Cowra’s Australia day guest Nic Newling will return to the town in April to take part in a project aimed to breaking down stigma around mental illness.
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Cowra Shire Council has agree to provide financial assistance to make Mr Newling’s visit possible.
Championing Youth Mental Health with Nic Newling is a Cowra youth mental health initiative planned for Monday, April 9.
Cowra Shire’s general committee this week agreed to provide $4350 in funding towards the total cost of the project estimated at $8,350.
Cowra High School and St Raphael’s Catholic School are providing additional in-kind support with assistance also from the Cowra Youth Council.
Championing Youth Mental Health will reach more than 500 high school students in Cowra through presentations by Mr Newling alongside recognised school and community health support services.
Speaking about Mr Newling’s planned visit Cowra Shire Councillor Judi Smith said the Cowra Youth council decided to organise a return visit after he spoke on Australia Day.
“His is a very personal story,” Ms Smith said, “which ends with a very positive story with him finding the help he needed”.
“It’s a very affirming message that he gives and he is very good at relating to young people.
“The current plan is that he will be in Cowra for two nights and will do two, two hour seminars at the high school, one for year’s 7 to 9 and then later one for years 10 to 12 for all St Raph’s students and all Cowra High students.
“In the evening he will do a session of 90 minutes for parents and community members who would like to come along with focus on how parents can support their children and recognise any signs that all is not as well as it could be,” Ms Smith said.
Mr Newling is an outspoken advocate for mental health, suicide prevention, and sharing personal stories. Having lived through the experience of suffering with a mood disorder throughout high school and losing his brother to suicide, he has since dedicated himself to changing the way mental illness is addressed in schools, workplaces, and communities.
He counts himself fortunate, lucky, and grateful to have received familial, peer, and professional support allowing him to recover and heal through his turbulent teen years. It has since enabled him to focus his attention on sharing directly to young people, families, workplaces, and professionals, and the broader public.
