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Youth Focus shooting hoops for mental health

Emma TaylorNarrogin Observer
Youth Engagement Officer Meg Gaine, Maurice Ugle, Zach Ariah Ford, Douglas Abraham, Janoah Narkle-Jetta and Sally Royce.
Camera IconYouth Engagement Officer Meg Gaine, Maurice Ugle, Zach Ariah Ford, Douglas Abraham, Janoah Narkle-Jetta and Sally Royce. Credit: Emma Taylor/Emma Taylor

Youth Focus Narrogin’s Hoops for Mental Health event at Gnarojin Park on National Mental Health Day was not just a relaxed afternoon of basketball.

It was about spreading a wider message of mental wellbeing and displaying the services Youth Focus provides to the Narrogin community.

The service, which has been in Narrogin since February, delivers face-to-face counselling and education programs which aim to reduce symptoms associated with suicide, depression, anxiety and self-harm. Youth engagement officer Meg Gaine said young people in regional and remote areas faced a range of stressors unique to living outside major cities.

She said Narrogin and the surrounding townships were affected by a high rate of suicide among young people, with many experiencing anxiety, disengagement from the community, depression and self-harm, as well as alcohol and drug issues.

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“The goal of this event was to provide an opportunity for the young people in this region to engage in a positive way with one another, and with mental health support services like ours,” Ms Gaine said.

“The focus on play with a selection of outdoor activities, followed by a communal barbecue, meant a safe and non-threatening environment for Youth Focus to connect with the local young people, their families and community members in a more relaxed and fun setting.”

Ms Gaine said such events allowed Youth Focus staff to build rapport and establish trust within the community.

Lifeline 13 11 14

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