General News
2 November, 2023
Program empowers students
Working towards improving the mental wellbeing of local youth, the Live4Life program has now empowered Year 8 students to provide the first line of support to their peers facing mental health challenges. The health promotion charity, Live4Life, has...
Working towards improving the mental wellbeing of local youth, the Live4Life program has now empowered Year 8 students to provide the first line of support to their peers facing mental health challenges.
The health promotion charity, Live4Life, has been delivering its accredited teen and youth mental health first aid training to school staff since it launched earlier this year — with about 10 percent of personnel at Highview College and Maryborough Education Centre already trained.
Ramping up efforts to ensure that young people suffering from mental health issues receive necessary support, the program has branched out to include Year 8 students at both the schools.
Through its Teen Mental Health First Aid training model, students who have undertaken the initiative now have access to resources that will help them look after themselves and their friends according to Central Goldfields Shire Council’s Live4Life Project Officer Shelley Feilding.
“The reason this training is so important to deliver to young people is that evidence shows that young people are more likely to confide in a peer when they are experiencing poor mental health than they are to [in an adult],” Ms Feilding said.
“Therefore, it’s important that young people know what to do if their friend is struggling, particularly if they are experiencing a mental health crisis, where a young person is at risk of harm.
“A key component of the training is that young people are [also] taught to involve a responsible and trusted adult. This creates a safer environment for young people who might otherwise carry the burden of this knowledge and the support role by themselves. The training ensures that young people talk to a trusted adult who can then step in and provide appropriate assistance or referral.”
Ms Feilding said that the Live4Life program, which is specifically designed for rural and regional communities, was an important part of the suicide prevention toolkit.
“We acknowledge that our young people can be one of our most vulnerable cohorts — this is reflected in the statistics that tell us that suicide is the leading cause of death of young people [in Australia] and that 75 percent of people with mental ill health have their first episode during adolescence,” she said.
“For this reason, it is of great importance that we support our young people and equip them with skills and knowledge relating to mental health and wellbeing.
“Whilst we know our young people can be vulnerable, we also know that they are capable and resilient and that they are our future change makers. We believe our young people can play a pivotal role in being mental health ambassadors and in being proactive in relation to their own mental health and the health of their peers.”
Following the successful completion of training for Year 8 students, Ms Feilding said the program would soon take on other students and residents.
“In the following years, we will be training both the Year 8 and Year 10 students,” she said.
“Parents and community leaders will also have the opportunity to participate in Youth Mental Health First Aid training so they can provide appropriate support and refer young people to professional help, if needed.
“It’s these key individuals in our young people’s lives who may be the first to notice if a young person is having a difficult time.”
On November 17, Council Youth Services together with Live4Life Central Goldfields will host this year’s YouthFest — with all Year 8 students who have completed the training celebrated at the event for their participation.
“[They] will be offered the opportunity to express their interest in joining the Live4Life Crew in 2024,” Ms Feilding said.
“This crew act as mental health ambassadors spreading positive mental health messaging and running mental health related events and activities.
“Involvement in the crew [will] give young people skills in public speaking and event management and will also empower them to play a key role in increasing mental health literacy within the community, reducing the stigma around mental health.”
If you or a loved one need support, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14, Beyond Blue on 1800 512 348 or webchat www.beyondblue.org.au/support-service/chat, or the Kids Helpline on 1800 551 800 or via webchat at kidshelpline.com.au