Youth Focus recently attended the Koorlongka (Youth) Health and Wellbeing Expo at Narrogin Senior High School. Narrogin is a large regional town in the central Wheatbelt and was for many years the major railway junction for the region, between Northam and Albany.
We currently provide our counselling service via telehealth for young people in this community, thanks to the generous support of CBH Group, so it was a fantastic opportunity to have a physical presence for young people in the area.
At the expo, our team ran a Youth Focus mental health photo booth at the expo, where:
- Students were given an opportunity to get in touch with creative art in designing their own speech bubbles/placards about mental health.
- Students were given an opportunity to talk about their mental health and what’s going on for them.
- Photos could then be used for Narrogin Senior High School newsletters and/or communications.
With plenty of fun props like glasses, hats and wigs, we asked students to write a special message on a backboard speech bubble. Prompts included what mental health means to them, something they pledge for their own mental health, what they can do to aid their own mental health and/or the mental health of the ones they love.
Our stall also held plenty of goodies – wallet cards, bookmarks, and brochures for easy access to students, teachers and external providers.
The event was attended by Community Engagement Officer Michelle, and Youth Counsellor Daniel.
Daniel reflected, “After delivering tele-counselling to Narrogin SHS for the past 7-months, it was great to get to visit the school and meet with some of the young people I work with, as well as the staff I interact with regularly. It was great to see such a large enthusiastic bunch of students engaging with the various stalls, including our photobooth where they shared some powerful messages about mental health, positive affirmations, and acknowledging their friends on the posters they got to make to hold up in their selfies! Overall, I think it was a great experience for the students, the school and stall holders alike.”
Thanks to the Narrogin Senior High School for having us along, and to the students for sharing their brilliant thoughts with us.