By Jack Morgan
A mental health hub in Trafalgar could shut their doors for good as the business struggles to find the money to pay for its lease.
Bettermentall provide counselling and peer support free of charge at their shopfront on Contingent Street, but it’s becoming increasingly difficult to find sponsorship to keep their business open.
It comes as many GP clinics and counselling services are overrun with bookings and many community members face lengthy wait times for mental health support.
Owners Kerry and Jason Rantall said since opening in February, an increased number of people were seeking support due to anxiety related to the pandemic.
“It’s just that unknown, financial stress, not seeing family.
“So many people are on their own at the moment missing family members,” Jason said.
19-year-old Luke Canfield came into the hub seeking support for his mental health problems at the start of the year, shortly after the shopfront opened.
After a chat with staff, Luke realised he needed help to overcome his struggles. Jason helped him access support and is now Luke’s mentor.
“I’m in a much better place now, I reckon Jason’s changed my life,” Luke said.
While the business charge for some therapy, Kerry and Jason said it’s important to keep most services free. It’s an issue close to home for the couple, Jason has lived with Bipolar 1 as well as other mental health issues.
“I’ve lived with mental health issues my entire life and I was an alcoholic.
“I didn’t have the funds or a place to go like this at the time and I know if I had of, it would have been a huge support,” Jason said.
The couple pays the lease primarily through sponsorships from local businesses and from money out of their own pocket. Jason is a handy man two days a week and puts the profits back into Bettermentall.
Some sponsorships are still in place but finding new business opportunities has grown difficult.
“It’s just got to the point now where it’s do we want to commit to another two years knowing that we just have to keep treading water,” Kerry said.
They have applied for grants but have been knocked back, partly because the business is classified as for profit.
“We’re clearly not profiting, we don’t pull a wage from this, we’re not here to make money from it, we just want to cover our expenses.
“For some of the grants, you need a bloody degree in grant writing to even be able to apply for them,” Kerry said.
A report on the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System recommends establishing dozens of mental health services in a variety of locations, reducing the need for people to travel a long way from home.
After hearing this recommendation, Kerry had the idea to start the mental health hub in Trafalgar.
The couple had already been running support groups but thought a shop front in the main street of town would make it easier for people to walk in off the street and find support instantly.
Operating for almost a year, Kerry and Jason have not received any financial support from government or council.
A crowdfund has been set up online which has raised $1745 so far. It can be found by googling “helping bettermentall gofundme”.
Jason said expenses can be as high as $2500 a month.
“Without that security we’d have to let the shop go, we don’t need assistance to pay the whole lot we just need help in some way,” he said.