Riverina communities rally to support youth mental health initiatives

Murray MP Helen Dalton said following the recent tragedies singer Guy Sebastian had been in touch, offering to fund mental health programs in 20 schools in the region through his charity, Sebastian Foundation.

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Sebastian Foundation manager Rebecca Oxenbould said the programs would be partially funded through money raised by an eight-day charity bike ride along the Murray River, named Tour For Their Future and organised by Lockhart farm-hand, John Fox.

The bike ride took place in March this year and saw 11 riders travelling the 1138 kilometres from Albury to Goolwa, South Australia, raising just over $25,000 for the Sebastian Foundation.

Mr Fox, who has previously organised bike rides for Fight MND, said they had hoped the funds raised would help kick start the program for young people in regional areas.

"It's just really humbling that its had the desired effect," Mr Fox said. "Obviously you'll never be able to measure the impact, but if you could save one person I'd do the ride 10 times over."

The mental health program supported by the Sebastian Foundation is called 'Open Parachute' and aims to provide peer-to-peer, practical mental health support for students, teachers and parents.

"It's delivered in schools using the medium of film - showing kids other kids who have been through a similar experience and the tips they used to get through it," Ms Oxenbould said.

"It's been developed by Dr Hayley Watson, a clinical psychologist with a pHD in bullying interventions."

Ms Oxenbould said they currently had around seven schools committed to the program in the region and were organising a group Zoom (Friday 11) for anyone who would like more information.

Mrs Dalton said locals had also rallied to do what they could, with Griffith Anytime Fitness offering to send trainers to schools to do exercise classes and many other constituents asking where they could make donations.

Hay War Memorial High School also held their annual mental health day last Friday, organised by local group, Community Action for Suicide Elimination.

A statement from NSW Minister for Mental Health, Bronnie Taylor said keeping communities safe and preventing suicide required a coordinated approach that extends beyond the health system and involves local communities, the private sector and other areas of government.

"NSW Government supports the work of the Murrumbidgee Local Response Group, which collaborates with senior leaders from the Local Health District, Wellways After Suicide Support Service, PHN, Headspace Wagga, local schools and the Police," the statement read.

"This group has been working with the community offering support to the families and loved ones, including messaging to young people to prevent and respond to suicide, how to survive suicidal feelings and crisis situations.

"Murrumbidgee Local Health District has six Specialist Community Mental Health Drug and Alcohol Services that outreach into their surrounding communities and provide specialist mental health care for adults and adolescents that is close to home, accessible, personalised, evidence-based and recovery-focused.

"There is no waiting list, no referrals are required and anyone can be linked to the service by phoning Accessline on 1800 800 944."