Newsletter for the Rotary Club of Greater Geraldton - Issue No.: 780 Issue Date: 15 Apr, 2024

GUEST SPEAKER:            This week we welcome SARAH GROVES new kid on the block at HEADSPACE GERALDTON. SARAH hails from WAGGA WAGGA; has an interest in PSYCHOLOGY and MENTAL HEALTH.     SARAH is a former ROTARY overseas EXCHANGE STUDENT and as she starts her work in GERALDTON SARAH plans to make a difference wherever she can!       SARAHS research so far shows that most of the young people at risk with MENTAL AND PHYSICAL health fall into the 12 to 29 yrs. old category.      WE have approx.. 10,000 young people in this age group Living in GERALDTON.   60%the of new Clients calling at HEADSPACE are new to the service and fall into the 12-17 age group.   44% of this number are male making this a priority group as they have poor MENTAL HEALTH outcomes.

New developments so far have been the “LIL CHATS app which engages young people; and the HEADSPACE role in GERALDTON is now active in schools and approaching local businesses to identify new opportunities to encourage some of their HEADSPACE clients to join the workforce. The presence in schools is specifically planned to identify early stages of MENTAL AND PHYSICAL health issues and address and improve these before the problem deteriorates and these students need to visit HEADSPACE.

During question time CLARE raised that HEADSPACE might also consider having a presence at those locations were young people regularly meet for sporting activity.  E.g Basketball stadia and FOOTBALL Clubrooms etc.     GOOD idea Clare!

DOC.TAYLOR also responded to a problem raised by SARAH in that HEADSPACE has not had a G.P. available to assist them and their clients since AUGUST this year!!       DOC. has promised to search his medical bag and see if he can pull out a rabbit before his next meeting with the MIDWEST MEDICAL GURU’S.  THANK YOU DOC.  Well done!  

And so,  as SARAH’s role is just beginning in GERALDTON I have taken the opportunity to highlight some of her work with the YMH (YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH) forum in WAGGA WAGGA.    SARAH was the author of a recent post Event report and I have extracted some part of this for your reference.

The overall aim of the Forum was to empower young people to address MENTAL HEALTH issues being faced by themselves and their peers.   Overtime these FORUMS can and do contribute to a positive change to the stigma associated with MENTAL HEALTH and improve the overall well being of young people in their schools and in the community.     ( Scribes note;    same as with Medical problems)…. Get in early before the problem has time to grow!!         Another outcome is by encouraging young people to accept ownership and they are more likely to engage with the YOUTH SERVICES available in their local community and to access  information related to the available resources to them related to MENTAL HEALTH.