Youth mental health partnership continues

Portland District Health & Live4Life join forces again

Young people in the Glenelg Shire have received a further boost for their mental health, with a key health agency re-signing to the award-winning Live4Life Glenelg initiative.

Portland District Health have extended their partnership with Live4Life Glenelg for 2023. The local health service recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Live4Life Glenelg, formalising their support for youth mental health.

Live4Life partnership officer Lynda Smith said it was fantastic to have renewed community support from the largest health organisation in the Shire.

“Portland District Health have been a key community partner of Live4Life Glenelg for the past five years and we are thrilled to welcome them on board again for 2023,” she said. “This MoU will ensure we can continue to collaborate on key community events, and look for opportunities within the work of Portland District Health to promote and support the delivery of Live4Life Glenelg, such as the popular Colour Run last year.

“The MOU also provides opportunities for PDH to work in collaboration with the Live4Life Glenelg partnership group as a strongly networked community. “But above all, this support will ensure we can continue to invest in young people’s mental health and wellbeing and decrease the mental health stigma.”

Portland District Health chief executive officer Samantha Sharp said the service was proud to work in partnership with Live4Life. “The work that Live4Life have achieved with the youth in our Shire has been tremendous. Portland District Health is delighted to partner with Live4Life and continue to support their program,” she said.

Live4Life is an award winning mental health education and youth suicide prevention model designed specifically for rural and regional communities.

Since its implementation in the Glenelg Shire in 2017 more than 230 young people have participated as crew members and more than 1700 young people and 280 adults have received mental health training. For more information, visit www.live4life.org. au/our-communities/glenelg.

PARTNERSHIP EXTENDED: Glenelg Shire Youth Officers Jesse Beavis (left) & Casey Marlow (right) celebrate the renewed partnership for Live4Life Glenelg with Portland District Health’s allied health manager Nikki Edwards (centre)