Youth take action

Mental Health had everyone talking at an Expo at the Bacchus Marsh Public Hall, organised by Moorabool’s Youth Action Group (YAG).
The Expo was created with the help of the State Government’s ‘Pick My Project’ program, one of 14 successful applications in the region, with the Youth Action Group receiving a grant of $20,000 to run the expo, as well as supporting a new online and print directory to help young people access local mental health services.
Young people gathered at the Hall to learn how to manage and practice good mental health, and hear from those who have experienced issues regarding their own.
The YOUth Mental Health Matters in Moorabool event, held in Bacchus Marsh on Friday, 2 August, was attended by many from across the Shire, including students from Bacchus Marsh College.
Guest speakers included former Western Bulldogs AFL player Tom Boyd and two representatives of Ballarat Community Health, who spoke about their own mental health journeys.
In a video for mental health organisation Headspace, Tom Boyd says, “From my point of view, I probably covered up a lot of the cracks that were starting to appear in my mental health.”
According to Beyond Blue, one in seven young Australians experience a mental health condition.
Attendees at the Expo had the opportunity to participate in workshops curated by Moorabool Shire’s Youth Action Group (YAG) to promote good mental health, which included drumming, meditation, fitness and art.
More than 300 young members of the Moorabool community identified youth mental health as a priority at the Moorabool Mental Health Youth Forum last year, with their insights forming the basis of a Youth Strategy Plan led by Moorabool Shire Council.
According to the Plan, goals for the Shire include improving the mental health of young people in Moorabool, and access to information and a range services.
Moorabool Shire Early Childhood Education & Care Services Co-ordinator Jade Moerenhout said “the feedback from all involved was positive, and the strong message sent to participants throughout the event was that your mental health matters, take care of yourself and don’t wait talk to someone if you’re not feeling okay.”
Member for Melton Steve McGhie said the event “was created locally by young people, for young people to remove the stigma and barriers that make it hard for people to talk about their mental health and access support.”
A similar event is set to be held in Ballan at a future date.