AN annual Border youth mental health forum next month is in danger of folding after the organisation responsible for the event loses its federal funding at the end of the year.

The forum, which will be held for the third year on September 9 at Albury Entertainment Centre, caters to Albury and Wodonga high school students, giving them a better understanding of depression and related complaints.

Organiser Bronwyn Bruce said funding cuts at the end of the year will see NSW-based not-for-profit organisations, including Murray Industry and Community Education Employment Partnership forced to close.

“Partner broker Murray Industry and Community Education Employment Partnership, with North East Local Learning and Employment Network formed this committee that plans and runs this event, but with government funding cuts at the end of the year, the partnership will fold and it could potentially see the event stop running,” Ms Bruce said.

She said the partnership had spearheaded the forum committee since its inception in 2012 and had this year brought Victorian organisations on board to make it a cross-Border event.

“We have been trying to make partnerships self-sustaining and it’s a good committee, but the reality is if no one takes over the partnership’s role it could fall apart.”

Ms Bruce said the Victorian organisations would keep their federal government funding, which means the responsibility will fall upon them to keep the mental health forum running.

The threat to next year’s event follows a sponsorship deal that has “saved” next month’s forum.

Organisers had been seeking $1600 sponsorship to make the event happen, but had been knocked back by several large companies and institutions on the Border before WAW Credit Union agreed to help.

WAW marketing manager Linda Butler said she didn’t hesitate.

“It was an easy decision. If this doesn’t take place then we are ignoring an issue that is becoming bigger,” she said.

“WAW is very much a community organisation and what may seem like a small sum of money for a company, it will make a huge difference.”

The forum will host 150 students in the lead-up to mental health month in October and aims to reduce the stigma surrounding mental health.

There will be guest speakers, a panel of mental health professionals, police and people who have overcome mental illness.