Improving the mental health of local young people and reducing youth suicide is the focus of the Central Goldfields Live4Life program.
Our Shire was chosen to be a Live4Life community in 2021 due to the collective efforts of Council, local schools and local services who recognised the need for more support for our young people.
Live4Life is the only mental health education and youth suicide prevention model designed specifically for rural and regional communities. This is important because in rural communities like the Central Goldfields, the suicide rate is reportedly 40% higher.
Since its launch earlier this year, the Live4Life program has ramped up with a dedicated project officer appointed to lead the project locally.
To date the Central Goldfields Live4Life program has delivered:
- Establishment of a Partnership Group consisting of local schools, services and Victoria Police who all come together regularly to support Central Goldfields young people with their mental health through the Live4Life model
- 10% of staff at Highview College and Maryborough Education Centre have been trained in Youth Mental Health First Aid.
- As a result of the training, staff have shared that they now feel more confident in supporting a young person who is experiencing poor mental health and in getting them the help that they need.
- Live4Life Project Officer Shelley Feilding and Maryborough Education School Nurse Fiona Phelan have become licensed Teen Mental Health First Aid Instructors to deliver Teen Mental Health First Aid training to Year 8 and Year 10 students. Highview teacher and Year Level Coordinator Bridget Wilson has also been accepted into an upcoming Instructor course.
- Training local people to become Teen Mental Health Instructors ensures that our community is well resourced to be able to deliver training annually.
- Year 8's from Highview College (approximately 60+ students) have completed their Teen Mental Health First Aid training.
- Year 8's from Maryborough Education Centre have also recently commenced Teen Mental Health First Aid training
Teen Mental Health First Aid training gives young people skills and confidence to look after themselves and their friends. One of the key messages from the training is about involving a trusted and responsible adult, especially in a mental health crisis. Youth Mental Health First Aid is delivered to adults to equip them with the skills to assist young people.
Training our students and community in Mental Health First Aid is vital given that suicide is the leading cause of death of Australian young people and that 75% of people with mental ill health have their first episode during adolescence. The training provided is based on research and guidelines developed by experts and people with lived experience and is currently delivered both nationally and internationally.
In the future, parents, community leaders and sporting coaches will have the opportunity to participate in Youth Mental Health First Aid training so they can provide appropriate support and refer young people to professional help, if needed. It's these key individuals in our young people's lives who may be the first to notice if a young person is having a hard time.
Central Goldfields Shire Mayor Cr Grace La Vella said it was wonderful to see what the Live4Life program has delivered in our community in such a short period of time.
"It has never been more important to assist our rural youth and challenge the stigma associated with mental illness.
"We are proud to partner with Youth Live4Life and thrilled to see how our local schools, services and students are responding to the program and their willingness to put themselves forward so that we can support our community to understand the signs and symptoms of mental illness."
Central Goldfields Shire Live4Life Project Officer Shelley Feilding said it is important that we train our young people in Mental Health First Aid because evidence shows that when a young person is experiencing poor mental health, it's most often a friend who they choose to talk to.
"This can be a heavy burden for a young person and so it's crucial that they know when and how to involve an adult. Ultimately, the training aims to ensure that our young people stay safe and get the help they need."
