Collaboration • Knowledge • Leadership

Collaboration • Knowledge • Leadership

Walking the walk for CALD youth suicide awareness

07
Mar, 2022

Today Nyibil Amum took the first steps on a planned 1000km walk from Melbourne to Canberra and Sydney.

A Cranbourne father who lost his son Oyiti to suicide in 2021, he is determined to raise funds and awareness of culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) youth suicide.

“Many young people feel lost and hopeless in today’s world," Nyibil, a mental health support worker for complex mental health and disability services provider ermha365, said in a statement.

"They have come to believe that they are disenfranchised and worthless. We all see the evidence of that disaster every day.

"This problem is even more complex among young people from diverse and multicultural backgrounds like my community, who are relatively new in Australia."

Nyibil said stigmas about mental health present barriers for people from CALD communities to seek support.

In embarking upon this long trek he is determined to smash these stigmas.

The subject of CALD mental health and wellbeing is close to Mental Health Victoria's heart, and high on our agenda.

Our pre state budget submission called the Victorian Government to "support diverse faith communities and organisations to provide community led mental health and wellbeing support" and "fund enhanced mental health support in CALD and Refugee and Migrant communities".

The announced $3.5 million investment in CALD community Covid recovery is a step in the right direction but more support is needed for at-risk communities.

The grief experienced by Nyibil and his family, and the inspirational action he is taking as a result, further highlight just how important this support is.

You can donate to Oyiti's "walk of hope" here.

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