Live4Life

Knowing the signs: How mental health education saved Lauraʼs life

Laura's Story

Live4Life saved my life – and in many ways, it still does every day. – Laura

In my early teen years, I really struggled with mental health. I knew I felt sad a lot and I knew I wasn’t coping well. What I didn’t know was how to ask for help. Luckily for me, I didn’t have to — thanks to the education that Live4Life had provided to my friends. Live4Life taught them how to recognise the signs, understand when someone isn’t okay, and speak up They saw I wasn’t in a good place and alerted the school counsellor that they were worried about me. I’d taken part in the Live4Life program at school and enjoyed it, but that was the moment that I truly understood the impact that Live4Life could have. It wasn’t just education — it actually could lead to life-saving intervention.

As I’ve moved through life, the skills and information I learned through Live4Life have stayed with me. When I moved out of home at 19 and things went downhill again, it was because of that education I had the confidence to reach out and call Lifeline. It’s because of Live4Life that I have been able to support my friends when they’ve gone through hard times, while also protecting myself and maintaining healthy boundaries.

Today, I’m a Crew Champion with Live4Life and I co-host the podcast Growing Up Clueless. I work in the youth sector and continue to advocate for mental health education because I know, first hand, the difference it makes. Live4Life saved my life — and in many ways, it still does every day.

About Live4Life

Live4Life is the only mental health education and youth suicide prevention model designed specifically for rural and regional communities. Through its unique, whole-of-community approach, Live4Life empowers young people, teachers, parents, and the wider community with the tools and language to recognise the signs of mental health challenges and take early action. The model includes building supportiv community networks, Mental Health First Aid training for students and adults, and local ’Crew’ groups led by young volunteers — giving young people a voice and a platform to support themselves and each other.