From Participant to Service Provider | Page 16 | Youth Insearch

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Mon, 26/04/2021 - 16:39

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Stories, Leaders

Youth Insearch Leader, Jennifer Bullers, has achieved so much in her life. Academically successful, and full of potential and drive, we are so pleased to see Jen make such strides.

I first joined Youth Insearch when I was 17, failing year 11, and on a dark and desperate path. In a few short months I managed to turn my school performance on it's head and went on to dux the year. I struggled with mental illness and physical illness for several years, but persisted nonetheless.

I completed Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA), organised and lead two Relay for Life teams and a Bark for Life team, embarked on an 11 day voyage on the Youth Endeavour, completed a cultural relief trip to Cambodia, completed my Youth Insearch Leadership training, trained and worked as a pool lifeguard and surf lifesaver, completed my Bachelor of Biomedical Science with a High Distinction average, completed my first Psychological degree, and got accepted into Honours in Psychology. 

Youth Insearch taught me how to believe in and love myself again. I learnt how to trust again and finally found my drive and motivation for life. 

In August 2018, I designed a session for the young people on a Youth Insearch program around the idea of a personalised 'Mental Health First Aid Kit'. The response to my workshop was outstanding from young people and adults alike, so I developed the concept further and created my own business. 

Through my own organisation, Mental Armour, I facilitate workshops for people of all ages and backgrounds to help them develop their own unique Mental Health First Aid Kit as well as coping strategies that will actually work for them. I have since facilitated workshops for members of the public, members of a local council group, schools, Gippsland East Local Learning & Employment Network (GELLEN), and GippsTafe. Since the start of 2020 I have also extended to offer group coaching programs.

My vision is to reduce the impact of mental illness and occurrence of suicide in our community by implementing resources that are proactive as opposed to reactive. I know too well the struggle involved with mental illness and have experienced the downfalls in the mental health system firsthand which is why I endeavour to be different.

At the end of 2020, I completed my thesis on the Subjective Wellbeing of the Australian Population in response to the COVID-19 pandemic last year, duxed my Honours in Psychology, was awarded the Australian Psychological Society Award for Academic Achievement, and started studying my Master of Clinical Psychology.

Jen has taken huge leaps in furthering herself in her own life, and continues to strives to help others find their path.