Armidale High School student Isaac Clark is speaking out to raise money and awareness for teenage anxiety and depression.
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The local boy has made it a personal mission after watching his brother battle depression some years ago.
“A couple of years ago we went through a very bad spell with one of my siblings,” he said.
“He overdosed on some sort of anti-depressant and when we woke up the next morning mum rang Beyondblue.
“They helped us out a lot and now I want to give back to the service that helped us out a really long time ago.”
They helped us out a lot and now I want to give back to the service that helped us out a really long time ago.
- Isaac Clark
Mr Clark has organised, in association with Belgrave Cinema, a Beyondblue fundraiser night featuring Dance Academy.
“I’ll be giving a speech about the history of my family and talk about the dance that I’ll be performing,” he said.
Mr Clark will perform a four minute dance piece before running the 2017 film Dance Academy – in which he performed in.
“The dance portrays my families involvement with depression mixed with anorexia and anxiety,” he said.
“The song [used in the dance] reflects upon the actions of a teen feeling depression and not showing any signs of trouble.
“So that’s kind of what happened to my older sibling – he never really spoke about it much.
“He was just in his room most of the time and not really communicating with anyone about it.”
According to Beyondblue it’s estimated that 45 per cent of Australians will experience a mental health condition in their lifetime.
In any one year, around one million Australian adults have depression, and over two million have anxiety.
The movie is based on the two-time Emmy nominated Australian TV series and premiers in cinemas on April 6.
Mr Clark said he wanted to give back to a charity that had done a great deal for his family.
The fundraiser will be held at Armidale’s Belgrave Cinema on Friday, April 7 from 6pm.
Tickets to the event can be purchased at the door at $20 for adults and $15 for concession.
If you or anyone you know needs help contact Lifeline on 13 11 14.