community,

Mental health isn't always about illness, says Albury-Wodonga headspace's Bree Cross. This week the focus was on fun as the youth mental health service celebrated its 5th birthday on the back of Wednesday's popular Big Splash fundraiser. The community development worker said the celebration, which included balloons, cake and special treats made by Purple Chicken participants, was also a chance to reflect on five years of development and service, as well as look towards the future. "Headspace is an amazing reflection of community advocacy," Ms Cross said. "It started because of a grassroots initiative and there are still so many people in so many groups doing amazing fundraising for headspace." Groups including the Howlong netball club, which began an odd socks round in honour of one of its former top netballers Aimee Koehler who lost her life to suicide. Together with the support of the football club, Ms Cross said they had raised about $10,000 and highlighted the importance of talking about mental health and getting support when it's needed. During a formal presentation on Friday, the youth reference group provided an overview of what the service has meant to young people in the region. Since opening, headspace has provided support services to more than 2500 young people with more than 8500 sessions resulting from that. The youth reference group also spoke of plans to implement social programs with a focus on helping young people connect and get moving including a box-fit exercise program over six weeks. "It's one initiative to encourage young people to try something new, they might find their tribe or they might find that because I moved my body, I slept a little better or my mood improved a little," Ms Cross said. Funds raised from Big Splash will also be used to implement more mental health first aid training. During 2019, headspace received more than 55 community engagement requests from schools and community groups, Ms Cross added. She acknowledged the Big Splash, now in its seventh year, was one of headspace's biggest financial supporters but the event was about so much more than money. "It's phenomenal the amount that has been raised for us," Ms Cross said. "But the event itself really reflects what we want to promote - community connectedness and the continuum of wellness. "Albury-Wodonga's Big Splash is all about having fun, perhaps trying something new and getting out and enjoying ourselves. "Mental health doesn't have to be a big dark cloud."

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