Monash youth stamp their hands to support fight for headspace

Published on 25 September 2018

Monash young people have created a unique banner featuring their handprints to symbolise the many young people in Monash reaching out for help and support for the mental health issues they are facing.

About 40 people painted their hands and stamped their handprint on the banner at the official launch of the RaiseYourHand4MonashYouth campaign.

The banner has been hung on the liftwell in the Monash Civic Centre foyer.

Mayor Paul Klisaris said the campaign launch of the video and the banner stamping event was a highlight of his mayoral year.

“It was an amazing night with a group of unbelievably brave, inspiring young people,” Cr Klisaris said.

“It was an honour to be there with them, to stamp my handprint alongside theirs and to witness their determination to tell the struggles of young people in our community and why a headspace youth mental health facility is so important,” Cr Klisaris said.

“I want to thank the Monash community for getting behind this campaign, for voting so overhelmingly in a newspaper poll to support this fight and for sharing and liking our poignant and powerful video.

“Please keep up your support. Send a message to those who make the decisions that this campaign is vital to the health and well being of our precious young people. I believe that our combined voices will reach them, and will make a difference.”

Visit Raise Your Hand for Monash Youth to watch the video.

Monash has more than 40,000 people aged between 10-24 years, and is home to Monash University, Holmesglen TAFE, 44 primary and 24 secondary schools.
The nearest headspace facilities are in Knox, Dandenong, Bentleigh and Hawthorn, and it can take a young person on average 63 minutes on public transport to access a centre. That distance is a huge barrier to accessing help.

Contact: Jo Robertson 0418 391 979 or email Joanne.Robertson@monash.vic.gov.au