South Grampians LDAT empowers secondary students to be the change
Living in a rural community can bring many challenges for young people, especially when faced with negative stigma about mental health, under-resourced services, or limited opportunities for education about alcohol and other drugs.
Over 10 years ago, in the Macedon Ranges Shire in Victoria, the local community felt the need to do something urgently to support their young people.
During consultations, young people made it loud and clear that they wanted change too and the Live4Life model was developed.
Through the Live4Life Southern Grampians LDAT partnership between schools and community, the promotion of positive mental health and resilience is now firmly in the hands of the region’s young people.
Cathryn Walder, Community Engagement Coordinator for the Live4Life partnership, says that young people are passionate about developing and delivering events to schools and the broader community to help smash stigma when talking about anxiety, depression, and alcohol and other drug harms in the region.
“Good mental health is a protective factor for young people on many levels including delaying the onset of alcohol and other drugs."
Peer-to-peer problem solving
The LDAT works closely with Year 9 students who formed the Southern Grampians Live4Life Crew, a group of 17 young people aged 14 to 16 years who volunteer their time as mental health ambassadors.
“They are trained and mentored to become mental health ambassadors for their schools and local communities. They activate peer-to-peer discussion in a safe way about the signs and symptoms of mental health issues, how to seek help or help their friends and self-care,“ explained Cathryn.
“The Crew encourages individuals to be a part of the change and came up with the theme of ‘If Not You, Then Who? Be The Change!’ ”
Cathryn believes that an important approach of the model is that consistent language and messaging about mental health and help-seeking is now being used throughout the whole rural community.
Senior personnel from local secondary schools, local government, community and health services have all come together to be involved in the LDAT.
Training for all
The Live4Life model delivers Mental Health First Aid training to Year 8 and Year 10 students across the whole region. It teaches them how to provide mental first aid to their friends.
The LDAT also trains adult community members to help young people in their care. By investing in the recruitment and training of local instructors, they are building capacity in the local community.
“We weren’t as well-resourced before we became an LDAT,” says Cathryn.
“Through the LDAT, using our delivery model, we’ve been able to provide affordable and accessible training to locals.”
Celebrating The Crew
In November, schools from across the whole region came together in Hamilton to recognise and celebrate The Crew’s achievements, as well as reinforce the key messages delivered through the mental health training. Over 250 people gathered on a basketball court for the presentation followed by a fun afternoon of self-care activities involving art, craft and music.
Not only are the region’s young people now skilled to better support each other - so too are their parents and other adults in the community better able to support them.
Header image Bob T - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0