Today is World Mental Health Day — a day to raise awareness around the world and mobilise efforts in support of mental health.

This year, LAP it UP has teamed up with young entrepreneur Josh’s Rainbow Eggs to remember Sean McKinney with a day of matched funding. Every dollar raised by LAP it UP swimmers from today will be doubled by Josh’s Rainbow Eggs in honour of Sean, up to $5000.

World Mental Health Day — a day to raise awareness around the world and mobilise our efforts in support of mental health. This year, Mental Health Australia’s theme for 10 October is ‘Connect with your community’ and reminds us that our communities – the people and places where we feel safe, seen and heard – can help us feel cared for and supported, which is good for our mental health. 

Our annual face-to-face Community of Practice is one of our favourite times of the year.

Over two days in September, our annual Community of Practice in-person event again offered Live4Life staff, local Coordinators and Crew Support Workers the opportunity to connect, share experiences, address challenges and participate in some fun and engaging professional development.

IN THE MEDIA Benalla Ensign

Benalla Rural City Council, in partnership with the Live4Life program, is now offering a youth mental health first aid training course designed to give adults the tools to recognise and respond to mental health difficulties in young people.

IN THE MEDIA Mirage News

Live4Life participants from across Gippsland got together recently for an exciting day out at Allambee Camp. More than 30 youth mental health ambassadors (the Crew) from the Baw Baw, Latrobe, South Gippsland and Wellington Live4Life communities joined forces to celebrate teamwork and self-confidence at the outdoor adventure camp located near Yarragon.

IN THE MEDIA Tasmanian Times

At Taylors ocean beach in The Gardens,  Musicka is enduring sea temperatures of 8–12°C with no wetsuit, swimming for up to 20 minutes to push past the cold shock and raise her core temperature. She uses cold-water swimming for her own physical and mental health, finding it a powerful way to be “totally present in the moment.” This year, her personal endeavor has a public purpose – the month-long LAP it UP challenge.

IN THE MEDIA Star Weekly Swimming for Sean

‘In 2018, Sean and his daughter Kristen McKinney hosted a 2866-lap swimming challenge at the Gisborne Aquatic Centre – one lap for every life lost to suicide in the previous year. Starting at 6am, people of all ages were invited to swim a continuous relay in memory of those that died by suicide.

IN THE MEDIA Australian Rural & regional News ‘Live4life Macedon Ranges passes important milestone — over 10,000 young people and adults in the community have now been trained in evidence-based mental health education’

To mark World Suicide Prevention Day, Live4Life is releasing an interview we filmed in the central Victorian community of Hepburn. Bridget Franc is Coordinator of Live4Life Hepburn and Head of Wellbeing at Daylesford College. In the interview, she speaks about the direct, meaningful impact just talking about mental health and suicide had on the life of one young person.

With the support of a three-year $750,000 grant from the State Trustees Australia Foundation, Live4Life has been able to provide surety for the extensive preparatory work which allows us to expand into new communities across Victoria.

IN THE MEDIA Warragul & Drouin Gazette ‘Live4Life crew learn leadership skills’

More than 30 members of the Baw Baw Live4Life Crew developed leadership skills at a recent training day held at the Bellbird East Pavilion in Drouin.

IN THE MEDIA Inside Local Government website ‘Full crew for Baw Baw mental health skills event’

More than 30 Baw Baw Youth Mental Health Ambassadors, known as the ‘Crew’, came together this week as part of the Live4Life Baw Baw program.  

LAP it UP is a 4-week swim challenge from October 1-28 where you raise funds to support youth mental health in rural and regional areas. REGISTER NOW

New research by University of Melbourne finds that rural and regional young people develop valuable advocacy and employment pathways skills through Live4Life Crew participation, generating long-lasting benefits in the young volunteers’ post-school lives.

IN THE MEDIA Riverine Herald

Benalla Rural City Council has thanked the Lockie Project for its generous donation of $848 to the localLive4Life program.

IN THE MEDIA Mt Gambier Times

GLENELG Shire’s next generation of mental health leaders are making their mark in 2025, with the induction of 42 passionate Year 9 and 10 Live4Life Glenelg Crew members and a powerful series of youth-led Launch Days held throughout May.

IN THE MEDIA Warragul & Drouin Gazette

Youth mental health program "Live4Life" has gained surety with Baw Baw Shire to serve as the lead agency for the next five years.

Are you 18-25 years old? Passionate about improving youth mental health?

Live4Life is proud to announce the inauguration of the Youth Advisory Committee (YAC) . We want you to represent and embed the voices of young people within Live4Life! APPLY HERE

Crew4Life's amazing in-person get together

Live4Life is proud to announce that its annual Community Champion Award winner for 2024 is Ballarat Councillor, former Mayor and Victoria Police Youth Resource Officer, Des Hudson OAM.