Often, the first point of contact for young people reaching out to Youth Focus for help is our Access Team who work with young people to connect them to the support and services they need.
“That initial conversation is such a critical moment,” says Christabel, Access Team Member at Youth Focus Metro. “It might be the first time someone’s told their story out loud. We hold space for that. We help them feel in control. We start to build hope.”
When Maya* picked up the phone to call Youth Focus for the first time, she felt rigid with fear. She didn’t know what to expect, or if anyone would really understand.
It has taken all her strength to dial the number, but deep down, she knew she needed help. The relentless cycles of anxiety and depression had become too much, and her confidence was at an all-time low.
Maya wasn’t sure anyone would really listen. But what she found was something different from any mental health service she’d tried before.
“The voice on the other end of the line was so calm. I felt safe for the first time. Like maybe there was some hope for me. Maybe someone could actually help,” says Maya.
That voice belonged to Christabel.
Right now, youth mental ill-health is at crisis levels. Tragically, in 2023, 50 young people died from international self-harm in Western Australia, and the demand for services is higher than ever.
So, even when a young person is brave enough to reach out, they face barriers. The wait lists can be significant. The distance to travel, or lack of public transport can mean that accessing services is out of their reach. They may not be able to afford the costs involved.
That’s why Youth Focus exists – to make sure than young people aged 12 to 25 have access to free, professional mental health support, designed to remove those barriers that often stand in the way of getting the help they need.
For Maya, that first call was the turning point. With Youth Focus, she found the support she’d been searching for – practical tools to manage her anxiety and depression, a safe space to rebuild her confidence, and the courage to return to study. Maya is positively thriving, so much so she’s now using her voice to help other through our Youth Reference Group.
“When young people get the right support at the right time,” says Christabel, “they don’t just survive – they absolutely thrive.”
Any donation makes this possible, it means we can reach more young people where and when they need it most and shift their trajectory towards a brighter future.
It ensures that the next young person who finds the courage to pick up the phone hears a voice like Christabel’s – calm, kind, and ready to help. It means we can continue offering counselling and tailored support for them when they need it most. Please join us in supporting young people and make your tax-deductible donation here.
*Name changed to protect privacy.