media release

Date 15 March 2004 For immediate release www.sane.org

SANE Australia a national charity ‘Reggie’ to launch Australia-wide helping people affected mental health project for youth by mental illness SANE media contact Regina Bird will join SANE Australia and secondary schools across the Lorraine Chiroiu 03 9682 5933 country, tomorrow (Tuesday 16 March), to launch www.itsallright.org – 0414 427 291 an important new website for young people with a parent or friend affected by [email protected] mental illness

Leading the virtual launch from Berengarra Secondary School (in ’s Glen Waverley), Reggie will unveil SANE’s youth website to help teens aged 13 to 17 years with information, advice and referral to support agencies, through a friendly story-based website.

The site offers help to an estimated 30,000 young people who have a parent with a mental illness – many taking on a primary care role. One in four will experience a mental disorder themselves, and those remaining are likely to have a friend they are concerned for.

Reggie publicly announced her concern for mental illness when winning 3, she named SANE as her favourite charity, to benefit from the sale of her ‘legacy item’.

Barbara Hocking, SANE’s Executive Director, says: ‘There is growing recognition of the need to educate young people about mental illness that is bound to affect them at some time in their lives: through family, friends or their own experience.’

‘Our website is a most effective way to reach this group, providing anonymity and using language they can understand.’

Professor Fiona Stanley, Board Member of the Telstra Foundation, which gave a grant to develop the website, said: I'm very pleased that the Telstra Foundation has supported the site's development as it’s so important that we make sure SANE Helpline that this type of information is presented positively and in a way that is accessible Information and referral to young people.’ on mental illness 1800 688 382 www.sane.org

Page 1 – MORE ‘I think this website is a wonderful initiative by SANE. It's a great site for young people to learn about mental illness and to start to understand and support those who are dealing with its challenges every day,’ she said.

The website is designed to appeal to teens with a ‘funky’ interface. The story of four fictional characters is told through entries in their online diaries, as they meet at a group for young people with families affected by mental illness.

The launch will take place at 11.00 am Tuesday 16 March 2004 at Berengarra – a school that assists young people with emotional and social problems – 583 Ferntree Gully Road, Glen Waverley (Melway 71 B8)

Participating schools, all of which are involved in the Commonwealth Government’s Mind Matters Plus initiative (for promoting well being for secondary students), include:

Australian Capital Territory Melba High School

New South Wales Narara Valley High School, Narara

Northern Territory Taminmin High School, Humpty Doo

Queensland Coombabah State High School, Gold Coast St Mary’s College, Dalby Trinity Bay High School, Cairns

South Australia Open Access College, Adelaide Woodville High School, Woodville

Tasmania St Michael’s Collegiate School,

Victoria Berengarra Lavalla Catholic College, Traralgon Mill Park Secondary College

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