Youth Live4Life Wins VicHealth’s ‘Improving Mental Wellbeing’ Award

Youth Live4Life, together with the Live4Life communities of Macedon Ranges Shire, Glenelg Shire and Benalla Rural City were awarded a 2018 VicHealth Award for the groundbreaking Live4Life initiative aiming to ensure young people, teachers, parents and the wider community are better informed and are proactive in identifying the signs and symptoms of an emerging mental health issue before a crisis occurs.

The VicHealth Awards are the state’s highest accolade for health promotion, recognising the impact of initiatives across Victoria in improving the health and wellbeing of Victorians. “We are thrilled at receiving this award” said Chair of Youth Live4Life Sarah Mahon. “It is a great validation of the hard work of rural communities to improve youth mental health and reduce suicide. I would like to thank and congratulate the communities we are working with and their commitment to young people.  I would also like to acknowledge and credit the other finalists.”

The Live4Life initiative commenced in 2009 in response to a reported increase in anxiety, depression, self-harm and suicide amongst young people in the rural communities of the Macedon Ranges. The Live4Life model focuses on a whole of community approach to mental health education and suicide prevention in order to build resilient young people and communities.

For more details about the award, go to: https://www.vichealth.vic.gov.au/awards