By Casey Neill
The Healesville and Monbulk junior footy clubs are putting youth suicide prevention in the spotlight.
With its final home game for the season, Healesville Junior Football Club will raise funds for Preventing Suicide in Youth (PSY) and In2Life at Queens Park Oval on Sunday 29 July.
Players will wear arm bands in tribute to the thousands of young people who’ve taken their own lives, and they’d receive an address from In2Life volunteers.
HJFC committee member Neil Milton is also the founder of Positive T Shirts.
“It’s a brand that I started two years ago and I give all profits to preventing youth suicide,” he said.
“I witnessed someone end their life when I was about 20.
“I wanted to really make a difference.”
During a committee meeting conversation about holding a match in support of a charity, youth suicide came up.
“The Yarra Valley is renowned for youth suicide,” he said.
“I suggested the organisation that I give to were making remarkable inroads in preventing youth suicide through Facebook.
“People post in and they say ‘I’m struggling’.
“There’s volunteers from a company called In2Life trained in youth suicide first aid.”
Mr Milton said donations paid to train new volunteers.
“All of the profits from the game are going to this organisation,” he said.
“We decided to do something as a club for this last home game to make a difference in people’s lives.”
HJFC president Toby Millman said that aside from the fund-raising, the day was about awareness.
“We want to do whatever we can to support it in the community,” he said.
“If it helps one kid we’ve done a good job.”
The day will feature eight matches and activities to raise cash.
Monbulk Junior Football Club president Ken Beecroft said the club’s participation sent a good message to kids across Monbulk and beyond.
“We’re really passionate about football being a really big part of our community and setting really good standards for our community,” he said.
“It’s really important that our club, which is a bit part of our community, continues to fly messages like this.
“These are really important conversations for parents to have with their kids.”
Following a series of youth suicides, 18-year-olds Thom Hartland and Jessica Cummings established the Facebook page Coming Together To Prevent Youth Suicide.
In 2 Life provides support and guidance to this peer support service.
For support, call Lifeline on 13 11 14, Kids Help Line on 1800 55 1800, Suicide Callback Service on 1300 659 467 or emergency services on triple-zero.
