General News
6 June, 2024
Funding supports youth mental health
Youth Live4Life has received $351,000 from the latest state budget to continue implementation of its youth mental health and suicide prevention initiative in rural and regional communities, including the Central Goldfields and Hepburn Shires. The...
Youth Live4Life has received $351,000 from the latest state budget to continue implementation of its youth mental health and suicide prevention initiative in rural and regional communities, including the Central Goldfields and Hepburn Shires.
The mental health promotion charity works with communities to implement the Live4Life model, the only youth mental health education and suicide prevention model designed specifically for rural and regional communities.
Their model, provided in partnership with 14 local government areas across Victoria and Tasmania, aims to lead conversations about mental health, reduce stigma and promote awareness for Year eight and Year 10 students as well as adults in the community.
With over 30 teachers and school staff trained in the Central Goldfields since 2022, Year 10 training already being delivered this year and Year eight training planned for July, the Youth Live4Life model is making a strong impact in the community according to Central Goldfields Live4Life project officer Shelley Feilding.
“In the Teen Mental Health First Aid training, students learn how to look after their own mental health and how to identify when a friend might be struggling,” she said.
“We know that young people are most likely to go to other friends when they are in need, so it encourages students to seek help from a trusted adult when required.
“For the teachers, it talks about the issues that are prevalent among young people and then it goes through some of the disorders that young people might be experiencing and once again it is about building their capacity to respond.”
The Royal Commission into Victoria's Mental Health System completed in March 2021 found self-harm and suicide rates were 30 and 40 percent higher in rural communities compared to metropolitan areas.
As Central Goldfields has limited mental health services available for young people, Ms Feilding said it is important to train the adult community to be able to support young people.
“Especially in the Central Goldfields where we don’t have resources such as Headspace, we are really limited as to what resources are on offer for young people,” she said.
“We know that early intervention leads to better outcomes and that’s why education and community awareness is so important.”
Ms Feilding said she is hopeful to hear from interested sporting clubs and community groups as the Live4Life model looks to expand across the region.
“Central Goldfields has it’s first ever crew at Highview College. The crew consists of Year nine students who completed the teen training last year and have stepped up to become mental health ambassadors,” she said.
“We just had our first community youth mental health first aid course recently and any community members were welcome to join that, and we will be running those courses in the future for community members and anyone can jump on board.
“We welcome opportunities to work with all clubs in our district and we encourage any interested clubs to make contact.”
For more information or to express your interest, email Shelley Feilding at shelley.feilding@cgoldshire.vic.gov.au
Youth Live4Life further expanded in 2024, announcing a partnership with the Hepburn Shire as one of the three most recent local governments to implement the model.
The partnership involves local council, Daylesford College and the Central Highlands Rural Health to deliver the program to the Hepburn community.