New resource for young people in crisis

SIX central Victorian organisations have come together to develop a resource designed to help young people access mental health support.

The Bendigo Youth Crisis Card and poster lists the phone number and operating hours of several local and national services like headspace, Kids Helpline and Lifeline.

The initiative was funded by the Suicide Prevention Awareness Network Central Victoria using a donation from Bendigo man Tim McKern’s 160-kilometre Walk for Mental Health earlier this year alongside five friends.

headspace Bendigo, Anglicare Victoria, Bendigo Community Health Services, Catherine McAuley College and Bendigo Foodshare also partnered on the project, with the poster launched last week. The cards are set to be distributed in early October.

SPAN vice-president Alannah McGregor said the resources were created to give people a way to quickly help someone in need.

“SPAN became aware of a general sense of confusion in which place to ring if you or your child are in a crisis,” she said.

“When you are helping someone in crisis your mind can go blank, so you need to have the information you need right there available.

“This card allows you to see all resources clearly and if you are not in a crisis then this card will allow you to have it in the back of your mind if you ever need the information.

“In general, there is no local to Bendigo resource that covers all crisis needs straight away so this card will cover not just mental health but all different aspects of crisis such as housing and alcohol and other drug services.”

The card and poster also feature a QR code which can be scanned to access a digital version of the resource.

BCHS health promotion officer and headspace youth reference group member Belle Grech said the feature allows people to keep the poster on their phone.

“Providing this digital element alongside the physical copy of the poster and the crisis card allows greater accessibility for young people to utilise the resource. I encourage everyone to scan the code and save the poster on their phone,” she said.

“Adding it to your favourites in your photo album or making it your wallpaper will ensure that you are always supported if you or a friend experience a crisis.”