Positive messages passed on

The enthusiastic Live4Life crew, made up of 35 year nines and 10s from five local colleges, launched Live4Life 2013 for their year eight peers this week.

Kylie Kitchen

Macedon Ranges year eight students were given a captivating introduction to youth mental health initiative, Live4Life, on Tuesday.

The students are set to follow in the footsteps of past Live4Life groups in transforming internal awareness, social attitudes and schoolyard dynamics through the year-long program.

Since its beginnings in late 2009, students, teachers and parents have sung high praise for the locally-born Live4Life.

Teens are educated to identify, talk about and manage their mental health and that of their peers.

At the 2013 launch this week, mental health messages were delivered via mediums ranging from poetry slam and song, to videos and talks.

"The students get some really great, simple messages," council youth development unit coordinator, Pauline Neil said.

"One is that we all have mental health issues and there are some key support people in their life and if they're worried at all about what is going on for them that they can tell an adult and get the support they need.

"The other key message is that talking about mental health is very fun. We've worked very hard at making sure the association with the Live4Life brand as one of fun and trying to address the stigma.

"As Sam Hasell (a participant in Live4Life's first year) said in his opening, 'Live4Life is not just a community, it felt like I was part of a family'. To be involved in a mental health program and to get that sense from it as a young person is quite extraordinary."

An energetic year nine and 10 crew hosted the event, drawing on their experience as Live4Life participants in the past two years.

Ms Neil commended the crew for successfully holding the attention of 600 young teens. 

"It was certainly the best launch we've had to date," she said.

"The way in which the Live4Life crew worked toward the launch and really took control on the day was fantastic.

"It was high energy, the students said it was a lot of fun."

The interactive event included a DVD on sexting, a game busting mental health myths, a short play depicting issues around mental health, and a session addressing the question, 'Why is it important to destigmatise mental illness?'. 

"They really enjoyed it and they though the DVD was really powerful," Ms Neil said.

"The message was really that each person sitting there has the ability to make good choices and can predict the impact of making a poor choice on themselves and those around them."

Live4Life is an initiative by Cobaw Community Health, Macedon Ranges Council, Victoria Police and local schools, Sacred Heart College, Kyneton Secondary College, Braemar College, Gisborne Secondary College and Macedon Grammar.

In terms two and three, the year eights will cover topics, 'What's up', 'In Your Head', 'Body Talk' and 'Helping Hand'. Parents will have the opportunity to participate in Youth Mental Health First Aid training as part of the program.