A youth suicide awareness clothing line has won 18-year-old Mitchell Ford the Young Citizen of the Year award.
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Residents, young and old, were recognised for their outstanding achievements on Australia Day as part of the Katherine Town Council annual ceremony.
The Young Citizen of the Year may have been the only nominee in his category, but his efforts in tackling the stigma and stereotypes surrounding mental health have been heard by many.
After losing his best friend to suicide in 2016, Mitchell Ford wanted to do something proactive to help.
“My friend had wanted to start up his own clothing line, but didn’t pursue it. He got caught up with year 12 and life,” Mr Ford said.
“I wanted to honour him by doing something similar.”
The youth mental health ambassador created PRVT Apparel when he was in year 11.
An acronym for ‘prevention’, the clothing brand is on a mission to spread awareness and provide information to those suffering in silence.
“I wanted something that would start a conversation,” Mr Ford said.
“When I say Prevention Apparel people ask about it, like what are we preventing. It is an ice-breaker.
“It is the same for the acronym.
“I wanted to create a family community and a platform where I can let people know they are not alone, there is an abundance of help available,” he said.
Suicide remains the leading cause of death for youth in the NT and across Australia.
“We live in a small country town where we are not quite open to talking about problems. There is a lot of stigma, that it is soft and weak to talk about mental health, when it is the opposite. It is actually quite difficult to open up.
“It is about starting the conversation.
“It is a process and it is not going to happen straight away.”
Mr Ford, who currently works at the YMCA and volunteers his time helping disadvantaged youth, said he was both surprised and grateful to win the Young Citizen of the Year award.
“I don’t do it to be recognised, but I was grateful that other people saw that what I was doing was productive and worthwhile.
“Mum cried, she has been super supportive,” he said.
From each Prevention Apparel shirt sold, 20 per cent is donated to headspace to raise awareness of youth suicide and other mental health issues.
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