Mental health service, Homestead For Youth, has partnered with the Pinjarra Sponsorship Program to help vulnerable young people access life-changing support.
The move comes as the Pinjarra-based non-profit organisation, which focuses on fixing the gaps in the mental health system, aims to engage the community and make services more accessible to youth in need.
The Pinjarra Sponsorship Program was founded by Deb Bowling and Michelle Marsh in 2016 to play a role as a community in helping people in need.
Through funding from local business sponsorship, it has assisted countless locals since it was launched.
The program's alliance with Homestead For Youth means the service will be able to offer free sessions with psychologists and counsellors to young people in need of help.
Co-founder Marty Fadelli said the partnership would allow the community to take more direct action and help local youth.
As part of the program, donors will choose to pay for a psychology, counselling or coaching session, mental health workshop or camp for their sponsor.
Donors will be kept up-to-date with who they have helped, how they are tracking and what their support has done for them.
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In 2018, suicide rates among young people were the highest they have been in more than a decade.
Suicide remains the leading cause of death for Australians ages between 15-44.
Mr Fadelli opened Homestead For Youth with his wife Carla in 2014 to provide a home for young people in need.
Since then, a small management board and group of passionate volunteers have helped to turn it into the unique organisation it is today - committed to empowering at-risk youth and their families.
The charity offers residential services, mentoring, counselling, and psychology care on their Meelon farm and has helped to engage and inspire hundreds of young people by using horses, cars, outdoor activities and the arts.
Their innovative family-style recovery program allows vulnerable youth to stay onsite for four to 12 months to learn life and mental health skills, receive counselling, go to school, and have the space to work through issues in a safe, structured environment.
For more information, or to find out how to get involved, visit the Homestead For Youth website.
Support is available by calling Kids Helpline on 1800 551 800, Lifeline on 131 114, or beyondblue on 1300 22 46 36.
