SUICIDE prevention is among the most important issues of our generation, with almost nine Australians taking their own lives every single day.

Fortunately, whenever there’s an issue that needs solving, you can guarantee there will be people willing to help.

Young Portlander Matilda Andrews certainly falls into that category, as just over a week ago she finished her goal of swimming 1000 laps to help raise money and awareness for Youth Live4Life, a charity specifically set up to help support regional and rural communities in improving their wellbeing and mental health.

Setting out with the aspirational goal of raising $500 for the charity, Andrews smashed her target, more than doubling up on that goal as she raised a total of $1009.

While chatting with the Observer, Andrews said she couldn’t think of a better cause to help support through her efforts in the pool.

“I knew that the money was going towards an important cause… it’s something that I believe needs more attention in our community,” she said.

“We had the goal of raising $500… seeing how much we raised tells me I’m not the only one who realises this initiative needs to be supported.

Mental health troubles plague rural communities even more so than metropolitan regions, with statistics saying that the number of people who take their own lives is 40% higher in such communities.

Andrews said this was a key reason why she chose this cause, saying it’s something which strikes a chord with her.

“This is a major issue in rural towns… hopefully this can serve as a wake-up call that people need so they know how serious of an issue this is,” she said.

Andrews was not a lone hand in her endeavours, with her close friend Gracie Walder having been the catalyst behind her taking up the challenge.

Walder was in fact the one who singled out Andrews as the right person for the job, handing her the flyer which kick-started the whole thing.

“I know she’s an amazing swimmer… and she’s a great person so I knew she would do it… she knows that this is a real problem and would want to do something about it,” Walder said.

“Matilda is an amazing person… I’ve told her before, but she is.”

Andrews gave special thanks to her parents for their support, and to everyone who donated to what the worthy cause.