Thousands of Tasmanians have shown some leg and turned out for the sixth annual Shorts Day, with the mental health campaign drawing strong crowds to a free community event on Friday morning in Hobart and beyond.
Speak Up Stay ChatTY founder Mitch McPherson said the organisation shifted its approach this year by hosting a community gathering rather than relying solely on people running their own events.
“We changed the direction this year to hold a community event and have people come to us, and it’s been really successful,” McPherson said.
The event, co-hosted with major sponsor RACT, was held at the RACT car park on Murray Street and featured a barbecue breakfast, free coffees, giveaways and family-friendly activities.
McPherson said the connection on display had been the highlight.
“The connection that’s been on display here today has been fantastic to see so many people just communicating and getting connected and having a conversation about mental health, which is the core message of the day,” he said.
McPherson said mental health awareness had come a long way but the issue remained widespread, with one in two people experiencing poor mental health in their lifetime and one in five facing a challenge in any given year.
“It’s still really prevalent,” he said.
“Lots of people are going through challenges, cost of living. There’s a lot of things that affect people’s mental health these days.”
He said more than 100,000 people had registered for Shorts Day across its six years.
Schools, workplaces and sporting groups including the Tasmanian Devils and JackJumpers also held their own events throughout the week.
RACT Chief Operations Officer Stacey Peacock said the partnership with Speak Up Stay ChatTY aligned with the organisation’s commitment to supporting staff and the broader community.
“For our people, it’s not just about what happens at work but also what happens outside work,” Peacock said.
She said attitudes within the organisation had shifted significantly in recent years.
“Once upon a time, we didn’t talk about it so much, but in recent years, it’s really become something that’s become part of the everyday normal,” she said.
Peacock said RACT staff were also being trained to support members during stressful moments, whether dealing with a breakdown on the road or navigating an insurance claim.
Those wearing shorts or Shorts Day merchandise on the day could enter a prize draw featuring a $1,000 gift card and RACT driving lesson packages.
More than 23,000 Tasmanians took part in Shorts Day last year.
