Supporting Youth Mental Health in Glenelg - Portland Aluminium

Glenelg Live4Life Celebration 2019 - Photographer Michael Peters

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.  With additional funding support from Portland Aluminium the award-winning Youth Mental Health model Live4Life will be supported to become completely embedded and sustainable in Glenelg. 

 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 a male suicide rate 31% higher in Glenelg Shire than the Victorian average, it is essential that young people in the Glenelg community receive mental health training and support, this is where Live4Life comes in.   

Live4Life is the only youth mental health and suicide prevention initiative designed specifically for rural and regional communities.   Live4Life has been delivered in the Glenelg Shire since 2017, in response to an increase in anxiety, depression, self-harm and suicide in young people in the community. Over the past 5 years, Live4Life has trained over ten percent of the Glenelg Shire community in mental health education.  Nine in 10 students who took part in Live4Life have had more conversations with others about mental health. The evidence-based model builds both young people, and the local rural community’s capacity to recognise mental health concerns and seek and offer help. 

Portland Aluminium has committed funding to Live4Life in Glenelg for the next three years, helping to support Live4Life Glenelg to become completely embedded and sustainable in the community.   With a total commitment of $135,000, the funding will help increase the reach of the Live4Life initiative into the broader community with a focus on engaging with adults who support young people across the Glenelg region.

‘Good mental health is fundamental to the overall health and wellbeing of everyone. COVID has interrupted so much over the past two years and as such mental health has suffered immensely. Portland Aluminium is proud to partner with Live4Life Glenelg 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 mental health concerns and seek and offer help.’  

Ron Jorgensen,  Plant Manager, Portland Aluminium

‘The partnership between Portland Aluminium and Live4Life Glenelg is a perfect example of how community driven initiatives and corporate organisations can work together to make a genuine contribution to improving the health and wellbeing of our community. ’   

Anita Rank, Mayor, Glenelg Shire Council

‘We are thrilled to have the funding support from Portland Aluminium to continue Live4Life in Glenelg over the next three years. When communities come together we can make real and lasting change. That is why Live4Life is so special, we bring communities together.  And importantly, it is led by young people.’ 

Bernard Galbally, CEO, Youth Live4Life.

[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.