A convoy of caravans will circumnavigate Tasmania as part of an initiative to raise awareness for mental health.
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The Australian Rotary Health-run Muster for Mental Health aimed to raise awareness and fundraise for research into mental health or youth suicide issues.
Launching the muster at the Tasmanian Craft Fair on Saturday, Australian Rotary Health chairman John Dare said the Tasmanian leg, to be held between February 4 and 25, was part of a larger national muster travelling the country.
Over three weeks, a convoy of about 20 caravans will circumnavigate Tasmania to draw the attention of the organisation’s plans to raise funds for mental health and awareness.
Free mental health forums would be on offer in several stops along the way with a professional speaker and members of the community discussing mental health issues in their community and their own struggles, Mr Dare said.
“Our concern was that we may then find people who put their hand up and say ‘we have a problem’,” he said.
To combat this issue, the Royal Flying Doctor Service would be attending the events as the service has trained mental health professionals so there were people on board if someone needed help, Mr Dare said.
The forums will be held in Deloraine, Beauty Point, St Helens, Cambridge, Queenstown, Smithton and Ulverstone during the three week tour.
“We’re really concerned about the rate of youth suicide in Tasmania,” he said.
“We’re really concerned about the rate of youth suicide in Tasmania."
- Australian Rotary Health chairman John Dare
The youth suicide rate, aged five to 17 years, was the second highest in the country, with 3.1 deaths per 100,000 people in 2015, according to a report by the Commissioner for Children and Young People Tasmania.
Rotary Clubs around Tasmania have been asked to raise funds during the muster for further research, he said.
Some local councils had jumped on board, offering areas for the muster to use as caravan sites, Mr Dare said.
- Muster 4 Mental Health will be held between February 4 and 25, with the first mental health forum to be held in Deloraine on February 5. For more information, go to muster.org.au
- If you or someone you know needs help, contact beyondblue on 1300 22 4636 or chat online at the beyondblue.org.au website.