Gailene Keen, the new Fundraising Manager at MYST attended our meeting in April to give the Club and update on their ongoing work in the local community with at-risk young people.
MYST provides a wide range of services, programs and activities aimed that supports the development of the most disadvantaged and at-risk young people in the community by providing relevant, dynamic, and engaging programs that empower young people to grow emotionally, physically and intellectually so they build resilience and self-belief and can overcome life’s challenges and adversity get back on track and grow up with prospects not problems.
There has been a that has happened last 12-18 months which has changed the daily lives of young people in the Blue Mountains community which has greatly impacted MYST and put pressure on our staff and the way we work.
The impact of natural disasters such as bushfires and floods on top COVID -19 has meant that they need vital emotional and mental health support now more than ever – and it is anticipated that the impact of these will be felt for up to 5 years. The need for our services is acute and growing each day - young people are presenting with more complex needs which require a higher level of support to ensure that they can get backtrack.
MYST is currently raising funds to roll out youth mental health first aid programs to approximately 400 year 10 students in all four high schools across the Blue Mountains.
Gailene told the meeting: “MYST has invested in training two of our youth workers to deliver the program. We are hoping we can start with programs at Katoomba and Blaxland High within the next few months. The program will cost about $60 per student to deliver and our aim is that by building resilience and providing young people with the skills they need help and support one and another that this will help reduce youth suicide in the area and also alleviate the pressure on youth mental health services such as MYST to provide crisis support.
Beyond this program there is still more that needs to be done, which is why MYST also needs to raise funds and awareness to ensure that they can build capacity to help more at-risk youth.
Gailene said “Thank you so much for your past support of MYST. I hope we can continue to work together to support young people in the local area to overcome adversity and ensure that they thrive.”