Bring It On! Festival tackling mental health stigma

Young people are less likely than any other age group to seek professional help for mental health concerns, yet a quarter of all young people aged 16-24 years will meet the criteria for a mental health disorder in a 12 month period.

This year, Bring It On! Festival is working alongside local schools and youth services to launch a localised mental health awareness campaign called Bring It On Synergy.

The campaign seeks to increase awareness of the most common mental health difficulties young people face, to challenge negative stigma, encourage young people to ask for help and to equip local young people with greater knowledge of services that can assist them.

Participating local high schools will raise awareness by showcasing local services to their students, providing education on mental health and beginning the conversations to reduce stigma.

The Fairfield Youth Advisory Committee has been working hard to lead the development of this campaign, and will be producing a short awareness-raising film clip to be shown to young people across the area and at the Festival.

At the event itself, there will be a number of service providers on hand to offer support and advice to young people across a range of topics, including mental health.

Fairfield City Mayor Frank Carbone said Bring It On! plays an important role in supporting and empowering local young people.

“Bring It On! is more than just a fun day for western Sydney’s young people. It is also an important way for young people to connect with each other and specialist services in a friendly, supportive environment,” Mayor Carbone said.

“I’m proud of our local young people for leading the charge in tackling mental health concerns for themselves and their peers.

“We hear all too often of young people falling into difficulties and making poor and tragic decisions because they felt that there was no one they could turn to for help.

“I encourage any young people who feel they are struggling to reach out to friends and family, contact support services and come down to Bring It On! on 14 April and connect with information and experts.”

Bring It On! is the largest Youth Week event in NSW. It will be held on Sunday, 14 April from 12pm-7.30pm at Fairfield Showground.

The Rainbow Run joins an exciting line up for this year’s festival, including music and dance performances, carnival rides, yard games and sporting activities, along with informative and exciting community stalls focused on youth wellbeing and mental health.

A full line-up of entertainers and activities will be released in the coming weeks.

Please visit www.fairfieldcity.nsw.gov.au/BringItOn for information. To keep up to date with the latest Bring It On! Festival information, follow the #BringItOnfest crew on Facebook and Instagram.

Free transport will be provided between Bring It On! Festival and Fairfield, Cabramatta and Canley Vale rail stations from 11.30am. The last bus from the station will leave at 5.30pm. The event is drug and alcohol-free.