Ms Cox signed up to be a peer worker for Ballarat Community Health, drawing on her lived experience with mental illness to help others. Only, the Connecting to Community program has taken on a completely different path this year amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ms Cox has become the go-to person for those who need support, from clients to friends, and tries to focus on the little things she is grateful for and the things she looks forward to most.

Like many, a lack of usual outlets and escapes under COVID-19 restrictions has made it tougher for Ms Cox. Gloomy winter weather has not helped either.

"Connecting to Community's purpose is to help isolated people in the community...I've felt a bit disconnected with clients, friends and family. I haven't been able to see family for months, which is really hard for me," Ms Cox said.

"I'm the go-to person for my friends because of my job. People close to me are struggling - I'm helping people with their mental health at work and going home and doing the same.

"It's an important time for everyone to check in with friends and family though."

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Mental Health Week starts on Saturday. Ballarat Mental Health Week Group, supported by community health and welfare bodies, will host a live online performance to promote well-being awareness.

This comes as Ballarat Community Health continues to build on its new Head to Help program, which launched last month, to help people better navigate the best mental health support for their needs.

Separate from Ms Cox's work, Head to Help is part of the federal government's response to a rise in mental health concerns in communities during the pandemic.

Head to Help Ballarat clinical lead Nadine Walter said the program fits in the middle of emergency and general practitioner supports - those who are not acutely unwell but who might slip through the cracks while waiting to see a doctor or psychologist.

"A lot of people are presenting to the ED (emergency department) because they don't know where to go," Ms Walter said.

"These are often long waits in a high-stimulus environment, which is not ideal for someone in distress. We're not replacing emergency response but filling that middle ground and work together with other services."

Ms Walter said the service could particularly help people who had not made contact for mental health support before and did not know where to start.

The Ballarat program will soon have three clinicians as it develops into a multi-disciplinary team. Ms Walter said the aim was for people to not have to keep re-telling their stories to find the right help for them.

Head to Help launched in 15 hubs across Victoria, including six in regional Victoria. BCH's Sebastopol site and Geelong will host hubs to help people living across western Victoria.

Hubs are in place for 12 months and will move into face-to-face consultations when pandemic restrictions and resources allow.

Meanwhile, Ms Cox said losing face-to-face contacts with clients had been a big adjustment. Many do not want to speak on video, preferring a phone call which lacked the subtle visual cues.

Ms Cox said it was a way of life at the moment and she hoped she was still helping.

Mental health support: Head to Help 1800 595 212.

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