Kununurra teen Tremane Baxter-Edwards grows mo for mental health

An East Kimberley teenager is facing the region’s mental health issues head-on, growing out his stache to raise funds for suicide prevention. Ngarinyin Walmajarri teenager Tremane Baxter-Edwards grew up in Wyndham, in Western Australia’s far north, where there are some of the highest youth suicide rates in the world. The urgent need for mental health support in Tremane’s home region spurred him to get involved in his school’s annual Movember team. The 15-year-old Aquinas College student said he has had multiple relatives take their own lives. “I’ve lost a few uncles and cousins to suicide,” Tremane said. “Just recently in July, in Wyndham, we lost someone. “We see the effects every day and we live with them on the ground. You know, there’ll be news circling around the community that we’ve lost this young fella.” It comes only days after a youth suicide in Fitzroy Crossing rocked the Kimberley community, sparking renewed calls for action to address the mental health needs of the region’s youth. Tremane, who hopes to raise $1500 by the end of November, said he believes part of the problem for boys and men is a fear of sharing their thoughts. “As we have seen, men are more likely to not speak up,” he said. “It’s what men have been brought up to do — to be a man and don’t talk up — which is really sad.” “Society has placed this huge problem on them — don’t cry. It’s degrading and most men find it very, very hard to cope.” After signing up to the fundraiser, Tremane posted the link on his hometown’s community page. He said the response was overwhelming. “I put it on the community page and within 12, 16 hours, I managed to clock in about $400,” he said. “They’ve really got around to it. They are such a supportive community which I love about the Kununurra, Wyndham area.” This is not the first time Tremane has taken a stand for his community. Earlier this year, the teenager was elected Youth Parliament Member for the Kimberley. He said his aunty, Kimberley MLA Divina D’Anna, continues to be his biggest supporter. “Aunty Div had done a significant amount of work in the health department and in mental health,” he said. “I would love to get involved in the sector when I graduate, as there is so much need for it (in the Kimberley).” The public can donate to Tremane’s cause via the Movember website. Lifeline: 13 11 14 Beyond Blue: 1300 224 636