STUDENTS from across the Glenelg Shire have been inducted as the next wave of youth mental health leaders at the official Live4Life 2020 launch.
Live4Life Glenelg inducted 45 new and ongoing crew members, comprising Year 9 and 10 students from the shire, to continue the initiative’s award-winning success in south-west Victoria.
A recent induction day held at Portland Civic Hall gave crew members insight into the year ahead with team building exercises, planning activities and an overview of Live4Life’s role in the community.
Youth Live4Life community engagement coordinator Cathryn Walder said this year’s induction was different as new Live4Life community Southern Grampians joined the event.
“In 2020 we are in a special position where we are able to bring both the Glenelg and Southern Grampians crew members together,” Ms Walder said.
“This is the first year the initiative will be rolled out in the Southern Grampians area, so it’s fantastic to have both communities working together towards a common goal.
“In total 60 young people attended the session which focuses on preparing the crew members for the year ahead and the role of the crew is to assist in the delivery of events and drive key Live4Life messages at their school and in their community.”
The Live4Life model focuses on a community-wide approach to mental health education and suicide prevention in order to build resilient young people and communities.
Since implementated in the Glenelg Shire in 2017, more than 140 young people have participated as crew members and more than 1100 community members have received mental health training.
