Around 162 guests filled out Radcliffes Echuca on Friday, October 12 to attend the Charles L King First National Real Estate annual long lunch for mental health.
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The event aimed to shine a light on mental health and wellbeing while also raising funds for local mental health support services including Mental Health and Wellbeing The Local, Headspace and Beyond Blue.
Guests came together to enjoy a two-course lunch while hearing from guest speakers including founder of Sober in the Country, Shanna Whan.
Named Australian of the Year in 2022 and more recently honoured with an Order of Australia for significant contributions to rural community health, Mrs Whan shared her story of recovery from alcohol addiction.
Mrs Whan said that while her charity focused on alcohol, alcoholism is deeply linked to mental health.
During the event, Mrs Whan spoke openly about how her addiction had developed and eventually left her feeling suicidal.
It wasn’t until she attended her first Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, following warnings from doctors that she only had six months left to live, that she gave up alcohol for good.
Inspired to help others in rural towns facing similar battles, Mrs Whan began by hosting Alcoholics Anonymous meetings before sharing her story through a blog and website.
What started as a small online community has since evolved into Sober in the Country — a national movement sparking conversations about alcohol use in rural communities.
Mrs Whan said Sober in the Country has blown up over the years because it is an issue that every single Australian has experienced in some form.
“This charity and this conversation hasn't gone national because of me.... the reason it's gone national is because it is a story common to every single home in this country, bar none,” she said.
“We have this perception in Australia that a life without alcohol is less than or you're giving something up, or you're giving something away.
“I challenge you to rethink that and understand that when you are fully present, when you are fully healthy, and when you are fully well, you are not giving anything away — You are gaining everything.”
After Mrs Whan’s presentation, CLK marketing and media officer Christy O’Brien took to the stage to facilitate some on the couch sessions.
The first session was with the Mental Health and Wellbeing Locals team who help people aged 26 years and over who are experiencing mental illness, psychological distress or struggling with substance use issues.
Following the Locals team, a panel of mental health experts and advocates from local organisations took to the stage.
Panellists included Headspace Echuca’s Jayden Howe, Echuca police youth specialist officer Shane Roberts, Andrew Thompson from Boys to Bush, coach and mentor Katrina Myers and StandBy founder Emma Knapp.
Each speaker introduced themselves and spoke about their role within their respective organisations.
The group also shared different ways they care for their mental health and the importance of connection with others in staying mentally healthy.
Mrs O’Brien said the event was an opportunity for guests to learn about the local resources and services are available to them.
“There's a mental health crisis in our society which you hear people talk about all the time, so we wanted to do something for the community,” she said.
“Today was a day of just getting little snippets of information and if someone came just to hear what someone wants to say about suicide, support after suicide... or they might be looking to drink less alcohol — that’s really important to them.
“We all can help each other out, even if not ourselves because we all have our ups and downs essentially, and not many people aren't impacted by mental health in some way, shape or form.”