Mental health forum to focus on youth

THE CITY of Greater Dandenong will hold a forum on mental health among young people next month.
It coincides with Mental Health Week in Victoria, which runs from 7 to 13 October.
In addition to the council-run forum, Eastern Regions Mental Health Association (ERMHA) is organising a Mental Health Fun Day for Thursday 11 October at the Dandenong Market.
The entertainment for the day will include the Pro Championship Wrestling squad, live bush dancing, a drumming workshop, manicures and massages, craft stalls, an animal farm, a roving magician, face painting, health and wellbeing stands, carers’ support stand and special performances by the LiveWires band, which is sponsored by ERMHA.
Meanwhile, the council this week urged schools to register staff and students for the Mental Health Awareness Forum before 21 September.
The forum will take place on Friday 12 October at The Castle in Hemmings Park, Dandenong.
The Mental Health Awareness Forum will be used to launch the Youth Friendliness Self-Assessment Toolkit, produced by young people who took part in the council’s Youth Access Project earlier this year.
Local service providers and general practitioners (GPs) can use the toolkit to assess how ‘youth-friendly’ and accessible they are to the city’s young people.
The council said 20 service providers and six GPs were currently trialing the kit.
Other highlights of the event will include stress management techniques for exam time and a stress management workshop.
Other relaxation techniques will be on show, as will African drumming, music, sports clinics, a free barbecue and more.
To register call Joe Soemoe on 9547 4698.