Mental Health and Wellbeing at African Youth Collective

The African Australian Albinism Alliance, a branch of African Youth Collective (AYC), is led by CEO and Founder Bukuru Leonidas. The branch works alongside AYC to promote inclusion, belonging, mental wellbeing, and community support for people from African backgrounds, including those living with unique challenges connected to identity and inclusion.

Mental health is often described as a person’s emotional, psychological, and social wellbeing. It influences how we think, feel, respond to challenges, build relationships, make decisions, and participate in everyday life.

At African Youth Collective (AYC), we recognise that mental health is a significant issue affecting many young people and families within our communities. Over the years, we have witnessed increasing concerns about young people becoming disconnected from family, culture, education, employment pathways, and positive community influences. These challenges have created important conversations within our communities about how we can provide support earlier, before young people reach crisis point.

While mental health support can include clinical services, counselling, and professional interventions, our community experience has shown that these approaches may not always meet the needs of every individual. Many young people from African backgrounds continue to experience barriers when accessing support, including language challenges, cultural misunderstandings, stigma, and limited connection with service providers who understand their lived experiences.

In many situations, young people may not see their culture, traditions, family values, or personal identity reflected in the support they receive. Without meaningful cultural connection, individuals can feel misunderstood, isolated, and disconnected from the systems designed to support them.

AYC believes that mental wellbeing is strengthened when young people feel connected — connected to their culture, families, communities, and positive opportunities. Through culturally safe programs, community engagement, mentoring, sport, food, storytelling, and peer support, we aim to create spaces where young people feel valued, heard, and empowered.

Our approach recognises that prevention, belonging, and community connection are powerful tools in supporting mental health. By working together, we can build stronger communities where every young person has the opportunity to thrive.