Prominent Warrnambool businessman Jon Watson has encouraged the community to get behind youth mental health organisation Headspace.
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Mr Watson was one of four Warrnambool cyclists who rode 1100 kilometres from Sydney to Noosa in 2015, raising $45,000 for Headspace Warrnambool.
Cycle4Life team members Mr Watson, Jason Hill, Mark Powell and Leigh McCarthy organised fundraising activities before battling northerly headwinds to raise money for young south-west residents.
Funds raised were used to establish the Headspace Warrnambool Scholarship Program with $3000 awarded to four local young people annually to study at South West TAFE or Deakin University.
Each recipient had overcome significant health hurdles with the assistance of Headspace Warrnambool,
Mr Watson’s comments come after Mental Health Week, which ran from October 8 and national Headspace Day which was held on October 9.
“With so many local businesses employing our region’s young people, an invitation is extended to other employers and businesses who would like to contribute to supporting youth mental health,” Mr Watson said. “This, for us, was a special project. The lovely thing about it is that there is something at the end – something tangible.
The money will continue to fund the scholarship program until 2022, with 2018 applications to open later this year. He said it was nice to know the program was helping local youth and said many of their colleagues operating local businesses would feel the same.
“We’ve met some of these young people. We can see that the funds raised are going to achieve something meaningful for our community”.
Headspace community awareness and engagement coordinator Michael Hoffman said the men were passionate advocates for the wellbeing of south-west youth and he was grateful for the team’s efforts.
“We look forward to helping many other young people with their studies in future years on the back of the team’s work,” Mr Hoffman said.
Mr Hoffman said one in four young people will experience a mental health issue in any given year, with 75 per cent of mental health issues emerging before 25.
“Headspace encourages young people to take care of their mental health and seek support early, before issues become more serious. Contact Headspace Warrnambool on 1300 276 749 or eheadspace on 1800 650 890 for more information.”