NCN Health and CAGS join forces for mental health awareness

By Gabriel Garcia

Sep 15, 2023

Raising awareness: CAGS Year 9 student Samuel Stillard is a member of Moira Shire Council’s Live4Life crew. He says R U OK? Day is an important reminder to recognise people are often struggling silently. Photo by Gabriel Garcia

Cobram Anglican Grammar School and NCN Health united on Thursday, September 14 for R U OK? Day.

The day is an R U OK? charity initiative encouraging people to support and assist each other during difficult times.

To this end, NCN Health organised outdoor games, including giant noughts and crosses, fruit smoothie bikes and a pin-up board for students to enjoy at lunchtime.

The pin-up board had students write a message to let the people in their world know that the students were available to hear them.

It was a play on the theme of this year’s R U OK? Day, which was ‘I’m here to hear’.

The school also provided a DJ for the students to enjoy.

NCN Health community development officer Nicole Wells said the event was incredibly successful.

“We’re supporting the kids to learn more about mental health and where to find support and how to look after themselves and each other,” she said.

“We’ve done that with our smoothie bikes to engage them so that they will come in and have a chat to us and have a look at our resources and information.”

Messages of help: The NCN Health R U OK? board, on which students from CAGS placed messages of hope and assistance. Photo by Gabriel Garcia

The NCN Health team also supported CAGS students who are part of Live4Life, providing them with information and resources to better care for their fellow students.

The Live4Life crew members hail from the various schools in the region and are made up of individual students who volunteer to be local mental health ambassadors.

Year 9 student Samuel Stillard is one such student.

He said R U OK? Day was about ensuring fellow students coped with life’s stress.

“It means making sure other people are right,” Samuel said.

“A lot of people don’t speak up about the issues that they have, which is really sad.”

Samuel believes R U OK? Day is a good reminder for people to speak up if they need help.

He said the smoothie bikes were the best part of the lunchtime activities.

“Definitely seeing all the smiles on people’s faces as they were riding the smoothie bikes,” Samuel said.

“They definitely had a good time.”

As for being part of the Live4Life crew, Samuel said it had been a great experience.

“It’s been a lot of fun for me,” he said.