Schools encouraged to get involved in multicultural mental health program

A program aimed at breaking down stigma in mental health care, building confidence and connecting multicultural young people with the supports they need for their mental health is on offer to local schools and students free of charge. The Reverb 2.0 program is delivered in partnership with headspace National and the Centre for Multicultural Youth using peer-led storytelling and cultural insights, and has facilitated culturally responsive workshops to over 170 staff across 20 headspace centres in Victoria and New South Wales. From July, the program expanded nationally, training even more headspace staff across Australia to help build understanding and improve engagement with multicultural young people. Headspace Wangaratta team leader Katie Shalevski said they are thrilled to be part of Reverb 2.0 at headspace Wangaratta. “This program brings something really special, young people sharing their stories, culture, and lived experience to help break down stigma and build a mental health system that truly reflects the diversity of our community,” she said. “It’s helped our team grow in how we support multicultural young people, and we’d love to see local schools get involved. “These free workshops are such a valuable opportunity for students to explore mental health in a safe, relatable, and culturally inclusive way." At the centre of the school program are three 55-minute workshops for students in years 8 to 10, facilitated by Reverb 2.0 Youth Advocates — all young people with lived experience of navigating mental health challenges in multicultural contexts. Through storytelling, peer connection and culturally grounded content, the workshops aim to help students understand the link between mental health and cultural identity, build confidence and challenge stigma among peers, and learn practical ways to access support services. Workshops are fully subsidised, meaning there is no cost to schools or students, thanks to targeted program funding. Headspace multicultural practice lead Bimba Chavan said Reverb 2.0 is a platform for multicultural young people to lead and share practical, culturally grounded strategies with headspace centre staff - helping them better support diverse communities and their families. “By embedding lived experience into every stage - from design to delivery - we're building a stronger, more inclusive mental health system,” she said.

Schools encouraged to get involved in multicultural mental health program

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