Leon Stensholm talks about Sunshine Coast youth mental health

A Sunshine Coast counsellor who lost five people to suicide in the same year, including his own brother, has shared the harsh reality of those suffering as youths struggle to access mental health services. SPECIAL REPORT

Leon Stensholm has dedicated himself to helping prevent suicide by creating a drop-in centre within his Warana gym. The space will expand into a new area twice the size by May.

Sunshine Coast father Leon Stensholm had his world destroyed when five people close to him took their own lives within the same year, including his own brother.

Following the suicide of his best mate and brother Dean, he decided to pursue his dreams and founded a business committed to helping people to totally transform their body and mind.

The former champion bodybuilder, who had his own career ended by injury, is passionate about working with those who suffer from mental health concerns and gives his time freely to work in the community on suicide prevention.

A licensed counsellor, he has dedicated himself to making sure no one has to go through the same horror – least of all young people.

Now, he has given insight into the reality of young people with mental health issues and how to support them.

Conversations around mental health on the Sunshine Coast were sparked by the news of 19-year-old Maroochydore man Sorawit “JJ” Nganprateepkul’s tragic death on February 16.

19-year-old Sorawit Nganprateepkul died in a tragic incident in February.

It was later revealed the fallen teen could not afford to see a psychologist, a harsh reality for many as the mental health sector reaches crisis point.

Mr Stensholm, who runs a not-for-profit youth drop-in centre out of his Warana gym and operates support groups across the Sunshine Coast and Noosa, has turned the facility into a “safe haven” for people between 12 and 25-years-old to approach him if they “need help now”.

He said most issues in children contributing to poor mental health presented before their seventh birthday, and it was just as important for parents to ensure they were not projecting unsolved trauma onto them.

Leon Stensholm has dedicated himself to helping prevent suicide by creating a drop-in centre within his Warana gym. The space will expand into a new area twice the size by May.

Pressure from social media was “the icing on the cake” and often a “trigger” for those already vulnerable.

But Mr Stensolm said the long term solution lied in having difficult conversations to address the root of the problem.

“Human beings are not talking enough, we’re not being vulnerable enough, we’re not having that conversation that needs to be had; if we can address those issues, then we can work out what’s going on today,” he said.

A circle of chairs, beanbags and a comfortable couch are nestled among Leon Stensholm's gym, where young people are invited to come in and comfortably discuss their issues and get the support they need.

Mental health service SANE chief operating officer Jackie Mead said there was a rise in people, including youth, across the mental health sector needing access to the support services, but it was difficult to pinpoint why.

“Covid opened a whole lot of different conversations for us … for the first time, we’ve been willing to say ‘we are not okay’ when someone asks ‘how are you?’,” she said.

“But there’s also a whole lot of stresses and pressures in our lives that are adding complications every day.”

Mr Stensholm is planning to combat the rise by expanding his facility to a new location twice the size, complete with on-hand psychologists.

Leon Stensholm is preparing to move into a bigger facility in May, where he hopes to provide further help and support to youth struggling with their mental health.

The program is funded by Sunshine Coast youth mental health support service Youturn.

“I’m really confident things can change, but we need facilities like this,” he said.

The centre is expected to be up and running by May.

If you or someone you love is in crisis or needs support right now, please call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636. If it is an emergency please call triple-0.

Originally published as Leon Stensholm talks about Sunshine Coast youth mental health