A focus on mental health and preventing suicide will be the top priority of Indigo Council's new youth strategy.
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The 2019-23 strategy was adopted unanimously by councillors at this week's meeting.
Cr Larry Goldsworthy said it was important that mental health was the focus.
"We have to be a champion in that space," he said.
"We need all the services we can get, there's not enough help for our kids.
"The last thing we would want to see is somebody hurt themselves because of lack of access."
A report for councillors stated the need to address mental health "encapsulates young people's issues with social media use, the need to support diversity and the importance of recreational opportunities for young people".
One of the issues faced is young people having to travel to Wodonga or Wangaratta to access many of the services they need.
"This in itself can be problematic due to limited transportation opportunities within the shire," the strategy stated.
The youngest councillor Sophie Price acknowledged the workload would be too much for the council's single youth officer, so it was important to partner with other organisations in the North East.
"The strategy is ambitious and aspirational and that's what we want for our youth and that's what we want for our shire," she said.
Those consulted for the strategy included schools, health services and Way Out Wodonga, which encouraged the council to add an objective "to foster safety and inclusion for young LGBTIQ+ residents".
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