Adjournment

The world is in trouble. The amount and severity of issues currently facing young people is at paramount. Everybody has their own struggles. Their own hurdles they need to cross. For me, the biggest issue facing myself and my peers is mental illness. Mental illness in itself is an extremely large issue facing the entirety of the population. Because of this, i want to speak solely on anxiety.

Unless you are directly affected by anxiety, you would have no idea of what it is really like. Your mouth feels dry, it's a struggle to swallow. Your heart is reacing so fast you feel dizzy. Your legs turn to jelly as your lungs gasp for air. Somebody reaches out to you, and you flinch, or run, or anything you can think of to keep safe. Sometimes, people notice. You feel so stupid, as though you're a freak. You don't even know why you are behaving like this. Everybody is watching, and all you really want is to crawl into a deep, dark hole. You try to think of the good times, but it your head, there is a voice telling you that you never deserved them.

Of course, this is only one account of anxiety. Symptoms and reactions vary greatly from person to person.

Anxiety makes life such a struggle. It affects not only the individual but the people around them. So. What help is available?

In cities, you have access to counsellors, psyciatrists, psychologists, specialists, GP's, doctors, youth facilities, and on and on the list goes.

Rural towns do not have this advantage. In Mount Gambier, we have school counsellors, backlogged GP's, and the Community Mental Health Service known as CAMHS. CAMHS currently has a 6 month waiting list due to such high demand, and backlog due to emergencies. Because of this, suicide is one of the biggest killers of youth in Mount Gambier. We need help. Our town is in a situation few could honestly comprehend. Kids are dying.

Every year at YP, mental health is brought up, proving to me that it isn't just us facing this neverending battle. We need the Government's help. We need the Governments support. We need whatever we can get. We are trapped in a struggle that has seemingly no end. I plead, I beg, I emplore, please. Help us. We need the support and action of the Government or there will never be an end. More kids will die.

For all those suffering from mental illness, you know what i mean, and how i feel. To you all, please, keep going. Keep hoping. Maybe we will get help before it is too late. Wish on an airplane, reach for the stars, buzz like a bee, lean on me, smile, whatever lyric takes your fancy. Live and be proud. When no-one else is there, please contact me, and i promise that i will love you. To me, you are all amazing, or you wouldn't be here.