Newly funded training set to address youth mental health

By Nicola Ceccato

Oct 4, 2023

Healthy mindset: Charles Oguntade is a licensed facilitator in youth mental health first aid and he will be part of rolling out the training program to organisations, workplaces and people across the Goulburn Valley. Photo by Megan Fisher

With mental health illnesses at an all-time high in young people, according to the Black Dog Institute, it is more critical than ever that people know how to help someone struggling with their mental health.

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Which is exactly what a newly funded program is focusing on in the Goulburn Valley.

The International Association for Psychiatric Nurses is running first aid training for youth mental health next week.

It’s just one of many sessions being funded over the next 11 months.

Facilitating this training is mental health nurse Charles Oguntade, who is a licensed facilitator in youth mental health first aid.

He said training such as this ensured that when those struggling needed help, those around them would know how to support them best.

“You don’t need to have a degree to be able to offer a very simple solution, and we say to people, even if you don’t know what to do, just listening to that person in a non-judgmental way goes a long way,” he said.

“This training is the support that you give to someone when they are in crisis until that crisis is resolved or you are able to direct them to engage with a professional.”

The training is a package developed by Mental Health First Aid Australia.

Some topics addressed in this course include depression, anxiety, drug and alcohol abuse, eating disorders and suicide ideation.

The funding for this training means the event is free for attendees, which is rare, as the usual cost of training someone in mental health first aid is $300 to $500, according to Mr Oguntade.

The program’s funding covers the next 11 months, but Mr Oguntade said organisers aimed to roll out the training as much as possible within that time frame.

And it seems the course is already proving popular.

Mr Oguntade said they had already had organisations and schools reach out to them to roll out training for their staff, and he encouraged other groups in the region to get involved.

“We’re trying not to make it too Shepparton-centric, so we’re trying to see how we can have a training in Tatura, Murchison or somewhere like that,” he said.

The next training session is on October 12 and 13, and Mr Oguntade encouraged anyone interested to attend.

The training is from 9am to 4pm at the Greater Shepparton Business Centre on 70 New Dookie Rd, Shepparton.

For those interested in attending the next session, send your expression of interest to lolowayconsult@gmail.com or call 0402 475 918.

For anyone who is struggling, Lifeline is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Phone Lifeline to speak with a crisis supporter on 13 11 14, text 0477 131 114 or chat to Lifeline online at www.lifeline.org.au

Other support services include: