Lifeline Youth NetworX

LYNX is the Youth Services arm of Lifeline Canberra. Not only do we ensure that all Lifeline counsellors are trained in youth issues, we manage other youth-related projects within Lifeline. These are aimed at enhancing the resiliency of young people, as well as empowering them through enhancement of their skills, and opportunities to participate in their community.

Mission: To improve the resilience and general well-being of young people in the Canberra region.

Our objectives are to: Strengthen and support the capacity of young people to support each other; Develop a skill base amongst young people that enables them to support their peers in an adequate and effective manner; Develop a set of innovative programs that enhance resiliency; Expand opportunities for young people to develop the skills they require to develop their full potential and thus participate fully in community life.

We also aim to educate young people about Lifeline – what it is and what we do.

Free Workshops for young people in ACT

In the National Survey of Young Australians 2008 run by Mission Australia, 85.1 % of young people in ACT reported that when they have a problem they turn to their friends for help and support.

This supports what we have all known anecdotally for some time: young people are more likely to talk to their friends first when they need support, advice, or just someone who'll listen, than to the caring and often highly qualified adults around them.

If young people are going to be talking to each other before they talk to their teachers, parents or the trained counsellors at Lifeline, why don’t we try and give them some of our basic skills? Lifeline Youth NetworX (LYNX) have developed three programs specifically designed for young people on how to be a better and more supportive listener, how to help their friends explore different options, and how to look after themselves in the process . This information will improve not just the students’ ‘counselling’ skills, but their communication skills in general, and provide their friends with a valuable resource.

Lifeline Canberra offers free Peer Skills, Mental Health Ambassador and First Responder – Emerging Suicide Helper (FR-ESH) Workshops for young people in ACT. These peer skilling programs are each 2-day workshops that comprise of 6 -7 modules on listening skills, values, problem solving, self-care, connecting with other services, and providing support to friends. Mental Health Ambassador (MHA) has a particular focus on raising awareness on Mental Health issues for Young People and FRESH focuses on skilling Young People in recognising the signs of a friend or peer who might be having thoughts of suicide and what to do.

LYNX

Peer Skills

MHA

FR-ESH

To find out more about workshops we offer for young people call (02) 6247 0655.