MEDIA RELEASE

Friday 23 January 2026

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

LIVE4LIFE CALLS FOR STRONGER YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT IN RURAL COMMUNITIES FOLLOWING FIRES AND FLOODS 

Regional Victoria, 23 January 2026 — Live4Life CEO Jeremy Wiggins is urging governments to strengthen youth mental health support in rural Australia following catastrophic bushfires and flash flooding, warning that young people will face ongoing impacts long after emergency responses end.

The call comes as Live4Life reaches a significant milestone, having now supported more than 38,970 young people across 14 rural and regional communities through its youth-led mental health and suicide prevention programs.

“Disasters place enormous strain on young people and families, particularly in communities where access to mental health support is already limited,” Mr Wiggins said. “The recovery phase is where sustained, local support matters most.”

Mr Wiggins was personally impacted by both the fires and floods earlier this month, with his household evacuated and friends and community members losing homes and animals.

“These experiences are traumatic and destabilising,” he said. “They reinforce the need for prevention-focused mental health programs that are embedded in communities before a crisis hits.”

Since 2010, Live4Life has worked in partnership with local councils, schools and services to build community-wide approaches to youth mental health. The program has delivered mental health education to over 38,970 young people and 3,600 adults, trained 1,800 youth mental health ambassadors, and supported 147 Mental Health First Aid instructors across Victoria and Tasmania.

State Member for Euroa Annabelle Cleeland MP, whose electorate was directly affected by the recent fires, said youth-led programs like Live4Life played a critical role in strengthening community resilience.

“Every young person deserves access to strong, early mental health support, regardless of their postcode,” Ms Cleeland said. “Live4Life has proven that when young people are given the tools, the training and the trust, they can make a real difference in their own communities.”

Live4Life’s model has been recognised through independent evaluations and acknowledged in the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System for its ability to build strong local partnerships and improve mental health literacy.

Former Live4Life participant and Crew4Life volunteer Bella Trait said community connection remained vital as recovery continues.

“While the fires may be easing, the mental health impact, especially for young people, will last longer,” she said. “Many are still processing fear and stress, and ongoing support and safe spaces to talk are really important.”

With many young people preparing to return to school, Mr Wiggins said the coming weeks would be critical.

“Some students will be returning to classrooms while living in temporary accommodation or supporting families under extreme pressure,” he said. “We must ensure they’re not left without support.”

Live4Life is aligned with the Victorian Suicide Prevention and Response Strategy (2024–2034) and is identified as a key initiative in the Victorian Suicide Prevention and Response Implementation Plan (2024–2026).

Live4Life thanks the Victorian and Federal Governments for their ongoing support and remains committed to expanding youth-led mental health prevention programs in disaster-affected and high-risk regional communities.