Supporting Youth Mental Health and the Live4Life Baw Baw Community Launch.

As students return to the classroom for yet another year of learning in the midst of a pandemic there is an immediate need to focus on the mental health of young people in our community, this is where the award-winning regional Youth Mental Health model Live4Life comes in.

The impact of COVID on young people in Australia has been substantial.  Young people have experienced higher rates of loneliness, educational disruption, and psychological distress. With suicide being the leading cause of death of young people in Australia, accounting for 40% of all deaths in those aged 13 to 18 years and with suicide rates reportedly 40% higher in rural communities it is vital that the young people in our regional communities receive mental health training and support.  

Live4Life is the only youth mental health and suicide prevention initiative designed specifically for rural and regional communities.  Live4Life Baw Baw was launched in 2020 and is delivered in partnership with all secondary schools and other education providers in Baw Baw as well as six community agencies.   Baw Baw has the largest student numbers of any Live4Life community and over the past two years schools have worked tirelessly together with a shared focus for improved youth mental health outcomes. One of the strengths of the Live4Life model is that all secondary schools in the community, whether public or private, work together on mental health education and prevention.  

The evidence-based model Live4Life builds both young people, and the local rural community’s capacity to recognise mental health concerns and seek and offer help.   Nine in 10 students who took part in Live4Life have had more conversations with others about mental health.  In addition to  mental health education being run in all secondary schools over 130 adults in the Baw Baw community have undertaken mental health education through Live4Life.

‘Good mental health is fundamental to the overall health and wellbeing of everyone. Latrobe Regional Hospital is proud to partner with Live4Life and support the award-winning youth mental health and youth suicide prevention model helping to build both young people, and the local community’s capacity to recognise youth mental health concerns and seek and offer help.’  

Sebastiano Romano, Executive Director Mental Health, Latrobe Regional Hospital,

Lead Community Agent, Live4Life Baw Baw 

‘With the largest student numbers of any Live4Life community it has been incredible to see the enthusiasm of the schools and the community support of youth mental health. This is why Live4Life is so special, we bring communities together and every school is able to be involved. And importantly, the Live4Life model is led by young people in the community.’ 

Bernard Galbally, CEO, Youth Live4Life.

After two years of COVID, the Community Launch of Live4Life Baw Baw is finally happening with an extra special screening of the critically acclaimed documentary ‘Happy Sad Man’ and a Q&A with the filmmaker Geneviève Bailey on Thursday 24th of February at 6.30 pm at the Balfour Centre at Chairo Christian School in Drouin.

To book your tickets please visit https://lnkd.in/gg2YHmSg

'Happy Sad Man' is a charming and uplifting insight into the lives of 5 very different Australian men. The film gives unforgettable voice to the complex emotional landscapes we can all traverse. Touching, funny and tender, this must-see documentary is set to shine a light on and change the dialogue around masculinity and mental health today.

“The most important film you’ll see this year”

THE CURB

“Challenges the way we think about masculinity today”

ABC RADIO

“Tender, funny, generous”

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH

[1] Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (2021) COVID-19 and the impact on young people., AIHW, Australian Government.

Media Contact

Bernard Galbally is available for Interview.

CEO, Youth Live4Life Limited 0413 167 843 ceo@live4life.org.au

Josephine Wright

Communications Coordinator Youth Live4Life Limited

0402 086 341 josephine.wright@live4life.org.au

Notes to Editor

Live4Life -  Winner VicHealth Award for Improving Mental Wellbeing 2018. Winner YACVic Rural Youth Award for Most Innovative Youth Project or Program in Rural or Regional Victoria 2018. Highly Commended LG Pro awards 2020. Live4Life features in the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System’s final report as a case study ‘highlighting innovation in community-led mental health solutions for young people’.  

Read more about Youth Live4Life in our 2020 Annual report and our media backgrounder.