Helping Regional Communities to ‘Give Mental Health Stigma the Flick’
📸 @lakshalperera
Live4Life, in collaboration with local communities in rural and regional Victoria launch the ‘Give Mental Health Stigma the Flick’ campaign for Mental Health Week.
A year and a half into a global pandemic and a lot of focus has been placed on the importance of mental health of young Australians. A key barrier to seeking help is the negative stigma surrounding mental health, especially in rural Australia.
With the help of comedian Hamish Blake along with previous Live4Life participants Kyle, Laura, Matty and Sally, Live4Life are launching the ‘Give Mental Health Stigma the Flick’ campaign for Mental Health Week, which starts on Saturday 9th of October and runs to the 16th of October.
The campaign highlights the impact that negative stigma around mental health has on young people seeking help and invites everyone to be courageous enough to create a new narrative and eradicate negative mental health stereotypes.
With suicide being the leading cause of death of Australian young people, accounting for 40% of all deaths of young people aged 13 to 18 years, and with suicide rates reportedly 40% higher in rural communities it is vital that we open up a constructive conversation around mental health in our regional communities.
Live4Life is the only youth mental health and suicide prevention initiative designed specifically for rural and regional communities. Live4Life builds young people, and the local rural community’s, capacity to recognise mental health concerns and seek and offer help.
“Live4Life has taught me how to look out for myself, and it teaches you how to look out for others – it’s about how you treat yourself and others, and it’s had a big impact.”
Chris, a former Live4Life Crew member.
Live4Life is currently running in six LGAs throughout regional Victoria including Baw Baw, Benalla, Glenelg, Moira, Southern Grampians and the Macedon Ranges, where Live4Life began. There is currently a waitlist of over 20 communities who are wanting to implement the award winning, evidence-based Live4Life program.
“It is really important for the young people in our communities to know that they have the support of the local community behind them. We are inviting everyone to join us in our campaign for Mental Health week this year and help Give Mental Health Stigma the Flick.”
CEO of Live4Life Bernard Galbally.
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
Link to watch the Live4Life Films
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.