Youturn kicks off campaign to increase access to Youth Mental Health support

Youturn, together with White’s IGA, is inviting the community to support a campaign to raise awareness and funds to expand access to Youth Mental Health support services on the Sunshine Coast this April.

The ‘Healthy Minds, Brighter Futures’ campaign kicks off this week and runs in IGA stores for three weeks over Easter and Youth Week 11 – 17 April. Partnering with IGA stores across the region including the six White’s IGA stores at Bli Bli, Baringa, Mount Coolum, Peregian Beach, Mooloolah Valley, and Forest Glen, Youturn recognises that addressing mental health requires a a whole of community approach to ensure that young people can have access to a comprehensive range of mental health support.

IGA stores are committed to supporting the local community, driven by a belief that a strong community is essential for the wellbeing and success of everyone in the area. “By working together to support each other, we can create a more resilient, connected and prosperous community,” said Roz White, Owner of the White’s IGA Group.

The initiative seeks to reduce stigma associated with mental illness and the impact that mental health issues have on young people’s lives. With rates of anxiety, depression, and other mental health concerns on the rise among young people, it’s more important than ever to prioritise mental health and wellbeing. According to the 2021 Youth Mental Health Snapshot report, a higher percentage of young people in the Sunshine Coast region reported concerns about mental health and wellbeing, compared to the national average of 22.4%.

To meet increased demand, Youturn is fundraising for additional activities, tools and innovative solutions to complement their mental health programs such as the YouConnect Hub in Maroochydore.

As part of the Healthy Minds, Brighter Futures campaign, Youturn is also excited to announce their partnership with another local icon on the Sunshine Coast – Nutworks. Having a long history in this region, Nutworks are keen to create positive social impact and support the local community.

Youturn, through White’s IGA will also be selling bags of delicious and indulgent snacks including macadamia nut brittle, rocky road, salted macadamia and chocolate covered macadamia, with all proceeds going to our mental health programs.

“The Nutworks partnership is about encouraging conversations about mental health and hopefully go some way to decreasing stigma. Through the promotion and selling of Nutworks iconic Macadamia “Nuts for Mental Health” products, we hope to generate much needed support for our mental health fundraising cause,” said Dr Bell.

“By encouraging open and honest communications about mental health, we hope to raise awareness and reduce the stigma, which is a significant barrier that prevents many people from seeking help and getting the support they need. The negative attitudes and stereotypes associated with mental health conditions can make people feel ashamed or embarrassed to talk about their experiences and seek treatment, which can lead to further isolation and negative outcomes. We need to create a culture of acceptance, compassion and an understanding society.” Dr Bell said.

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ABOUT YOUTURN:

Youturn is a not-for-profit charity started over 30 years ago to help address youth homelessness in the Sunshine Coast region.

Youturn is now a national organisation with a multidisciplinary team of almost 200 staff and last year supported over 9,900 vulnerable people through our range of services including accommodation, homelessness, mental health and suicide prevention.

In mental health, Youturn has delivered youth support services through the headspace model since 2012, when the first centre in Maroochydore was opened. Youturn now manages five centres across South Queensland including Toowoomba, Bundaberg, Maroochydore, Caboolture and Gympie.