Headspace Youth Advisory Group: Amplifying the voices of Melton for Mental Health

Headspace Melton’s Youth Advocacy Group empowers young voices to shape inclusive, stigma-free mental health support in our community.

March 26, 2025

“Being part of Headspace’s YAG gives us the opportunity to amplify the voices of young people and work on issues that matter to us.”

Tailoring effective mental health services for young people in Melton is Headspace’s Youth Advocacy Group (YAG). The group aims to create passionate advocates for mental health awareness, and has made a safe space for Melton’s youth to feel empowered and in good mental health.

Good News Melton spoke with 18-year-old YAG member Skirat Kaur, who offered an inspiring look at how the team improved Headspaces services and youth-led health initiatives in Melton.

Stage 1: The Foundations of Advocacy

“Being part of Headspace’s YAG gives us the opportunity to amplify the voices of young people and work on issues that matter to us.” Skirat explained. The centre's work, especially in mental health and education, has seen vital growth in Melton's community. 

However, being a member of the YAG is about more than just advocacy. It is ensuring that young people feel both heard and supported in their mental health journey, and according to Skirat, Headspace has a clear plan to do so with their Youth Advocacy members. The YAG leads events and brings diverse experiences to their work, furthering their positive influence on Melton's mental health services.

Headspace Melton’s Youth Advocacy Group members

"To tackle young people's social and mental health issues, we must listen without judgment,"

Stage 2: Navigating Mental Health Solutions 

"To tackle young people's social and mental health issues, we must listen without judgment," Skirat stated. She stressed the need to be relatable and approachable in mental health discussions. These skills continue to guide her work on the YAG, helping her represent young people's views within Headspace.

The YAG also facilitates open conversations among young people, allowing them to discuss their common stressors of school, family and friendships. These talks are vital for reducing the stigma around young people's mental health in Melton, and are a big step forward in the support provided by Headspace.

Stage 3: Empowering Youth Voice and Action

“It's incredibly important for young people to have a voice in decisions because we are the ones that are directly impacted,” Skirat said, and Headspace Melton is no stranger to this. The centre actively involves YAG members in its decision-making. This only reinforces that Headspace's services have helped young people, who now feel ownership and less stigma in speaking up about mental health. 

“Our perspectives ensure that services are relevant, effective and truly meet everyone’s needs.” She added. These perspectives are demonstrated through Headspace Day, an annual campaign to raise awareness about mental health and self-care. The event encourages and empowers young people to check on their own and their friends' wellbeing. As one of the newer members to the YAG, the event marked a significant milestone in her advocacy journey as “it felt great to contribute to raising awareness about mental health.”

Using social media has also been key in Headspace's efforts to engage youth in the mental health conversation. Young people, Skirat included, see the impact of those platforms in spreading mental health messages. Headspace Melton uses Instagram and Facebook to promote mental health. Their awareness is raised using engaging reels and posts, which shows how social media can be a vital tool for creating supportive networks between young people.

Headspace Melton’s Youth Advocacy Group members facilitating an event

“It's incredibly important for young people to have a voice in decisions because we are the ones that are directly impacted,”

Stage 4: Celebrating Melton’s Diversity

“I’m really proud to ensure that Headspace’s services and our Youth Advocacy Group are inclusive and accessible to young people from various backgrounds,” Skirat said.

 She added that the best part of the centre is its chance to “bring diverse cultural perspectives into the conversation about mental health.” Yet despite this, young people still face multiple cultural barriers in the discussion of mental health.  As mental health issues are simply not normalised within many cultures, there are still communities that hold stigma against treatment.

This creates a big challenge for young people seeking support, which Headspace has had to acknowledge within their services. Skirat and the YAG however are working to break down these barriers. They aim to ensure that mental health support reaches all young people, regardless of their background. 

Stage 5: Looking Forward

Headspace’s Youth Advocacy Group is a clear testament to the power of youth-led health initiatives within Melton. As the group continues to demonstrate the benefits of empowering Melton’s young people to take control of their own mental health, their will continue to improve.

For Skirat, the journey is just the beginning. She, along with the YAG, is determined to provide a voice to Melton’s youth. She remains committed to improving health support for young people. 

Looking to the future, Headspace will take off from the 5th stage of their journey in youth advocacy. As the pathway to better health services becomes more clear, the YAG will pave the way for a future without mental health problems in Melton.

Headspace Melton’s Youth Advocacy Group members participating in Grill’d’s Local Matters program
Binusha is a passionate storyteller from Good News Melton, inspired about amplifying young voices, storytelling, and creating impactful, community-driven media.

Tailoring effective mental health services for young people in Melton is Headspace’s Youth Advocacy Group (YAG). The group aims to create passionate advocates for mental health awareness, and has made a safe space for Melton’s youth to feel empowered and in good mental health.

Good News Melton spoke with 18-year-old YAG member Skirat Kaur, who offered an inspiring look at how the team improved Headspaces services and youth-led health initiatives in Melton.

Stage 1: The Foundations of Advocacy

“Being part of Headspace’s YAG gives us the opportunity to amplify the voices of young people and work on issues that matter to us.” Skirat explained. The centre's work, especially in mental health and education, has seen vital growth in Melton's community. 

However, being a member of the YAG is about more than just advocacy. It is ensuring that young people feel both heard and supported in their mental health journey, and according to Skirat, Headspace has a clear plan to do so with their Youth Advocacy members. The YAG leads events and brings diverse experiences to their work, furthering their positive influence on Melton's mental health services.

Binusha Pathirana
is a journalist at Good News Melton. She ipsum ultricies aptent sollicitudin est congue. You can find her stories here.

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