Maryann Puli-Vogels has said no to a glass of wine for almost a month and raised $2000 in the process.
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The Scott's Creek resident said her teetotalling was part of a month-long push to acknowledge a much greater need within her community.
The Timboon and District Health Services (TDHS) chair has been participating in Febfast, a national campaign asking participants to abstain from something in support of disadvantaged young people.
"It's about giving something up that's special to you," Mrs Puli-Vogels said.
"For some it is alcohol, or sugar, or social media.
"We even have a participant who's giving up sudoku because her family say she's hooked on it."
Money raised through the month-long fast helps employ youth workers committed to connecting young people aged 12-25 in need of support, programs and services to overcome adversity and realise opportunity.
"It's been good," she said.
"For me personally it starts with young people.
"If we can support young people early they have a better adult life and opportunities."
Participating in Febfast, Mrs Puli-Vogels said, was part of a new focus for TDHS.
Following a community needs assessment undertaken in May 2018, the health hub received more than 500 responses highlighting the need to find a broader approach to tackling mental health.
This follows a 2012 report that showed Corangamite had the second-highest rates of suicide in Victoria.
"Corangamite Shire has one of the highest rates of suicide, depression and anxiety," Mrs Puli-Vogels said.
"This is the first thing we want to focus on.
"We have tabled mental health our highest priority."
Mrs Puli-Vogels said board members at TDHS were committed to facing the challenge head-on.
"There is no one solution," she said.
"It's a big issue and we need to find a new approach."
The health service hub has partnered with Warrnambool's South West Healthcare to use technology to improve mental health services in the dairy township.
"Tele-psychiatry will hopefully lesson the need for travel," Mrs Puli-Vogels said.
"Time is an issue in farming communities and this also provides anonymity.
"The mental health numbers in our community are alarming and our focus is to try everything we can to help."
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