At headspace Albury Wodonga, we're passionate about supporting young people's mental health and well-being in our communities. That's why we were thrilled to collaborate with Al, the owner of a local skate park, on a program that would bring together the benefits of skating and mental health support.

Our partnership with Al's Skate Co is longstanding, and we're proud to have worked together on similar initiatives in the past. Together, we have successfully supported young people's mental health and well-being.

For this program, we created a six-week program focusing on different mental health topics each week, such as being active, sleeping well, maintaining a healthy headspace, managing anger, and more. The program involved ten young people aged 13-16, discussing each week's topic and engaging in related activities.

From the very first session, we saw the program's impact. The young people were excited to be there, eager to learn and engage, and already forming strong bonds with each other. Over the weeks, we watched as they tackled challenging topics, developed valuable life skills, and supported each other in their journeys towards better mental health.

Throughout the program, the young people shared that it has been a positive experience for them. They learned how to skate and developed a better understanding of mental health and the importance of taking care of themselves.

The program's highlight was watching young people develop assertiveness, effective communication, and self-esteem skills. In addition, they learned how to support and encourage each other, building a sense of community and peer support that will continue to benefit them long after the program.

We're proud to have collaborated with Al's Skate Co on this program and provided a safe, fun, and engaging environment for young people to work on their mental health and skateboarding skills. Our continued partnership is a testament to the importance of collaboration and community partnerships in supporting young people's mental health and well-being.

We're thrilled with the positive outcomes and excited to announce that we'll be rerunning the program, beginning on 1st May 2023, this time for young people aged 18 to 25. If you're interested in participating, please contact headspace Albury Wodonga by calling 1800 332 022 or emailing headspaceAW@gatewayhealth.org.au.