Whole-of-community model supporting youth mental health
30 November 2025
Young people in rural communities face added barriers to mental health support and a Victorian organisation is taking a whole-of-community approach to address it.
‘Despite local, state and national efforts, we are experiencing a youth mental health crisis,’ said Youth Live4Life CEO Bernard Galbally at a briefing held at Parliament House.
‘The first thing we need to grasp is that we will never have enough clinicians, psychologists and social workers to meet demand especially in rural and regional areas.’
Mr Galbally said the Victorian community was facing many challenges – from climate, social cohesion, housing affordability to strain on health and mental health services.
‘They are complex and hard to address and that is especially true for rural and regional Victorians and young people in particular,’ he said.
‘Their need for connection, for compassion, for community, for a sense of purpose has never been more urgent.’
Dr Lakshmi Neelakantan, Research Fellow at the University of Melbourne’s Centre for Mental Health and Community Wellbeing, and Laura Crozier, lived experience advocate and Live4Life crew champion, also spoke at the briefing for members of parliament.
It was part of a series that Legislative Assembly Speaker Maree Edwards arranged during the year to highlight the valuable work of community organisations across Victoria.
‘Live4Life is specifically designed to reach those places where services may be scarce,’ Ms Edwards said.
‘It brings together schools, councils, health services, community organisations, parents and, most importantly, young people to build a resilient caring community network.’
The Live4Life model was developed from the lived experiences of young people in rural areas and is now operating in 13 communities across Victoria with plans to expand.
‘We empower whole communities,’ Mr Galbally said.
‘We have partnered with more than 175 local organisations who are actively delivering Live4Life right now.
‘Teachers, parents, carers, sporting coaches, canteen workers, the school bus driver and other community members, all getting evidence-based mental health training, all adding more protective layers to support young people before a crisis occurs.
‘We need to work together on prevention and Live4Life's super skill is bringing communities together.’