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The Seven Habits of Highly Effective Teens

A Fifteen Minute Consultation

Preventing Youth Suicide through Community Adhesion

Woven into the fabric of this youth culture is the thread of suicide. It is so difficult to measure the cause and effect of suicide that Kyogle High School's principal, Michael Brown, came to the conclusion that the entire approach had to change. He believed a sociological approach to suicide prevention was the only way forward.

Heidi Green agreed. A high-school dropout who had lived on the streets and experienced the suicide of a close friend, she returned to Kyogle two years ago. After meeting Michael Brown, Heidi went back to school and gained her HSC. Aged 21, she is now the president of The Kyogle Youth Action Incorporation, is one of six young people on an advisory council to NSW Premier, Bob Carr, and is a candidate in the upcoming Kyogle Council by-election.

How to rebuild the community and do something for youth was the dilemma facing the pair. The answer seemed to lie in rebuilding that community through the town's youth. Their aim was to increase the mental health capacity of the Kyogle community and to develop strategies that were transferable to other communities. "Kyogle has traditionally had a low service provision. These are essential, but we came to the belief that it was about the community. We needed to increase the capacity of the community to look after itself. We are seeing strong communities becoming Balkanised," Michael said.

Both Heidi and Michael have been instrumental in forming The Kyogle Youth Action Incorporation, which was recently awarded the first prize in the 1997 Health Country Communities competition. Worth $50,000, this brings to nearly $400,000 the money the youth group has brought into Kyogle since it was formed 18 months ago.

The winning project looks at the problem of youth suicide from a whole community perspective. By trying to break down the barriers created between generations and different organisations, the youth group hopes to recreate a strong sense of community and inter-generational support.

"There is a generation gap, a lack of connection between old and young and it's real. We are creating opportunities to mingle," Michael said.

There are four elements to the project:

1. Wise old people - to work towards bridging the generation gap.
2. Life sucks. And so does the pub - to provide alternatives to the pub scene.
3. Home support - to provide crisis accommodation and mediation.
4. Harm minimisation - to develop self-esteem and parenting courses.

Most youngsters who drop out of school leave the area and Michael believes both school and community need to work together for these youths, because if one fails, so will the other. As the principal of a high school, he thus sees his connections with the town's doctors as absolutely vital.

Three years ago there was violence between two student groups at Kyogle High School. Since the youth group was formed, it has acted as a means of bringing these factions together and there is now a much greater tolerance of differences within the school, according to Michael. A diverse and more tolerant bunch nowadays, he says this spins off into the community.

By channeling their energies, the youngsters of Kyogle have created a vibrant youth organisation for the town. One that is inclusive of all young people, but is especially geared towards youths at risk from suicide. Such is the change in attitude that Kyogle Council now asks young people's opinion and most committees include a youth representative. The relationship between young people and the police is also very good, adds Michael.

This new confidence and desire to work to achieve something for the common good can be seen in the building of the town's skateboard ramp last year. A project worth $7-8,000 cost only $60, due to the donation in time and materials by local people.

"Youth is the connection," Michael said.

Katherine Breen Kurucsev
Communications officer
NRDGP

An accredited national training programme for GPs will be offered later in the year. It will be offered as part of the Kyogle programme. Details from Michael Brown on 6632 1300.