Wednesday, 22 June 2022

 Ms BRITNELL (South-West Coast) (09:43): The Let’s Talk Foundation is doing an amazing job in raising awareness of mental health issues in my electorate and across the broader south-west Victorian region. It is a grassroots community-driven foundation which was established in 2016 after an increase in suicide rates. Over the past two years mental health issues have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 lockdowns and restrictions across all sections of our society. Pressure has grown enormously on mental health providers to meet the growing demand. Let’s Talk has been embraced by our community and has grown organically. It is a unique foundation which provides an effective way for the community to be involved in addressing mental health issues. Its mission is to reduce the stigma of mental illness and increase help-seeking behaviour while giving the community tools to offer support.

I met with John Parkinson and Michael Fitzgibbon, two of the founding members of Let’s Talk. What is clear is that suicide rates in our community remain sadly and alarmingly high, which makes the work the Let’s Talk Foundation do even more important than ever. Three years after the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System groups like Let’s Talk provide practical, low-cost and effective ways of reducing stigmas around mental health. In many ways discussions around mental illness can be difficult and uncomfortable for many people. The Let’s Talk Foundation is about empowering the community by giving information and knowledge that is crucial in starting these conversations. We can all play a role in reducing the stigmas of mental illness and advocating for better services for those suffering from mental health issues. I commend the Let’s Talk Foundation on its initiatives.