Bridge To Healing – Therapeutic Support for flood traumatised young people

NRCF’s grants funding has supported the mental health of young people in our community who are suffering from the fallout of the Northern Rivers Floods. Funding was awarded to Human Nature Adventure Therapy to deliver mental health support programs to more than 100 young people.

Over the past year they have provided an incredible 900-plus face-to-face individual appointments with a therapist or mentor, delivering their service to young people from across five LGAs in the Northern Rivers.

Not only that, but CEO Sharyn White ALSO confirms that they have,

“managed to maintain a remarkable engagement rate of over 90%. That means over 90% of young people engaged in our service have received at least 10 appointments each, despite being in a cohort that parents, schools and other services label as ‘will not engage’. By engaging young people in the long-term support that’s needed, we can develop strong therapeutic relationships, which can significantly impact outcomes and retention in therapy.”

Improving access to mental health support for young people and being able to offer their service at zero cost to the participant helps to ensure that youth who desperately need support are not missing out.

For the participant, having someone who consistently shows up for them can be life changing. A recent participant shared their perspective with a therapist from Human Nature Adventure Therapy, below.

“The flood was the first natural disaster I’ve been through. Before the flood I was smoking and drinking every now and then. My circle was getting smaller and smaller, I was in my own world, I wouldn’t talk to my family. Then the flood hit, I was really shocked for a while. With cleaning up I wasn’t really there. For a while I was sad and angry, then agitated and depressed. All blurry, I felt this was way too much to take on. I started going a bit mad.

I remember the first time you came over I was sitting on the couch. Some part of me still just wanted to suffer, and not get help. But the other part was coming to its senses. I found a lot of things helpful, like one of the coping mechanisms “dry noodle/wet noodle”, or the time that we were listening to the birds and just becoming more aware of my surroundings. I don’t think anything was not helpful. Everything was helpful, having someone to talk to, checking up, the things you brought over for the house. It made it feel more homey.

I feel like we saw the community really get together after the flood. There were heaps of people helping out. Everything that was donated. It made me a lot more grateful for what I have.”  [program participant]

If this good news story resonated with you and you are a community organisation looking for support – our Annual Community Grants Round is open until September 29th, 2023 and you can apply here.

Alternatively, if you are reading this and are in a position to donate we’d love your support for the ongoing recovery of our region. Donations of any amount can be made here and will contribute towards our subsequent Annual Community Grants Giving Event towards the end of this year.