Kelly O'Dwyer (Higgins, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mental health care is an issue that affects everybody, stretching across generations and across socioeconomic groups. In my electorate-wide survey, mental health care consistently ranks as one of the top-priority issues. It inspired me to host a Higgins community meeting on mental health both to share information from our expert panel and to receive feedback about how policy in this area should be shaped. More than 200 people turned up and it was standing room only, with people sharing their stories and hearing from expert panellists Jeff Kennett AC from beyondblue, Professor Kulkarni from the Monash Alfred Psychiatry Research Centre and Quinn Pawson from the Prahran Mission. I mention this because often one of the greatest challenges to people receiving the help and care they need is no-one knowing there is a problem.

Today is R U OK? Day, a day where we remind people that they should regularly stop to ask those close to them—family, friends and work colleagues—whether they are okay. Simply lending your ears and listening to others, giving support or helping them find the right support, can sometimes be the difference between life and death. The first R U OK? Day was launched in 2009 and was formed in the memory of Barry Larkin, who took his own life in 1995. Gavin, his son, was the driving force behind the initiative.

Members on both sides of this chamber joined together this morning for a morning tea to mark this day and to raise awareness that we need to care for those around us each and every day. Organisations like beyondblue and Lifeline offer fantastic services to those in need, and their work cannot be commended highly enough. If you are unsure of where to go, speak to your local GP— (Time expired)