Reference group for better mental health

THIS June, mental health advocate Holly Ellis will wrap up her tenure on the headspace Youth National Reference Group.

Over the last 18 months, Ms Ellis and her peers have aimed to make headspace more accessible and welcoming to young people across Australia.

“On a national level, we consort with headspace staff about how to best represent headspace,” she said.

“There are a lot of elements to the group, like some of us do more media stuff, and others, like me, do more clinical reference work, looking over documents for clinical purposes on the website.”

Ms Ellis said she’s seen the group’s influence impact change, but there’s always room for the organisation to better itself.

“I think multicultural and Indigenous inclusion is a big area, and as a company headspace is improving neurodiverse inclusivity for autism and ADHD,” she said.

“That’s being talked about more since I’ve been on the group, which is great, because that’s something I put on my application that I wanted to bring more awareness to.”

As one of a few Victorians on the hY NRG, Ms Ellis said she’s enjoyed the opportunities to not only represent the state, but headspace Ballarat.

“It feels like Ballarat is leading the way in terms of how headspace is run,” she said.

“We have a lead agency running our headspace, Ballarat Community Health, so our headspace is really tied into the really specific community needs of Ballarat and it’s doing a really good job.

“I’ve spoken to the CEO of headspace and know he deeply values my opinion. I’m really proud to represent headspace Ballarat and all that we do.

“Representing headspace at Mardi Gras in Sydney was amazing, and being part of the LGBT content series last year was an amazing experience again, representing the brand.”

A couple of years ago, Ms Ellis applied online to be part of the hY NRG, having been a contributor at headspace Ballarat.

She said she encourages other young local people, aged 16 to 25, to apply to join the group if they have been in touch with any mental health services in the last 12 months, have a passion for mental health, and improving the lives of others.

“Knowing I can make a difference to young people’s lives in their help-seeking journey, and maybe make it easier, is great,” she said.

“I know it’s always a tough step, finding out where to start.”

Headspace CEO Jason Trethowan said the organisation aims to engage young people, their families, and their friends to they can provide the best services possible.

“Through participation, we recognise that young people, their family and friends are the experts about their own lives and have the right to be actively engaged in the issues that affect them,” he said.

“Engagement starts at the headspace centre, with local reference groups advising services and supporting community engagement.

“At headspace National, we facilitate several avenues for participation in different areas of our work, including the headspace Youth National Reference Group… made up of a diverse group of twenty young Australians with lived experience of mental ill-health.

“Our hY NRG members are passionate about young people’s health and wellbeing, and the program provides them the opportunity to have meaningful input in the strategic direction of headspace.”