Nothing can halt the power of the spoken word and HALT uses conversations as a weapon against mental illness.
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The HALT movement aims to break down barriers between tradesmen and tradeswomen.
It asks them to just have a conversation with each other.
Co-founder Jeremy Forbes knows the power of conversations and believes that they save lives.
On Tuesday morning, bright and early, tradies gathered at Bendigo Hume and Iser for a free 'Save your Bacon' brekky.
The brekky, provided by volunteers from around Bendigo, was the second event at Bendigo Hume and Iser.
Shadow Minister for Mental Health Senator Jan McLucas visited the community event for the first time on Tuesday morning.
"I think this is a pretty unique type of idea," she said.
I think this is a pretty unique type of idea.
- Jan McLucas
"We know that one in four people will have a need for mental health services.
"I thought that this is something we need to support.
“We often think of our tradies as being bulletproof because they’re always there when we need them, but the reality is they are just as vulnerable as other hard-to-reach groups of developing a mental illness at some point during their lifetime.
“The tireless work of Jeremy and his team to raise the profile of good mental health for men and tradies has no doubt changed lives.
“Community-led initiatives like the HALT breakfasts provide invaluable opportunities for men to get together and recognise that it is okay to ask for help, or to reach out to someone who they think may need help."
Hume and Iser managing directer STephen Iser said it was easy for him to decide to support HALT.
"We support it because it is all about tradies," he said.
"They are our business and so we are more than happy to support their mental health."
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