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Today I sit down with Jacob Little to have a yarn and share some knowledge about resilience and how he managed his mental health in prison.
A bit about Jacob: Jacobs’s dad went to prison when he was just 10 and he soon followed a similar path. At 17, Jacob entered the prison system, and was looking at a 20 year sentence under the VLAD laws (Vicious Lawless Association Disestablishment Law), an unprecedented mandatory sentencing scheme in Queensland aimed at those associated with gangs. These experiences and more, motivated him to use his compensation money from institutional child abuse to start About Time for Justice, an organisation which helps survivors seek justice and start healing.
Jacob: Growing up in housing commission in Newcastle, also known as “the Zoo” was an environment that normalised crime and gangs as well as domestic violence. Most of the mums and dads (and even some of the kids) were drug dealers. They were in jail, on Centrelink and using. I remember there was a public toilet in there that was all smashed up and full of needles. I had started visiting jail to visit my dad who had just kicked off his sentence.
I use these experiences to turn a negative into a positive, by telling myself that if I can get through that I can get through anything.
For example, on the weekend I ran my second Gold Coast marathon and got a personal best. The one thing that kept me going in the tough times and all of the jail sentences was being able to see the light at the end of the tunnel, no matter how dark it may seem.
Jacob:
Running and staying active have been game-changers for my mental health.
Completing marathons gives me a sense of accomplishment and shows me that I can set and achieve goals. It also helps reduce stress and improve my mood, making me more able to cope in challenging situations. It’s a healthy way to deal with stress instead of resorting to past unhealthy coping mechanisms which are only ever short-term fixes.
Jacob:
Routine was key. I stayed active, kept my mind busy, and set small, achievable goals.
Writing letters to friends, family, and even myself helped me to process my thoughts and emotions. I got through it by reading and educating myself, which kept my mind going and gave me a sense of purpose.
Jacob: When I was in solitary I felt like there was no help at all. I had to support myself. Training and talking to myself, out loud and in my head, and saying ‘this can’t break me’. Even though I was scared and lonely at times and kept thinking that my life was going to be like my Dad’s, I got through it by telling myself that there was light at the end of the tunnel. My Dad wrote to me consistently, which helped. I was lucky that I got to speak to my family once a day and I had one boxy (a box visit) per week.
Jacob: I have a really strong network of friends and family at the moment and attribute that to my wins on the outside. It is important to maintain connections as it’s a big part of the puzzle.
Surround yourself with people that are good for you, who want the best for you and who want to see you do well.
They’ve kept me motivated and on track. It’s important to both have mentors and be mentors. Nobody who reached out to me when I was younger had lived experience, but I know that if they had, I would have listened to them. I would have listened to someone who had been in those dark lonely watchhouses, putrid cells and been treated like we do. If I had someone like that, I would have known that there is a life outside of this and that our stories matter. That is why I encourage you to get out there and tell your story.
Jacob: Reach out to one of the boys that you trust. Someone who understands and knows how you are feeling, and have a yarn.
Know that you aren’t alone in your experiences and the more we share the less alone we will feel.
Journal how you're feeling, write it, get it out.
Jacob: My father and I are both survivors of institutionalised childhood abuse and know the impacts that has on you as a kid and later in life. I want to help as many people as possible to start their healing journey. I’m setting up programs using the things my Dad and I used when we got out. We know one size does not fit all but we have put together a bit of a framework on what we know works. We have stopped going to jail after being heavily involved in drugs, alcohol and gangs and we want to share this knowledge with others.
Jacob: Focus on the present and take it one day at a time.
Find something that gives you purpose, whether it’s education, or physical fitness.
Stay connected with your loved ones as much as possible and build a support system, even if it’s just a few people.
Creating a simple power list and executing that every day will help you create a healthy routine so that you can get a win everyday. This daily routine is something you can carry with you anywhere you go, and when you get out.
Your story matters, you matter and you have the power to change your future.
Every day is a new opportunity. Stay strong, stay focused, and never stop believing in yourself.
Today I sit down with Jacob Little to have a yarn and share some knowledge about resilience and how he managed his mental health in prison.
A bit about Jacob: Jacobs’s dad went to prison when he was just 10 and he soon followed a similar path. At 17, Jacob entered the prison system, and was looking at a 20 year sentence under the VLAD laws (Vicious Lawless Association Disestablishment Law), an unprecedented mandatory sentencing scheme in Queensland aimed at those associated with gangs. These experiences and more, motivated him to use his compensation money from institutional child abuse to start About Time for Justice, an organisation which helps survivors seek justice and start healing.
Jacob: Growing up in housing commission in Newcastle, also known as “the Zoo” was an environment that normalised crime and gangs as well as domestic violence. Most of the mums and dads (and even some of the kids) were drug dealers. They were in jail, on Centrelink and using. I remember there was a public toilet in there that was all smashed up and full of needles. I had started visiting jail to visit my dad who had just kicked off his sentence.
I use these experiences to turn a negative into a positive, by telling myself that if I can get through that I can get through anything.
For example, on the weekend I ran my second Gold Coast marathon and got a personal best. The one thing that kept me going in the tough times and all of the jail sentences was being able to see the light at the end of the tunnel, no matter how dark it may seem.
Jacob:
Running and staying active have been game-changers for my mental health.
Completing marathons gives me a sense of accomplishment and shows me that I can set and achieve goals. It also helps reduce stress and improve my mood, making me more able to cope in challenging situations. It’s a healthy way to deal with stress instead of resorting to past unhealthy coping mechanisms which are only ever short-term fixes.
Jacob:
Routine was key. I stayed active, kept my mind busy, and set small, achievable goals.
Writing letters to friends, family, and even myself helped me to process my thoughts and emotions. I got through it by reading and educating myself, which kept my mind going and gave me a sense of purpose.
Jacob: When I was in solitary I felt like there was no help at all. I had to support myself. Training and talking to myself, out loud and in my head, and saying ‘this can’t break me’. Even though I was scared and lonely at times and kept thinking that my life was going to be like my Dad’s, I got through it by telling myself that there was light at the end of the tunnel. My Dad wrote to me consistently, which helped. I was lucky that I got to speak to my family once a day and I had one boxy (a box visit) per week.
Jacob: I have a really strong network of friends and family at the moment and attribute that to my wins on the outside. It is important to maintain connections as it’s a big part of the puzzle.
Surround yourself with people that are good for you, who want the best for you and who want to see you do well.
They’ve kept me motivated and on track. It’s important to both have mentors and be mentors. Nobody who reached out to me when I was younger had lived experience, but I know that if they had, I would have listened to them. I would have listened to someone who had been in those dark lonely watchhouses, putrid cells and been treated like we do. If I had someone like that, I would have known that there is a life outside of this and that our stories matter. That is why I encourage you to get out there and tell your story.
Jacob: Reach out to one of the boys that you trust. Someone who understands and knows how you are feeling, and have a yarn.
Know that you aren’t alone in your experiences and the more we share the less alone we will feel.
Journal how you're feeling, write it, get it out.
Jacob: My father and I are both survivors of institutionalised childhood abuse and know the impacts that has on you as a kid and later in life. I want to help as many people as possible to start their healing journey. I’m setting up programs using the things my Dad and I used when we got out. We know one size does not fit all but we have put together a bit of a framework on what we know works. We have stopped going to jail after being heavily involved in drugs, alcohol and gangs and we want to share this knowledge with others.
Jacob: Focus on the present and take it one day at a time.
Find something that gives you purpose, whether it’s education, or physical fitness.
Stay connected with your loved ones as much as possible and build a support system, even if it’s just a few people.
Creating a simple power list and executing that every day will help you create a healthy routine so that you can get a win everyday. This daily routine is something you can carry with you anywhere you go, and when you get out.
Your story matters, you matter and you have the power to change your future.
Every day is a new opportunity. Stay strong, stay focused, and never stop believing in yourself.
Building muscle isn’t just about lifting the heaviest weights. In fact, incorporating slow-tempo exercises into your routine can offer surprising benefits for muscle growth. Here’s how.
Back pain can be miserable. Most of us experience it at some stage, because of injury, a bad mattress or just bad luck. This routine will help release and realign the back, helping you to feel better. It is especially good for sciatica, (shooting pains along the back of the leg). Don’t do anything that feels painful or unstable, and keep attention on your breath as you go. We’d love to hear from you about how you get on.
Yoga can help us tap into spring energy. Whatever the weather feels like outside, or inside your room or your mind, we can bring a feeling of sunshine in and you’ll feel brighter.
If you are looking to build a healthy body and peaceful mind, try these yoga postures which use your wall as support. In each posture, notice the support from each surface through your body and your steady, even breaths. See if you can stay in each challenging position for up to 5 breaths.
About Time Media acknowledges the traditional owners of the lands across Australia and particularly acknowledges the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin nation, traditional owners of the land on which About Time Media is based.
We acknowledge the continuing impacts of the criminal legal system on First Nations people, including disproportionate rates of incarceration and deaths in custody, which remain a national shame.
We pay deep respect to Elders past and present, and all families of those who have lost loved ones in prison.
© About Time Media Ltd.
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