Informing Minds
Creating awareness and understanding of Mental Health
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Meet Fiona Costello
The Founder of Informing Minds
Fiona has almost two decades of experience working in the Community Services Industry with marginalised young people with complex needs such as mental health issues, young offenders, drug and alcohol issues, and homeless young people impacted by family and domestic violence.
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Fiona has travelled internationally in Africa, Asia, Ireland, and Australia delivering youth-oriented programs in Mental Health and Wellbeing. As a result, she has a vast amount of knowledge in delivering her programs in an inclusive supportive environment.
Fiona is passionate about raising awareness and breaking the stigma attached to mental illnesses through keynote speaking and advocacy. She is particularly passionate about Youth Mental Health and her goal is to educate adults working or living with young people to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental health issues through Mental Health First Aid Programs. Furthermore, Fiona runs resilience and well-being programs for young people aged between 12-18 years of age in school settings and youth related settings.
Fiona also offers motivational speaking. Whilst working in the youth sector field, her own traumatic memories of her past were triggered and she consequently battled with her own mental health challenges. Her story is an organic recollection of her struggles with PTSD and depression.
As a result, Fiona is determined to provide early intervention programs and conversations about Mental Health and her goal is to educate both adults working or living with young people and young people to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental health issues through Mental Health First Aid Programs and well-being programs.
Youth Mental Health First Aid Training
Based in Perth, however, will deliver throughout Australia.
The Youth Mental Health First Aid course is for adults working or living with adolescents (those aged between 12 and 18 years), however, the course can be relevant for those helping people who are a little younger or older. This course is particularly suitable for parents, teachers, sports coaches and youth workers.
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This two-day training package can be delivered over four separate modules.
The course teaches adults how to assist adolescents developing a mental health problem or in a mental health crisis. Course participants learn about adolescent development, the signs and symptoms of the common and disabling mental health problems in young people, where and how to get help when a young person is developing a mental illness, and what sort of help has been shown by research to be effective, and how to provide first aid in a crisis situation.
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Speaking by Fiona Costello
Keynote Speaking
Get Ready to Take Action
Fiona is passionate about changing the perception of mental health issues by sharing her own story. Talking about our lived experiences with mental ill-health can be the first step in overcoming the stigma that surrounds it. It can help those who are experiencing, have lived experience, or are impacted by mental issues understand, and be more compassionate.
​Topics:​
My story
Overcoming PTSD and depression
Resilience and Transformation
Mental health and wellbeing