Event information
Location: Princes Park, Carlton North
Date: October 2, 2022
Time: 10am - 12pm
Distance: 3.4km (one lap of Princes Park)
Attire: Wear something light green on the day to show support for youth mental health
Where the funds will go
Orygen, in collaboration with young people, created and piloted an art-based therapy program called ‘NinjaART’ at headspace Werribee which has been generously funded by the James Marcon Youth Health Foundation for a number of years. NinjaART has worked as a 'soft entry' for teenagers to do some art work, have some food and have a chat about their mental health. It’s coordinated by a young clinician with an art background and has quickly become the a popular program with a constant waiting list.
All funds from Stepping out for Youth Mental Health will go towards art therapy at Orygen to support young people who are experiencing mental ill-health.
NinjaART started running via Zoom in 2020, and continues to run for 9 sessions per school term. Transitioning the group to an online platform has enabled some young people to continue to attend remotely whilst spending time in inpatient units or homelessness refuges. A number of young people have provided the feedback that NinjaART provided the only opportunity they have had to socialise throughout the COVID-19 lockdown and was critical to maintaining their mental wellness.
Feedback from participants:
“It’s hard for me to make friends. But with NinjaART it’s helped because I actually made a few friends there. “
“NinjaART has given me something to look forward to”
“I feel more comfortable at headspace now after going to NinjaART. It makes me feel like I know people there that are nice and maybe a counsellor there would be nice too”
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