A new support service for the young people of the Loddon Campaspe region has been launched in the Macedon Ranges Shire.
The Keep In Touch (KIT) van was officially unveiled on Tuesday 8 October – the eve of World Mental Health Day.
The KIT van is an initiative of the Loddon Campaspe Regional Partnership and the Department of Health and Human Services, which provided $400,000 to the project. Three young people who were involved in the project launched the van at a special mental health event at Braemar College.
The initiative came about after the Regional Partnership conducted six 'When Life Sucks' forums, which attracted around 200 young people aged 12 to 25, to discuss what was needed to support youth mental health and build resilience in their communities.
The KIT van was among the top ideas, complete with technology that will enable access to mental health and wellbeing resources.
It will be staffed by a project worker employed by Anglicare, who will visit towns around the region to promote a positive mental health message, and work in conjunction with other local service providers and a youth crew.
An app was launched in conjunction, allowing locals to know when the KIT van is in town as well as providing a directory of local services available.
The Loddon Campaspe Regional Partnership has also allocated $35,000 of seed funding to support the project evaluation design and the initial stages of the app development. To download the app, go to the Keep In Touch website.
For more about the Loddon Campaspe Regional Partnership, go to Regional Development Victoria.
