In regional Australia, mental wellbeing can often fall by the wayside but residents in the Loddon Mallee region have been taking proactive steps to manage their community's mental health
Over the past year, Lifeline Central Victoria & Mallee received more than 15,000 calls, up from 11,000 the previous year.
With increased demand from the Mallee, the Bendigo-based organisation has announced a new call centre will open in Mildura early next year.
Executive officer Lisa Renato says the hub will recruit and train 30 volunteers, with the hope of answering more than 6,000 calls each year.
"We are seeing an increased demand for our services from a broad section of the community," Ms Renato said.
"More people are reaching out earlier on, which is wonderful because that is all preventative."
Local help for a national problem
The arrival of the Lifeline call hub in Mildura is the culmination of nine years of campaigning and lobbying by a local community group.
Head of the Sunraysia Lifeline Project Stephen Hegedus said the hub would help build resilience within the community.
"All the training that the call takers receive rubs off through the work and clubs," he said.
Mr Hegedus was inspired to form the group after dealing with his own mental health issues in 2000.
"If I had known Lifeline was around when I had my problem, things may have been different.
"Just to be able to talk about mental health openly is very important."
Lifeline has begun its recruitment process for call takers and intends to open the hub in January.
