La Trobe University's Bendigo campus has moved to support conversations around mental health with an event to mark R U OK? Day on Thursday.
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Campus head Rob Stephenson said mental health was an issue becoming more prevalent across the whole community, and the university wanted to play its part.
Mr Stephenson said it was about making sure that as a community they cared for one another.
It was also really important, he said, that people at the campus were mindful that some students and staff might have some issues with their mental health.
Related: Conversations key on R U OK? Day
The event gave students the opportunity to meet therapy dogs in training, enjoy a free meal, hear from fellow students about how joining a club enhanced their university experience, and other activities that supported good mental health.
Skye Anderson was among the students who spoke about their experiences with a university club.
Skye is a member of the Rainbow Eagles, the Bendigo campus' LGBT club.
She said being a minority could be quite isolating and could give rise to struggles that friends did not understand.
But being a member of the such a club as the Rainbow Eagles, Skye said, supported mental health by providing a community that had experienced similar issues and understood them.
She encouraged students thinking about joining a club to give it a go, as they had nothing to lose but could gain a lot.
R U OK? Day is an annual national day of action to remind people to support each other and open conversations around mental health.
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