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Grant to provide mental health support to Kwinana youth

Tyra PetersSound Telegraph
The City of Kwinana has secured a $100,000 grant from the Western Australian Primary Health Alliance (WAPHA) to help to support its youth mental health initiatives.
Camera IconThe City of Kwinana has secured a $100,000 grant from the Western Australian Primary Health Alliance (WAPHA) to help to support its youth mental health initiatives. Credit: Supplied

The City of Kwinana has secured a $100,000 grant from the Western Australian Primary Health Alliance (WAPHA) to help to support its youth mental health initiatives.

The city plans to deliver three initiatives focused on youth mental health, resilience and suicide prevention.

Kwinana Mayor Carol Adams said the funding would assist the city in establishing a youth mental health advisory group. The program is to be renamed by local young people and will utilise $30,000 of the funds.

“There has been an identified need within the community and surrounds to have a dedicated youth mental health advisory group, and inviting young people in our community to be part of the solution especially as mental health issues are on the increase within our community,” Ms Adams said.

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A platform for young people to be heard, the group would be open to all Kwinana residents aged 14 to 25 and would focus on enhancing connections, increasing belonging and reducing stigma around mental health struggles.

“This will be facilitated by our Youth and Community Wellbeing Team in collaboration with sector experts. The difference with this program is that the lead will be given to the young people within this group to help be part of the solution,” Ms Adams said.

The second initiative would see the City use $60,000 to operate a capacity building grants scheme to support local community organisations and other services in connecting with the community and improving mental health literacy.

The remaining funds from the grant will see a third initiative designed to upskill local organisations, with workshops like Youth Mental Health First Aid and other resilience and intervention skillsets, to support young people and their mental wellbeing.

Ms Adams said the funding would help deliver programs and events to reduce disconnection in the community, increase belonging, increase mental health literacy and education, reduce stigma and suicide risk among young people.

“Initial discussions have identified recreation and sporting activities, engaging young people and families, young men’s groups, young women’s group, youth intervention support programs and cultural camps as potential initiatives to access funds,” she said.

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