AN annual fundraising breakfast is set to take place this month in order to raise awareness for men\u2019s mental health in the region.<\/p>\n
Known as MENtal Brekky, the event returns on Friday, 21 October after a two-year hiatus, with funds going towards St Patrick\u2019s College\u2019s Chris Yeung Fund.<\/p>\n
Traditionally held at the campus, the 2022 breakfast will take place at the Ballarat Golf Club, and MENtal Brekky chairman Simon Dwyer said raising suicide awareness is important for the community.<\/p>\n
\u201cBallarat is still overrepresented in suicide and it\u2019s not necessarily the generation of the 50s and 60s but it\u2019s younger blokes, and it is mainly blokes,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve got Steve Bracks, former Premier and old boy of St Pat\u2019s presenting\u2026 and Patty Kinnersly who\u2019s the CEO of Our Watch, the violence against women peak body in Australia.\u201d<\/p>\n
The aim of the Chris Yeung Fund is to help the fathers of St Patrick\u2019s College students who may be experiencing mental health issues to pay their child\u2019s tuition.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe statistics suggest in every single classroom in Australia, there\u2019s four or five kids with a parent with a mental health disorder,\u201d Mr Dwyer said.<\/p>\n
Since the inaugural event in 2016, funds from the brekky have paid for about 25 students\u2019 school fees.<\/p>\n
He said the fund and accompanying event was established by St Pat\u2019s alumni after the death of their friend Chris Yeung.<\/p>\n
\u201cChris competed suicide in 2015. For us, that was the line in the sand because we didn\u2019t think there was enough happening for men\u2019s mental health,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve found one way to make a real difference is to get people talking. The more you talk about it, the less likely you\u2019re to do it. It\u2019s that simple.\u201d<\/p>\n
The breakfasts average 200 attendees and Mr Dwyer said he\u2019s expecting closer to 300 for this year\u2019s event.<\/p>\n
Tickets are $50 each and $500 for a table of 10 and can be booked at bit.ly\/3CFkfwD.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
AN annual fundraising breakfast is set to take place this month in order to raise awareness for men\u2019s mental health in the region. Known as MENtal Brekky, the event returns on Friday, 21 October after a two-year hiatus, with funds going towards St Patrick\u2019s College\u2019s Chris Yeung Fund. Traditionally held at the campus, the 2022 […]<\/p>\n