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Students at Pinjarra High School participated in a life-saving mental health program, providing them with essential skills to help themselves and their peers.
The engaging program, Have a conversation about mental health, is managed by Youth Focus and is open to Grade 9 students, parents and teachers in high schools in Western and Metropolitan Western Australia.
More than 150 students participated in five workshops at the school on October 30 and 31, thanks to the partnership between Youth Focus and Alcoa of Australia, which provides mental health services to the Peel region.
The Schools Program is part of the Youth Focus mission to improve youth mental health and prevent youth suicide.
Suicide is the leading cause of death among young Australians. The latest statistics show that 51 young people aged 15 to 24 committed suicide in Western Australia in 2017.
For every suicide, another 20 people try to commit suicide.
Chris Harris, Executive Director of Youth Focus for Community Engagement, said community education was the cornerstone of suicide prevention.
"In Australia, one in four young people are living with a mental illness," Harris said.
"Research shows that 75% of all mental illnesses appear for the first time in people under 25 years of age. Early intervention and the creation of supportive communities are therefore essential.
"Awareness programs in schools are a vital conduit for youth to help us raise awareness and better understand youth mental health issues."
The Youth Focus Schools Program was established in 2012 to strengthen mental health knowledge in school communities. It has been revised this year to include more progressive messages, including encouraging youth to talk to a trusted adult for advice and support in case of difficulty.
"As part of the Youth Focus School Program, we share important knowledge and skills so that youth, parents, and educators can recognize and manage mental health issues before they get older." Make it worse, "said Harris.
"As a community, we need to build the confidence of young people so that they feel comfortable starting discussions about mental health with their friends and peers.
"The feedback we received about our program has been extremely positive.
"This shows that young people understand the importance of having a healthy mind and that they want to learn how to improve their mental health and well-being."
More than 6,000 students from 40 schools participated in the program during the last fiscal year.
Michael Parker, President and CEO of Alcoa of Australia, said the company is proud to support these essential services as well as the health and well-being of our young people.
The schools program is in addition to the free youth counseling sessions offered by experienced Youth Focus clinicians.
If you or any of your acquaintances require urgent assistance, please contact the suicide recall service at 1300 659 467, the child helpline at 1800 55 1800 or the Lifeline at 13 11 14 .
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