Mentally Fit EP

Empowering people to take charge of their lives and building a mentally fit, connected community

Let us tell you about Kirsty Traeger.
A mum. A friend. A local.
And someone who knew what it was like to struggle with mental health in a regional community.

In 2014, Kirsty didn’t need to read the stats. She lived them.
She saw the gaps; a lack of services, stigma, silence.
She saw people hurting, unsure where to turn.
So she did something extraordinary: instead of waiting for help, she created it.

While facing her own challenges, Kirsty began a grassroots mental health initiative focused on prevention- not crisis.

She believed that connection could be just as powerful as counselling and she trained locals to look after themselves and each other.

And without knowing it, she built what would become Mentally Fit Eyre Peninsula- or to our region, Mentally Fit EP.

Led by Kirsty, with unwavering support from Jo Clark (WCYCS CEO) and a group of passionate, dedicated community members, the group had the collective vision to flip mental illness on its head; to create conversation about mental health and to focus on wellbeing and what is in our control.

Before taking time to welcome her beautiful baby, Kirsty planted a seed of change in our community. But just 13 weeks after Zac’s birth, in 2016… we lost Kirsty.
She died by suicide.

We lost our light. But we didn’t lose her legacy.
What Kirsty lit in us… we’ve been carrying it forward ever since.

From that heartbreak came a mission: To make sure no one in our region feels alone. That no one falls through the cracks.

Mentally Fit EP has grown into a region-wide, community-led movement that aims to promote mental fitness in our local community by partnering with community members, local services and businesses.

The program empowers people to take charge of their lives by educating, reducing stigma and up-skilling community members, which is done through workshops, the MFEP+ME Podcast, community forums, guest speaking roles, courses, events and campaigns. It has been designed and developed by qualified staff that live, work and raise their families on the Eyre Peninsula.

Mentally Fit EP is largely delivered through the generous funding of the Community Banks in Cummins and Port Lincoln and supported by the Rotary Club of Port Lincoln.

- A range of mental health courses and workshops, including William Glasser’s Take Charge of Your Life and Mentally Fit Me school program.
- MFEP+ME Podcast, showcasing a collection of stories from people across the Eyre Peninsula
- Active promotion and advocacy to create an increased awareness of how to support and promote Mental Wellness in our communities
- Wellness talks and campaigns, such as Ladies Nights, the Rotary Men’s Wellness Campaign photographic exhibition and so much more
- Social media pages to connect the community with valuable mental health services and information
- Winner of $100,000 through Impact100 SA, 2025
- Finalist of Rural Doctors Workforce Agency Rural Community Health and Wellbeing Award at the SA Community Achievement Awards, 2024
- Nominated in the 2024 South Australia LiFE Awards for Outstanding Contribution
- Finalist in Radio Today Podcast Awards, Health and Wellness INDIE category, 2023
- Winner of Mental Health Foundation SA, Mental Health Organisation of the year, 2022
- Finalist of Breakthrough Mental Health Research Foundation Innovation in Mental Health, Social and Emotional Wellbeing Award at the SA Community Achievement Awards, 2022
- Winner of People’s Choice, SA Regional Woman- MFEP Community Development Officer, Emma Gale, 2022
- Winner of Port Lincoln City Council Award for Active Citizenship - MFEP Community Development Officer, Lain Montgomerie, 2022
- Winner of Port Lincoln City Council Award for Active Citizenship - MFEP Community Development Officer, Johana Page, 2021
- Winner of TAFE SA Community Education Award at the SA Community Achievement Awards, 2019
- Semi-Finalist of Breakthrough Mental Health Research Foundation Innovation in Mental Health, Social and Emotional Wellbeing Award at the SA Community Achievement Awards, 2019
- Winner of Port Lincoln City Council Community Event of The Year for the Rotary Men’s Wellness Campaign, 2019
- Winner of SA Men’s Health Awards, Australia Men’s Health Forum, 2019
- Letter of Commendation for Mental Health Promotion and Mental Illness Prevention Category at the Mental Health Services International Conference, 2018
- Finalist in the National Suicide Prevention Conference LiFE Awards, 2018
- Winner of Port Lincoln Zonta Club, Woman of Achievement Award- CEO, Jo Clark, 2018
- Winner of Community Service Award, honoured at the Port Lincoln Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Business Excellence Awards, 2017
- Winner of Flinders Foundation Leadership and Innovation in Health Award at the SA Community Achievement, presented in Adelaide, 2017
- Winner of Port Lincoln Rotary Club Paul Harris Award- CEO, Jo Clark, 2017
- Joint Winner for SA Community Event of The Year for Side Show Alley, 2016
- Winner of Port Lincoln City Council Community Event of The Year for Side Show Alley, 2016
- Winner of District Council of Lower Eyre Young Citizen of The Year - MFEP Community Development Officer, Kirsty Traeger, 2016
- Winner of Port Lincoln City Council Young Citizen of The Year - MFEP Community Development Officer, Lain Montgomerie, 2016
- SA health Mental Health award finalist, 2015
- Finalist for SA Health Premiers Health award, Our Community, 2015
- Mentally Fit EP have also provided training for council members from across State local councils at workshops and a conference, guest speaking at an Australian Mental health conference, a state Suicide Prevention conference, two National Suicide Prevention conferences, global Mental Health Conferences in Adelaide AND New Zealand, as well as global radio into America for the Glasser Institute.
The Mentally Fit EP + Me podcast is a show that connects you with stories of every day people from across Eyre Peninsula, South Australia.
Mentally Fit EP believe that mental health is everyone’s business. We’re all about smashing stigmas and raising awareness so that people gain a sense of empowerment to live mentally well.
Please note that at times some of our episodes may contain stories that could be deemed confronting. Please read the episode blurb to determine if each episode is right for you.
Find MFEP+ME where you listen to your podcasts or listen on Spotify here.
The first season of MFEP+ME has been funded by Country SA PHN.
The second season has been funded by Port Lincoln Community Bank.
The second season has been funded by Lincoln Rural.
We thank City Motors Port Lincoln for supporting us with a beautiful Nissan X-Trail, which allows us to safely cruise around Eyre Peninsula to record these episodes.
Upcoming events can be found on our Events page.

Local Mental Health Contacts

Download the below images and save to your phone or device, or print them and keep them somewhere you can view or access them easily. You can also access them via our Facebook page. You can also download our full trifold brochure, which was updated May 2025.

All Hours Support

QPR. Question. Persuade. Refer

Save a life

QPR stands for Question, Persuade, and Refer – the 3 simple steps anyone can learn to help save a life from suicide. QPR training will provide you with:

Knowledge and skills to identify warning signs that someone may be suicidal
Confidence to talk about suicidal thoughts
Connect them with professional care

Access the training here.

If you live in Country South Australia you can access the training free using the code CSA.

Life in Mind National Communications Charter

We are a signatory of the National communications charter (the Charter). Actioning the seven principles of the Charter provides opportunity for the mental health and suicide prevention sectors, governments, businesses, communities and individuals to play a role in reducing stigma around mental illness, mental health concerns and suicide, while at the same time, promoting help-seeking and help offering behaviour.