Cobram Anglican Grammar School students joined fellow students from eight other Moira Shire secondary schools for the Live4Life Induction Day at the Cobram Civic Centre.
The Moira Shire Council-supported event, held on Wednesday, March 1, was organised by charity Live4Life, which runs a unique mental health education and youth suicide prevention program designed for rural and regional communities.
The group delivers teenage and accredited youth mental health first aid training for school students as well as promoting students as mental health ambassadors.
Through their program, participants are equipped with the tools and resources to help others who may be struggling with their mental health.
Wednesday’s event, which was open to Year 9 and 10 students, saw six CAGS students attend and learn about mental health first aid and begin their first steps as future ambassadors.
This learning included speeches made by Moira Shire Council team member Janet Martin and NCN Health community development officer Nicole Wells in which they shared their insights into mental health.
CAGS Year 9 student Lyra Mete was at the event and described learning about the program and meeting other students as a great experience.
“We started talking about what Live4Life is all about and how the program is helping people in rural communities. Basically, it was just an overview of what we are going to be doing over the course of the next year.”
Lyra said she learnt a lot during the four-hour induction session and said one of the highlights was being introduced to practical tips for how to help somebody potentially struggling with their mental health
“We learnt that you should go up to the person (identified as needing support) and ask if they’re ok, talk about what they are feeling/experiencing and take them to a safe place and see if they will open up to you,” she said.
CAGS head of welfare and child safety officer Vanessa Wannis said it was an incredible event.
“(The program) will help send out an important message; which is that young leaders can be mental health ambassadors and help reduce the stigma around mental health,” Ms Wannis said.
A Moira Shire spokesperson said the attendees expressed enthusiasm and excitement at being part of the program.