, offered assistance to small business owners affected by the lockdown.“If ya don’t work at Woolies/Uber eats r have a government funded job ya f***ed,” she said.“It’s so hard to watch so many people suffering, it’s getting to a point where nobody can see a way out. I try and share love always. But I just don’t know what to do to help my fans or friends or just fellow aussies feel OK,” she continued, adding: “It’s really up to aussies to help out aussies!“Im only one person but if you know small business either you or your family or friends that are really on the verge of giving up please send me a DM! Im gonna try and help out 10 small businesses. With promotion/ $5000 cash and just some f***ing hope geeze!“Keep going and your mental health is so important and you are so worthy!” she signed off.RELATED: Tones and I reveals shock plan to quitIn the comments, a number of fans applauded her strong message, but others labelled her “anti-lockdown” and urged her to use her platform to educate followers on getting vaccinated.“This post is inflammatory, uneducated and could do serious damage. Push people towards fringe movements that will only continue to hold us in lockdown. Why don’t you ask your platform to get vaccinated?! Or make sure they stay at home?” one wrote.“Things might be f***ed but this message ain’t it,” another simply said.RELATED: Rebel Wilson blasted: ‘Smug and stupid’Meanwhile, singer Tina Arena chimed in: “Well said darling! Feeling helpless for everyone. We have to remember that it’s super important now who we vote for as our leaders … cause no ones showing any real leadership in this situation now. “Zero cases is f***ing unrealistic … we in the arts cannot work unless we’re vaccinated. Now, do I really want a needle? No, but I’d much rather not catch the virus, nor would I want to infect others. I want all of us to be able to work and have a purpose … cause that’s what life’s about! Keep up your wonderful work. Tx”Last week, Lifeline recorded its busiest day ever, linking the volume of calls to hardship and loneliness in lockdown.The support service had 3,345 calls on Monday, August 3, which is the highest daily number in the organisation’s history. Suicide Prevention Australia, CEO, Nieves Murray said lockdowns had raised tensions.“The recent lockdowns have significantly shifted the social and economic landscape in Australia and will exacerbate the risk factors that are clearly linked to distress such as economic hardship, employment, relationship breakdown and loneliness, particularly for young people.”NED-4311-Cost-of-lockdownsIt comes as the vast majority of NSW is now in lockdown, with residents of Greater Sydney, Tamworth, Armidale and Byron Bay subject to stay at home orders.That’s around 6.5 million people, or about 80 per cent of the state.And with cases continuing to climb, there are fears further regions could be locked down in the days ahead.Vaccinating against Covid-19 is the only way for Australians to get their normal lives back, but as a nation we’re struggling.News.com.au’s Our Best Shot campaign answers your questions about the Covid-19 vaccine rollout.It’s fair to say the vaccine rollout has confused Australians. We’ll cut through the spin and give you clear information so you can make an informed decision.NED-3025-Our-Best-Shot-LogoToday, Burnett Institute CEO Brendan Crabb told ABC News Breakfast NSW residents will likely be stuck in their state until at least Christmas.He said it was “pretty likely” NSW would be shut off from other states and territories for months to come as a result of the state’s outbreak.“If the rest of Australia stays with the national policy of zero Covid, there is no option, but to shut themselves off as best they can,” he said.“There is just every likelihood that this is going to continue until the best part of Christmas in this sort of on-off lockdown or lockdown for different regions at different levels.”NED-4200-Australias-vaccine-rolloutNSW residents are anxiously awaiting NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian’s 11am presser as the Delta strain continues to wreak havoc across the state.Yesterday, 283 new cases were recorded and one new death, bringing the death toll for the current outbreak to 29.Meanwhile, Australia’s vaccine rollout is looking to improve after Australia’s medicines regulator, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), announced it had granted provisional approval to the Covid-19 vaccine for Australians aged 18 and over.Australia has ordered a total of 25 million doses of the jab with at least 10 million expected by Christmas.Mental health support
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