MinRes partners with the Y WA for mental health support

Mineral Resources (ASX: MIN) has continued its partnership with the Y WA to support the Inside Our Minds campaign.

This is the fourth year Mineral Resources has partnered with the Y WA, one of Australia’s largest youth organisations, for the Inside Our Minds campaign.

Every day through WA Mental Health Week – which runs from October 5 – 12 – a different video featuring young people talking about their mental health will be shared on social media and the big screens at Yagan Square, Northbridge Piazza and Curtin University.

The Periscope Crew, an organisation staffed and run by young people with disabilities, shot the short films in the media studio at Mineral Resources’ headquarters.

Mineral Resources head of mental health Chris Harris says partnering with organisations such as the Y WA help encourage open conversations about mental health.

“We [MinRes] aim to provide an environment that actively promotes taking care of your mental health and opportunities for our employees to seek support when they need it,” he said.

“We’re proud to join forces with organisations like the Y WA to extend that support to the wider community.

“By funding this video series, we aim to help raise awareness and foster understanding about the mental health challenges faced by young people, particularly those with a disability.”

Inside Our Minds was created by Mineral Resources’ senior people advisor Martin Johnson who was previously at the Y WA.

Mr Johnson hoped the videos would inspire young people to speak up about their own mental health journey and seek support.

“One quarter of people aged under 30 will experience mental issues or psychological distress at some point in their life,” he said.

“Giving them the opportunity to share how they manage and navigate these issues promotes peer-to-peer conversations.

“I never thought this initiative would come this far and with the support of MinRes, we have been able to expand our reach each year to help educate different communities and groups.”

The Y WA chief executive Dr Tim McDonald says working on a new Inside Our Mind series every year brings the privilege of providing a platform for young people to share their mental health experiences.

“At the Y WA, one of our primary goals is to assist our youth community to flourish and give them as voice so this initiative has become a crucial event in our annual calendar,” he said.