Lift The Lid on Mental Illness is Australian Rotary Health’s annual fundraising day for mental health research, which has been running since 2016.
Initiatives under this campaign have included Hat Day, which was supported in 2020 by businesses throughout Benalla, and a number of sponsored walks.
A Rotary Club of Benalla spokesperson said last year the club conducted a trip to the Otway ranges as a fundraiser for the Lift the Lid program.
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“Participants donated money to the campaign and then spent five days enjoying fellowship and mixed activities in the beautiful Otways,” the spokesperson said.
“As the first COVID lockdown occurred shortly after participants returned, the benefit to everyone’s mental health was of even greater significance than it would otherwise have been.
“The event was so successful that this year another fundraising trip took place, this time to the Grampians, with 40 Rotarians, partners and friends travelled to Halls Gap.
“The trip provided something for everyone; walks, wineries, restaurants, heritage sites; or just sitting quietly enjoying the surroundings.
“The highlight of each day was gathering as a group to enjoy fellowship before dinner.
“Here, the day’s events were discussed and plans made for the following day.
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“The enjoyment of spending time with friends in such a wonderful place was enhanced by the satisfaction of helping to raise money for the Lift The Lid campaign.
“Another trip is planned for 2022.”
Each year one in five people in Australia experience a mental illness and one-third of young people have had an episode of mental illness by the time they are 25 years old.
Because of these worrying statistics Australian Rotary Health has committed to allocate its funding to mental health prevention research in young people, with 100 per cent of all donated funds going to research.
“Without research we are unable to find possible cures for mental illness or develop mental health interventions that are accessible, low-cost, and effective for people needing support,” a Rotary spokesperson said.
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