Chip on for men’s mental health

BALLARAT Men’s Mental Health’s charity golf day is back for another year and aiming to raise awareness about the issue.

The day is also the organisation’s major fundraising event for the year.

The golf day will include a barbeque, nearest the pin and longest-drive opportunities, the golden jacket competition and drinks at the clubhouse.

“The golf day started as an R U Okay? Day event by a group of local people after a couple of local men took their own lives some years ago,” said group chair Andrew McPherson.

“Three years ago, that group asked if we’d like to be involved and it’s become a fundraiser for Ballarat Men’s Mental Health.

“Its purpose is to raise awareness about men’s mental health and start or keep the conversation going.”

This work is particularly important in Ballarat considering statistics in the region related to mental health.

“The Ballarat region and Western Victoria has very poor statistics around men’s mental health and also around suicide rates,” said Mr McPherson.

“We created Ballarat Men’s Mental Health to do something to respond to that.”

The organisation works to deliver affordable and accessible care for men in the region.

“We aim to provide services in the gaps where men have been missing out and men miss out on getting the care the need for a number of reasons such as it being too expensive,” said Mr McPherson.

“If men struggle to make contact with us we go out looking through them through various means and make it easier for them.”

The charity golf day will be held on Friday 11 November from 12pm at the Ballarat Golf Club. Bookings can be made at ballaratmmh.com.au.