'The Crew' to tackle one of the biggest issues facing our young people
News Story from The Courier, published March 10 2024
Image Description: Ballarat High School student Kherington Aykens feels empowered to help show young people there is "a great big world full of life" out there. Picture by Lachlan Bence
Kherington Aykens says she is "not a little kid anymore" and growing up is becoming more aware of the real world.
A big part of that world has been recognising an acute youth mental health crisis and youth suicide as young lives lost in this community.
But the Ballarat High School year 10 student feels empowered to help try and tackle such a huge issue in the best way she can - listening to peers.
Ms Aykens is one of about 30 students to be inducted as Crew ambassadors in the award-winning, evidence-based and community-led Live4Life program.
The Crew are drawn from more than 1200 students in eight Ballarat secondary schools to undertake the youth mental health education and youth suicide prevention program, introduced in partnership with the City of Ballarat in 2023.
Their role is to advocate and promote youth mental health in a way they think fits this community best.
"I just feel so honoured to have this position in the community," Ms Aykens said. "I know I can help people and show there are better things in this world and anything they are experiencing isn't a reason to stop right now - there is a great big world full of life to be had."
Community lobbying and fundraising, including from the Friends of India Network, helped bring the program to Ballarat schools in the wake of a scourge of youth suicide in the region.
Live4Life was developed in the Macedon Ranges in 2010 in response to increasing anxiety, depression, self-harm and suicide among its young people.
The program has been expanded into 10 Ballarat secondary schools in 2024 with participants in years eight and 10.
Ms Aykens said she did not feel the weight of a responsibility but a confidence and empowerment in helping others, given teenagers tended to confide more in friends than trusted adults.
See original article here.