The Stawell Football Club rooms at Central Park will host the mental health forum on Tuesday, August 16 at 6.30pm. 

Two prominent community members will be discussing their personal experience with mental illness at the forum. 

Amy Rhodes grew up near Stawell and will speak about her experience with mental illness, while another prominent Stawell identity will also speak about his own battles with mental illness as someone from a country town. 

Ms Rhodes said letting people know that you may have a mental health issue early on and talking to someone was the best thing to do.  

“It can be really difficult to do though, especially when you’re young and you don’t understand what’s happening and why you feel the way you do,” she said. 

Ms Rhodes said when she was dealing with mental illness, no one really noticed until she spoke out. 

“Most people know me as a fairly bright and bubbly person, so they’re often surprised to hear that I have depression and anxiety,” she said. 

“I want people to feel comfortable speaking openly about mental health, just the way we would with any physical health concern.” 

The forum is titled Brain Food and has been put together by volunteers who have experienced or are in the field of health and mental illness. 

The volunteers will shed light on a range of health conditions that can afflict more than one in four people. 

Volunteers who have had experience with mental illness will highlight their stories of hope and resilience, while medical professionals will outline signs and symptoms to look out for. 

There will be a panel discussion for members of the public to join in.