Despite wild weather, the forum, organised by Ballarat A Learning City, attracted a large crowd of people concerned about the illness that affects one in five Australians.

Ballarat Health Services director of psychiatric services Ken Burnett and Mr Kennett both stressed that depression was an illness, not a weakness.

They said managing the illness in its early stages rather than waiting until it developed into severe mental problems was the key.

Symptoms include prolonged sadness, lack of self worth, disinterest in social activities and changes in appetite.

"We don't tend to ignore the symptoms of physical illness, but for some strange reason mental health problems are not as quick to receive help," Mr Burnett said.

He said mental illnesses were easiest to treat if people received fast and consistent help.

"If you get help early on, it can virtually guarantee wellness," he said.

Mr Burnett acknowledged that health services needed to deliver more internationally recognised treatments that combined biological, social and psychological aspects.

He said health services also needed to be more accessible in country areas.

Mr Kennett said the wider community had to be more vocal in its concern about mental health to stimulate greater government funding.

"Unfortunately there is no current political leader, premier or treasurer who feels passionate about mental health," he said.

"If there was we would be seeing big changes rather than the incremental ones happening now."

He said mental health was only receiving half of the government funding it needed.

He said more money was need for professional services and facilities.

However, despite the lack of government support, Mr Kennett said the stigma surrounding depression was decreasing.

He also said about 5000 general practitioners had been upskilled in detecting patients with mental illness.