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Baw Baw Shire students lead Live4Life program with mental health activities and awareness

Baw Baw Live4Life program's Crew, consisting of young people from eight secondary schools, will raise mental health awareness and provide support to peers and community, to launch their program on May 1st.

By news@gippsland - 30th March 2023 - Back to News

Local young people from eight secondary schools across Baw Baw Shire will work together to raise awareness about mental health as part of the Baw Baw Live4Life program. The Live4Life Crew are set to deliver mental health awareness activities throughout the year, educating and supporting their peers and community to help smash the stigma around mental health, learn how to recognise the signs of mental health issues, and know where young people can go for help.

Live4Life provides mental health training in schools and communities, reduces stigma, and promotes youth as mental health ambassadors

Event celebrates leadership

Currently, Crew members are busy planning the official 2023 program launch which will be held on Monday 1st May at the West Gippsland Arts Centre, and see close to 1000 year eight students from across Baw Baw to be introduced to the Live4Life model and program.

The event follows the Crew Induction held in early March, where Crew members had the opportunity to get to know each other, take part in the team building activities and brainstorm as a collective their theme for the year. Mayor of Baw Baw Shire, Cr Annemarie McCabe, attended the event to meet the Crew and congratulate each of them for their efforts and willingness to step up and embark on their leadership journey as a Live4Life 2023 Crew Members.

Baw Baw Shire Council is proud to lead the Crew component of the Live4Life model that works to improve youth mental health and reduce youth suicide and we are proud to be part of the Baw Baw Live4Life Community Partnership. 656 Year 8's, 273 Year 10's, 191 adults and 69 Crew have undertaken Mental Health Education through the Baw Baw Live4Life program since it began in 2020.

Program information

Live4Life is a rural-focused mental health program led by youth, made up of students from each of the participating secondary schools. For more information, you can visit the following pages:

• Baw Baw Live4Life
• Live4Life Crew

In partnership with schools and agencies, Live4Life Baw Baw promotes youth mental health. The council leads student engagement through The Crew, supported by education staff and council officers.

Teenage mental health crisis

Mayor Cr Annemarie McCabe said, "Since launching in Baw Baw in 2020, 929 high school students, 191 adults and 69 crew members have undertaken mental health education through Live4Life Baw Baw, and with an ever-growing Crew of awesome mental health ambassadors, there is no sign of slowing."

"What we know is that the statistics around mental health issues experienced by young people and the rate of suicide are at high levels, and they are even higher in regional and remote areas. Baw Baw Shire Council are hugely supportive of the work Life4Life does in our community to improve youth mental health and raise awareness of the important issues faced by young people."

"It's more important than ever before that we work together to support each other, take action to challenge the stigmas around mental health and learn how we can support ourselves and get help if and when we need it". Cr McCabe said.

Pictures from Baw Baw Shire Council website.

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com