THE City of Gosnells has reminded young people it is OK to seek help when battling mental health issues.
While the City does not have a designated mental health service for young people, it works to connect young people who may be seeking mental health services with groups such as Headpsace and Youth Focus.
Chief executive Ian Cowie said days such as R U OK Day, which was held yesterday, were important to reduce the stigma surrounding mental health.
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READ NOW“The more the community talks about mental health, the less stigma is associated with it,” he said.
“The City believes it is important that young people feel it is OK to reach out and get help, whether that is from a friend, a teacher at school or professional help, such as a doctor or an agency like Headspace.”
Mr Cowie said many of the City’s youth programs aimed to help to improve the health and wellbeing of young people.
“The City delivers a range of programs that aim to connect young people within the community and empower them to make positive choices as they transition to adulthood,” he said.
Mr Cowie pointed to the successful King of the Hill skate park series, which created awareness of mental health and local support services, as an example of the City’s commitment to address mental health concerns.
“This was a collaborative project between the cities of Gosnells, Canning, Belmont and Armadale, and Headspace Armadale, overseen by the Gosnells/Canning Youth Collaboration Action Network and a large group of young people,” he said.
“The project engaged more than 1000 young men and will run again in 2018.”
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