Students inducted into mental health program
Achievers: The students are now part of “The Crew” where they act as mental health advocates and engage in mental health services for their school and community. Photo by Contributed
Now entering its third operating year in the area, the program teaches mental health peer support strategies and mental health first aid, as well as general education.
They are now part of “The Crew” — a Live4Life leadership and participation program where they act as advocates and are engaged in mental health education and literacy for their peers and the wider community.
Live4Life crew development support worker Kyle Hayes said the program educated young people and everyone around them to provide wraparound support.
“It’s all about educating young people around what mental health is ... how to have those difficult conversations with their mates who might be struggling or having a rough time,” he said.
Cobram Anglican Grammar School student Tahlia Muller said she thought the program would help generate understanding within the school community.
“I think it’ll help them understand more what other people are going though and what experience they have to face, and how to help,” she said.
“I think it’ll be pretty effective. It brings fun to the community and since COVID-19, it will just like lift the mood.”
Head of Anglican identity at CAGS Shea Doyle said participating in the program for a third year running was a ‘no-brainer’.
“It’ll help increase awareness, increasing confidence to actually talk about our mental health ... we’re also looking to run a whole lot of other activities and initiatives at school, just to keep the momentum going throughout the year,” she said.
Cobram Secondary College student Cheyenne Taha said being in the program would help her teach others what mental health meant, and how to help themselves and others.
“A lot of the people in my school, I feel like they don’t understand the severity of some mental health and they kind of make fun of it a bit,” she said.
“I’m hoping it (the program) will be pretty effective.”
The program is supported by Moira Shire Council. Mayor Libro Mustica said young people were the key to Live4Life’s success.
“We know young people in Moira are interested to learn about how to maintain great mental health and what to do when it starts to affect us,” he said.
“The Crew will assist Live4Life in getting some key messages out to other young people and organise celebration events.”
By Isabelle Harris McPherson Media Group