South-west group Let's Talk has received a huge boost to help continue opening up mental health conversations.
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A $55,000 donation from the Freemasons Foundation Victoria will allow Let's Talk to employ a community education officer to run the group's presentation program.
"We need to get someone else with a mental health background out there to help spread awareness," Let's Talk spokeswoman Jacinta Roache said.
"The demand for our presentations has increased dramatically.
"Our focus is to be able to get into communities other services do not access as easily."
Since 2016 Let's Talk have delivered their presentations to nearly 12,000 people, Mrs Roache said.
"We can really see we are hitting a mark with what we do, we have had some great outcomes," she said.
"Our speakers share their lived experience and are prepared to step forward to tell their stories and let others know they are not alone."
John Patterson, from the Freemasons Foundation Victoria, said the money was raised following the 2018 St Patrick's Day bushfires.
"From all the (Masonic) lodges around the south-west we put the call out to raise money for the bushfire appeal," Mr Patterson said.
"When the time came to make the donation we decided the money should go into the mental health area, so it was donated to Let's Talk in Warrnambool.
"We wanted the money to go where everybody in the community could benefit."
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