As part of Youth Week this year young people and their supporters in Bourke and Walgett were asked to be a star for mental health. 

In each town, locals of all ages have signed on to the PCYC's Star Jump Challenge. 

Amanda Cheal is the manager at Walgett PCYC and says it was an opportunity to join in a statewide event and bring a new program to the west. 



"We have more than 660 members here at Walgett," Ms Cheal said. 

"We made a Walgett team mainly involving the PCYC staff, volunteers and members." 

Those who joined, committed to doing star jumps every day from 3 to 10 April, with the number of jumps completely up to each individual. 

But it isn't just about fitness and fun – the PCYC Star Jump Challenge is a charity fundraiser to raise vital funding for the youth mental resilience program known as GRIT (Growth-mindset Resilience Intervention for Teenagers). 

"We haven't had the GRIT program yet," Ms Cheal said. "Last year was the first year so it was a bit of a pilot but it was flagged for Bourke and Walgett in Term 2 this year." 

"The funds raised will go to the delivery of the program." 

Becoming part of the GRIT program will involve staff and community members undertaking training and then delivering a ten week series of sessions that take 2.5 hours on one day a week. 

Young people aged from 12 to 17 years can take part, divided into two groups – the 12 to 14 year olds and the 15 to 17 year olds. 

Across the state, the sixty six Police Citizens Youth Clubs see tens of thousands of young people every week of the year. 

Organisers say they see "an urgent and growing need to develop mental resilience skills amongst our youth." 

"Prevention is always better than cure," Ms Cheal said. "The GRIT program will help us improve the physical wellbeing and increase the social and emotional intelligence of our young people." 

"It helps build a growth mindset and resilience skills." 

It is hoped that enough funds will be raised to not only deliver the face to face version of the program but to enable an app to be developed so that young people can tap into the information wherever and whenever they are. 

So whether or not you're a star jumper, it's not too late to donate to the cause and support the region's young people.