Our model
The Live4Life model is the only mental health education & youth suicide prevention model designed specifically for rural communities.
There are four key components of the Live4Life model:
School & Community Partnerships
The local School and Community Partnership Group is an essential component of the Live4Life model. It requires representation and commitment from senior personnel from local secondary schools, local government, community and health services.
This group drives the implementation of Live4Life in the community, and is key to achieving collective impact. The partnership group meets at least quarterly and requires administration and coordination support.
Evidence-based mental health education
Through the delivery of evidence-based suicide prevention and mental health education in the community, the Live4Life model ensures consistent, research-based messages, knowledge and language circulates within the community. This is essential to reducing stigma, increasing mental health literacy and encouraging positive help-seeking behaviours. This component includes:
Identifying and training local community members, enabling them to become accredited Youth and Teen Mental Health First Aid® instructors
Delivering Youth Mental Health First Aid courses to teachers, parents, carers and community leaders
Delivering teen Mental Health First Aid courses to all year 8 and year 10-11 students across all schools in the community, tailored for each age group
By investing in the recruitment and training of local instructors to deliver Mental Health First Aid training in their community, the Live4Life model enables communities to build capacity and ensure long-lasting impact by up-skilling locals, and ensuring they can maintain the mental health education of their young people and community at little to no cost.
The Crew: Youth Leadership and Participation Program
Student representatives from years 9 and 10 from each participating local school are able to express interest in joining a local Live4Life Crew. The role of The Crew is to assist in the delivery of events and drive key Live4Life messages at their school and in their community. The Crew is supported by the local council (or another relevant organisation with youth participation expertise).
Crew members are engaged, active and invested in the mental health education and literacy of their peers and wider community. They become mental health advocates and Live4Life ambassadors. The Crew provides young people with the opportunity to be leaders in their local area, and to advocate for mental health support and education in an ongoing and empowering way
Support and mentoring by Youth Live4Life staff
As communities implement the Live4Life model, Youth Live4Life staff provide guidance, support and problem-solving assistance on a regular basis. This includes:
Providing expertise in implementing the Live4Life model
Support on the ground in each community (usually every 1-2 months) and weekly-fortnightly help desk support
Relationship management and partnership brokerage skills
Governance and project management tools
Networking opportunities with other Live4Life Partnership Groups and Crews
Guidance and mentoring, specifically in the youth participation and peer-to-peer components of the model
Coordination of a Live4Life Crew camp for participating communities (subject to funding)
Specialised skill set in community development strategies
Advice and support to Mental Health First Aid instructors
Advice and guidance around mental health education, suicide prevention and post-vention, within the local Partnership Group
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“It helped me develop my skills as a leader, an involved community member and a mental health advocate, exceeding all my expectations.”
— Matty, former Crew member and ongoing supporter of Live4Life