Event:
Youthbeyondblue Community Forum

Date:
Tuesday 21 July 2009

Venue:
Hawthorn Town Hall
358 Burwood Rd, Hawthorn

Time:
7pm - 8.30pm

Admission:
FREE - parents, young people, teachers, carers, health professionals, community groups and the general public are invited to attend.

Hawthorn and Geelong play for the AFL beyondblue Cup each season, to raise awareness of depression and anxiety.

This year’s beyondblue Cup match will take place at the MCG on Sat 25 July

A Youthbeyondblue Community Forum will be held in the lead-up to the game where beyondblue Chairman and Hawthorn President Jeff Kennett will talk about the Youthbeyondblue Campaign, and how the youth arm of beyondblue: the national depression initiative is raising awareness of depression and anxiety in young people. Other speakers include ex-AFL player Nathan Thompson, who has experienced depression, an adolescent psychiatrist and two young people.

There will also be a performance by hip hop and beat boxing artists, Indigenous Hip Hop Projects who work with beyondblue to raise awareness of depression/anxiety in young people living in rural and remote Australia.

beyondblue CEO Leonie Young said: “One in seven young people in Australia currently experience an anxiety disorder and one in 16 are experiencing depression, so the chances are, we all know someone who has been affected by these conditions - a friend, family member or work mate.

“The beyondblue Cup and this Youthbeyondblue Community Forum are fantastic opportunities to raise awareness of depression and anxiety among young people, footy fans, the local community and people watching the game on TV. We want people to know that while depression and anxiety are common, effective treatments are available and the most important thing is to get help early. Visit our website www.youthbeyondblue.com or call our info line 1300 22 4636 for more information,” she said.

Hawthorn Football Club Chief Executive, Ian Robson, said: “Hawthorn Football Club is proud to support beyondblue through the beyondblue Cup and this Community Forum. With the launch of the recent Youthbeyondblue campaign, we want to help encourage footy fans, especially young men, to talk about depression and understand it’s OK to ask for help.”

To register attendance, email community@hawthornfc.com.au with FORUM in the subject line.

For more information call beyondblue on (03) 9810 6100. Registration is not compulsory.