The Western Australian Primary Health Alliance (WAPHA) have launched their latest drive to tackle mental health in the Peel region.
The campaign features personal stories of depression captured as mini documentaries and in artworks to help people recognise the symptoms of the condition.
Impacting about one million Australians every year, depression is rife in the Peel region for young people aged 16-24.
Forming Mandurah's most at-risk age group, many are challenged by relationship breakdowns, study pressures, unemployment, the fast pace of life or the pressures of social media.
Designed to help have a positive impact on the Peel region specifically, the campaign features two young people, Ashlee-Rose and Cameron, who chose not to reveal their surnames, who have both battled depression.
After explaining their mental health journeys, local artists Cat Cronin and Steve Browne were commissioned to produce paintings to depict how their darkest days looked.
Cronin and Browne immersed themselves in the emotions of the participants to produce paintings that demonstrate that depression looks different for everybody.
The artists and participants then met for the first time when the artworks were unveiled.
The result is a powerful approach that aims to help people recognise depression if it comes up in their lives, or in someone they know, and direct them to the website insidemymind.org.au where they can find useful information on depression and how to get help.
The official launch of the 'Depression Looks Different for Everybody' campaign in the Peel region was held at the Mandurah Quay Resort with the videos now set to run mainly on social media to reflect the target audience's needs.
WAPHA chief executive officer Learne Durrington said depression has a significant impact on young people, their families and the community.
"As this campaign shows, depression can look different for everybody, and as Ashlee-Rose and Cameron have highlighted, getting help is the first step to recovery and treatment can be highly effective," she said.
"If the takeaway message is nothing else, I think there is something quite beautiful that has been captured here and I would encourage you to share it."
Ashlee-Rose said she "threw herself at the campaign" in an effort to give back, after receiving so much support throughout her experience with mental health issues.
"I have an overwhelming sense of gratitude to be able to be a part of this," she said.
"For years I have struggled with [mental health] ever since I was 14 and I always thought when I became an adult, I would want to share this journey and help other people."
Cameron, who now works for Headspace and shares his story at schools, said he was initially hesitant to take part in the campaign.
"This was the first time I would be sharing [my story] with a lot more people and really putting myself out there," he said.
"A couple of times I was so nervous I nearly called up and said 'I can't do this'.
"But I kept reminding myself how important it is to remind people it is okay to share their feelings, especially young adults."
For more information or to view the documentaries, visit insidemymind.org.au.
If you or someone you know needs urgent support, call Lifeline on 13 11 14, Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467 or Kids Helpline (5 to 25 years) on 1800 55 1800.
