DO you know someone aged between 16-25 years who is passionate about mental health and wellbeing?
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If the answer is yes, then check out the Act-Belong-Commit Youth Connectors program.
The initiative offers a chance to upskill, so you can assist and encourage peers to engage in mentally healthy activities.
Young people interested in becoming a Youth Connector are invited to attend a fun, interactive two-hour workshop at the Muswellbrook PCYC on Monday, May 6 (from 3.30pm to 5.30pm), where they meet like-minded individuals and participate in educational and interactive activities.
The workshop aims to increase knowledge on how to keep mentally healthy, as well as boosting your confidence in how to encourage and support friends and the community.
As well as benefiting your own mental health, "Connectors" become a source of information on local activities and encourage others to engage in events that build resilience.
"We know that young people are most likely to turn to their friends for support when things aren't going so well, which is why it's so important that we upskill them to support each other and encourage each other to do things to be mentally healthy," Youth Connectors coordinator Darci Miller said.
"This is why I am very excited to be running our first interstate Youth Connectors workshop in Muswellbrook.
"I know these skills will be very beneficial to the community especially when facing testing times like drought."
Since launching the program in 2017, Ms Miller has trained more than 637 passionate young people to be 'Connectors' across Western Australia.
A recent evaluation of the program shows it is making an impact in changing the way youngsters think - and talk - about mental health.
"We are very excited to bring Youth Connectors to the Muswellbrook LGA as part of the Act-Belong-Commit campaign," Muswellbrook Healthy & Well local coordinator Carly Hughes said.
"We hope young people will jump on this great opportunity to get involved in their community."
For more information on this event, or to RSVP by Thursday, May 2, visit the website at MuswellbrookHealthyandWell.org.au/events or contact Carly Hughes on 0438 264 610 or carly.hughes@newcastle.edu.au