The E-Club Serving Humanity (D9705) has only one service project in Australia and it concerns youth mental health.

Article by President John de Ridder E-Club Serving Humanity D9705, President Caring for Our Port Stephens Youth Inc. (COPSY Inc.)

Since mental health is a key focus for Rotary International this year, we should share what we are doing – think global and act local.

RI President R. Gordon R. McInally is asking clubs and districts to expand on our culture of care by erasing the stigma associated with emotional well-being, raising awareness of mental health needs, and improving access to quality preventive care and interventions.

In Australia, Beyond Blue, Black Dog and others have done much to reduce stigma and raise awareness. A missing piece is access to early intervention. When you want help, where do you go?

According to the WHO (World Health Organization), suicide is the second leading cause of death among 15 to 29-year-olds globally. In Australia, the ABS (Australian Bureau of Statistics) National Study of Mental Health and Wellbeing, 2020-21, revealed for the first time the extent of mental disorder in the community. Almost half of females aged 16-24 years and almost one third of males had a mental disorder in the previous 12 months.

This is why our E-Club supports a charity (COPSY Inc) that runs a service for youth in the Port Stephens area which we call jupiter. It is a RABS (Rotary Australia Benevolent Society) project supported locally by the Rotary Club of Medowie-Williamtown (D9670).

According to the 2021 Census, the incidence of mental health conditions was nearly 50% higher in Port Stephens than the State average. Port Stephens is characterized by socio-economic disadvantage, particularly in the western part of the region. Raymond Terrace has 70% more one-parent families than the NSW average, a median household income that is only 70% of the NSW average, and a higher proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, 12% compared to the state average of 3%.

The jupiter service is staffed by accredited counsellors providing free mental health and wellbeing services for all young people in Port Stephens (approximately 11,514 youth aged 12-25) with a non-judgmental approach embracing diversity, inclusion, and cultural safety.

Since March 2019, when jupiter was formally launched, the service has made remarkable progress. It has expanded geographically to three sites and in terms of the kinds of support it offers. It works with the local community in mental health partnership initiatives. Despite the difficulties imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the service successfully adapted through telehealth and maintained its positive trajectory.