Armadale Rotorians pass hat around to fundraise for research

The initiative is part of the club’s campaign to raise funds and awareness for mental health research.

“One in five Australians are affected by mental health concerns every year, but we still have a long journey ahead to reduce stigma, improve support services and provide better prevention and treatment,” club spokesman Peter Warren said.

“Hat Day for Mental Health Research is an initiative by Australian Rotary Health that aims to raise funds for vital research in a fun way that also helps to start conversations.”

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Australian Rotary Health is one of the largest not-for-profit funders of mental health research in Australia.

It has contributed more than $33 million towards health research projects in areas such as Alzheimer’s, arthritis, diabetes, cancer, multiple sclerosis, heart disease and spinal injury.

“Since 2000 our focus has been on mental health,” Mr Warren said.

“More than four million Australians are affected by mental illness every year, while almost half of us will be affected in our lifetime.”

Club members will put their funny hats back on to do a collection at the Armadale railway station this Friday from 7-9am to support the Rotary Foundation and will hold a combined meeting with the Gosnells Rotary Club on October 11.

“Hat Day is our way to increase that funding for this worthwhile and increasingly important health issue in our community,” Mr Warren said.

He said all funds raised from the events would go directly to research.