Common Connections for Local Youth
Published on 15 June 2018
A group of people who work with or are associated with young people recently undertook training in Mental Health First Aid.
Held in Tumut the training was facilitated by Helen Sheather, an Albury based mental health worker and educator/facilitator of Mental Health First Aid Training who works for Rural Adversity Mental Health Program (RAMHP) delivering training sessions in the Riverina communities.
The training aimed to equip youth mentors with the necessary practical skills in helping young people requiring immediate first aid in regards to suicidal feelings, depression, anxiety and/or other forms of mental illness.
Snowy Valleys Council’s Youth Development Officer Evan Saunders said participants learnt about how to spark the right conversations with young people severely affected by a mental health condition or who may have had to respond to a crisis mental health situation. They also learnt about services to refer and direct young people in crisis to, including accessline, headspace, hospitals etc,.
Tumut Youth Council was a 2017 recipient of an ABC Heywire grant to establish a peer mentoring network in the Snowy Valleys Council area known as Common Connections.
Through Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal (FRRR) community organisations were invited to apply for grants of up to $10,000 to adopt programs created by young regional Australians with lived experiences. Through their application, Snowy Valleys Council was awarded $5,700 to implement their program addressing barriers for young people seeking mental health support.
The program was to provide Mental health First Aid training to existing mentors working with youth in various circles while also developing community activities and workshops which focus on positive mental health outcomes for young people.
Common Connections was one of a few ideas developed by young regional Australians at last year’s Heywire Youth Summit. Local Tumut Youth Council member Teagan Fava says she applied for the funding to create more awareness for young people about whom they can turn to for help when needed. Sometimes young people are on a waiting list to see a qualified specialist over an hours journey away in Wagga. When access to transport is limited they often don’t know who they can turn to while they wait for help. Including local mentors through common connections this program will fill a much needed gap in youth support services.
The training ran over two Thursday in late May 2018. For more information regarding Common Connections and to find out how you can be involved email [email protected] or phone 6941 2552.