Central Coast Council is helping young people 'help a mate' with a series of online workshops and video-based sessions exploring youth mental health and providing practical tips on coping with stressful life events.

Kicking off this Wednesday with an online session from the Black Dog Institute, the series explores typical life events such as school or work transitions and exam pressures, along with the added crisis of living through a global pandemic.

Council’s Director Connected Communities, Julie Vaughan said when Council asked for young people’s input into the Coast’s Youth Strategy, they identified their own and friends’ mental health as being one of their top priorities.

“With the help of Council’s Youth Action Team Y4Y, we’re providing ways young people can identify when they or a friend are at risk of experiencing poor mental health and giving practical tools to cope with stressful circumstances and build resilience,” Ms Vaughan said.

“We’ve enlisted the expertise of one of Australia’s most respected mental health organisations, the Black Dog Institute, to talk about teens and young people and their mental health.”

Suitable for young people, carers, parents and teachers, the full series of Help A Mate events is:

• Black Dog Institute online session, 15 July, 12pm
• Video release – yoga, 29 July, 12pm
• Action Education online session - 12 August, 6pm
• Video Release – meditation, 26 August, 12pm
• Video Release – Y4Y - R U OK video tips & tricks, 9 September, 12pm

Mayor Lisa Matthews said helping young people learn how to be resilient through stressful times is an important investment society can make in creating a better future.

“Our young people matter to us all, and we want them to move forward into their futures with the attitude and tools which will help them to find success and happiness in life.

Register now for Wednesday’s online session at centralcoast.nsw.gov.au/help-a-mate