State Trustees Australia Foundation has granted Youth Live4Life more than $750,000 over three years to support the mental health and wellbeing of young people across regional and rural Victoria.
Established in 2015, Youth Live4Life works with young people in regional and rural communities, creating partnerships, providing training and support aimed at preventing youth suicide and promoting mental health.
State Trustees CEO, John Velegrinis, said Youth Live4Life plays a vital role as the only mental health education and youth suicide prevention model specifically designed for rural and regional communities in Victoria.
“The Emotional Wellbeing grant supports organisations with a clear plan focused on mental health and building resilience. The Foundation is delighted to make this multi-year grant to an organisation creating local partnerships and promoting community conversations on mental health and suicide prevention,” Mr Velegrinis said.
“We are grateful to the generous members of the communitywho donated to the Foundation during their lifetime or as a gift in their will. Their contributions enable the Foundation to grant funds to organisations helping support and promote the wellbeing of Victorians,” he added.
Youth Live4Life works in schools and the wider community, creating partnerships to lead conversations about mental health that reduce stigma and promote young leaders as mental health ambassadors.
The three-year grant will enable Youth Live4Life to grow its burgeoning presence in regional and rural Victorian communities. This will be achieved by scaling up the organisation’s geographic reach to nine communities across Victoria, as well as increasing marketing and promotional activities to spread awareness and reach more young people.
About State Trustees Australia Foundation
State Trustees Australia Foundation (the Foundation) was established in 1994 as a public charitable trust. Funded by donations and bequests from generous community members, the Foundation has distributed more than $38 million to charities over 25 years. This grant was focused on improving the wellbeing of young Australians in rural and regional areas, noting that at least 45% of Australians will experience a mental illness during their lifetime and at least 20% of adults are affected by mental illness each year.
