As increased demand for mental health support continues, a free program is being offered to help alleviate pressures on youth across the region.
Teenagers and young adults are facing continued social and economic pressures on top of the many challenges that are common within the 12 to 25-year-old age bracket.
These can include struggling with motivation, goal setting, bullying, resilience building, anxiety, exercise and nutrition, plus self-care, mindfulness and gratitude.
Now, local not-for-profit organisation Youturn Youth Support will run this eight-week program alongside a well-known Sunshine Coast personal trainer and counsellor.
The YouMatter program, happening in Noosa, will offer a relaxed, non-clinical environment, free of judgement for young people to talk and connect.
It also aims to address financial barriers often associated with accessing health services.
Delivered by Leon Stensholm from Body & Mind by Leon, Youturn CEO Tanya Bell said the program would provide youth with tools and strategies to deal with life challenges and stressful situations.
“The increased demand for mental health support, in particular youth mental health, is a large area of ongoing concern both locally and nationwide,” Ms Bell said.
“There can be many barriers to accessing mental health services, including long wait times, financial capacity, geographical area, stigma and apprehension surrounding accessing clinical services.”
Ms Bell said that through Youturn’s own resources, plus in partnership with government, private and community sectors, the organisation looks to deliver positive, life-changing programs addressing various issues such through the development and delivery of programs such as YouMatter.
“The YouMatter program will offer a safe and relaxed social space for young people experiencing similar difficulties to meet and connect, while also receiving ongoing psychoeducation, developing coping skills, receiving mentoring and counselling support in a non-clinical environment,” she said.
“We received some great feedback from our last program run at Kawana late last year and we believe that this program has the potential to make a positive difference in the lives of young people in the Noosa Shire.”
While the program kicked off on February 14, registrations are still available for the weekly program, which take place at The J in Noosa Heads.
For more information, or if you know someone who will benefit from this program, contact Leon at leon@bodybyleon.com.au.
Youturn is a not-for-profit charity based at Tewantin that began more than 30 years ago to help address youth homelessness in the Noosa region. Since then, the organisation has grown to also offer support for child safety, mental health and suicide prevention. Youturn now works from 15 locations across southeast Queensland with 168 staff who supported more than 9900 vulnerable people in 2022.
In mental health, Youturn has delivered youth support services through the headspace model since 2012, when the first centre in Maroochydore was opened. Now Youturn now manages five centres funded across three Primary Health Network areas in south Queensland including Toowoomba, Bundaberg, Maroochydore, Caboolture and Gympie.
If you or someone you know is in a life-threatening situation, call police on 000. Support is also available at Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800 and Lifeline on 13 11 14.
