Two peer work support projects to help improve mental health for young people will go ahead with funding from several philanthropic bodies as part of the Perpetual IMPACT Philanthropy Application Program.
The first, a peer work intervention for young people with a personality disorder, is being funded by The Harry Secomb Foundation and the Brasher Family Foundation.
This pilot project will evaluate the effectiveness of employing a mental health peer worker with lived experience to work with young people with personality disorder (PD). It is hoped the peer worker can use their experience to improve the quality of life of young people facing the same condition.
The other project, the employment of young people with lived experience of a mental illness to help their peers, is being funded by the Percy Baxter Charitable Trust. It will investigate how the youth peer work model can be effectively delivered remotely via the phone or internet, a service steadily increasing in demand.
Orygen’s philanthropy manager, fundraising, Deb Renshaw-Jones, welcomed the generosity of the trusts and foundations that made this work possible.
“We are grateful for this important support of $155,000 in total, which will enable the funding of valuable peer work for young people facing mental health challenges,” she said.
Perpetual’s philanthropy services manager, Clementine Lucas said, “Perpetual, along with our philanthropic clients, are proud to support Orygen’s commitment to youth mental health.”
“The future of our young people and their wellbeing is an area we are committed not only to investing in but to giving back,” she said.
“We are pleased to have the opportunity to connect our clients with Orygen’s vital work with young people who are facing mental health challenges.”