The Bribie Island Rotary Club and its members will come together with the community on Sunday, October 23, 2022 to stage its 3rd annual, LIFT THE LID walk for Mental Health.
The walk and talk format is deliberately not a race, but an opportunity to get locals together to raise awareness of the serious mental health issues we face in all areas of our communities, schools, homes and workplaces.
Tragically, we are still seeing eight people take their own lives every day in Australia. What is even more disturbing is that there is an attempted suicide every 8 minutes.
Suicide is the leading cause of death for Australians between the ages of 15 and 44 (AIHW 2022). It is estimated the impact of suicide deaths are felt by up to 135 people including family members, work colleagues, friends and first responders at the time of death (Cerel et al, 2019).
In addition to these alarming statistics, there are countless thousands of people of all ages who suffer from a wide range of mental health illnesses. This is why mental health research is so important.
Now more than ever, we need to break down the stigma that continues to plague our society so that people are more comfortable discussing and seeking help for their mental health issues. As the sole beneficiary, 100% of funds raised from the LIFT THE LID walks will support vital Australian Rotary Health (ARH) research.
ARH is a national, not-for-profit organisation that funds health research and provides community education about health issues. The organisation supports work on a broad range of health problems but specialises in mental health. They are one of the largest independent funders of mental illness research over the past two decades in Australia. Funding more than $53 million in projects, ARH funded research has played a founding role in establishing vital programs such as ‘teen Mental Health First Aid’ (tMHFA) and Cool Kids.
Rotary club of Bribie Island President Gillian Parry said, "We're thrilled to have made it to our 3rd year during such tough times. We are part of a volunteer army and the community we live in is at the heart of what we do and why we do it. It’s never been more important for us to play a role in supporting mental health in our local communities than it is right now. Our walks are deliberately designed to focus on the difference we can make at a local level. Starting a conversation, bringing together adults, children, services, business and media to make a genuine connection, where we live, because ethe numbers tell us, we all know someone who is suffering.”
The Bribie Island LIFT THE LID walk starts at 8am from Brennan Park (Welsby Pde Bongaree) along the Pumicestone Passage public footpath to the Bribie Island Bridge and back to Brennan Park. The entry fee is $30 with kids 15 and under walking free.
To find out more about how you can get involved or register for this event, visit: https://www.liftthelidwalk.com.au/bribie-island
For more information on Australian Rotary Health, visit: https://australianrotaryhealth.org.au/
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