Mental first aid kit is club’s goal

THE Rotary Club of Wendouree Breakfast made a significant donation to the Ballarat and District Suicide Prevention Network recently.

The gift was a result of a fundraiser held in the lead up to Christmas and totalled $10,000, with the club selling hampers and brewers packs containing local produce.

Members of the Rotary Club of Wendouree Breakfast wanted to direct the money towards an organisation which resonated with their work, so they chose the Network after club members were affected by suicide in late 2022.

“It was really important that we supported that project,’’ club president June Driscoll said.

Although the specifics of how the donation will be use are waiting to be finalised, Ms Driscoll said she hopes the money will go towards a range of new projects the Network is undertaking and can assist in increasing knowledge.

“The project that we were particularly keen on was mental health first aid so that we can identify possible problems within networks of friends or kids at school,’’ she said.

The Ballarat and District Suicide Network was formed in 2011 and aims to open the conversation about suicide and reduce the stigma surrounding the topic.

Suicide is the leading cause of death among Australians under 44.