About

A Stitch in Time (ASIT), founded in 2014 by NBL Champion & Perth Wildcats Vice-Captain Greg Hire, is a ‘non-profit’ agency, which aims to provide programs for youth, aged 12-25 years in the Perth Metropolitan Area & Regional Communities.  Our organisation’s programs are focused on mentoring, building resilience, and the importance of being positive mental wellbeing, as we want to contribute to changing the mental health landscape in Western Australia.

A Stitch in Time programs will be implemented through partnerships with schools and sporting associations. Initially ASIT will offer programs to help Western Australian adolescents and youth. We will firstly help to support at-risk youth, who may be facing a difficult time, and secondly to also seek young people who want to make a difference and work with their peers and community towards positive mental health outcomes for all.

Within our programs, the primary feature will be predominantly focused on mentorship. Our key mentoring programs will include the following:

1. Partnering with local schools and ASIT implementing a leadership/mentoring program through a four-week workshop. This connects an ASIT mentor with a ‘pod’ of students and over a period of time and workshops, we seek to provide the development of personal skills and peer relationships, to ultimately encourage youth-led initiatives in our community.

2. The establishment of Sport Leadership Program with ASIT partnering with local sporting associations (both metropolitan and regional) and the program will include both mentoring aspects & leadership tools to provide a holistic approach to positive mental and physical health and encourage participants towards future pathways in sport, academics and leadership.

Both programs will involve workshops from Industry leaders and partners, e-learning, and peer to peer mentoring.  ASIT want to provide invaluable training for individuals that need our help, or would like to help others.  We believe by harnessing peer to peer mentoring we are creating a powerful platform for Western Australian youth to grow as individuals, and help each other and our community.

A Stitch in Time is ready to embark on our initial programs in 2017 and empower Western Australian young people to be forces of change in our community, and ultimately create positive health and wellbeing outcomes.

It is sometimes hard to know how to support people who are struggling with their mental health. Here are some simple ways you can provide support.

GIVE SUPPORT

NOTICE THE SIGNS

You may begin to notice a change in behaviour in someone.

These may include, but are not limited to:

  • Seeing them engage in high-risk behaviours.
  • Having negative self-talk.
  • Suddenly become overly optimistic
  • Sense their feelings of hopelessness, desperate, numb or ashamed.
  • You may know that they are going through a difficult chapter in their life.

Be aware of these signs.

LISTEN TO UNDERSTAND

The next step is to ask the question:
"How are you feeling?"

(Note a person may even come up to you directly and ask for support.)

  1. In the conversation just actively listen.
  2. Be open to understand their concerns.
  3. Be patient.
  4. Seek feedback and ask questions to gain clarity and better understand.
  5. If silence is all they want, then hold space for them in silence.

THE FOLLOW UP

Firstly, it is important to understand you do not need to know the answers

  1. Skip the advice unless asked by the individual.
  2. It is likely you won't know the answers and that is okay. The best follow-up is to engage mental health professionals.
  3. See below for 'Get Support'

MORE TO KNOW

You do not always need to give support if your own mental health is suffering.
It is always possible to engage someone else who does have the capacity to provide support to the individual.

Remember: You cannot pour from an empty cup.

Look after yourself first.

Feeling as though you don't know where to go to get mental health support? We're here to help.

GET SUPPORT

IMMEDIATE SUPPORT

GENERAL SUPPORT

SUPPORT FOR YOUNG PEOPLE

RELATIONSHIP SUPPORT

DRUGS, ALCOHOL AND OTHER SUPPORT

PARTNERING CAFES

If you are a cafe manager and would like to join the movement - Contact Us!