Riverina Bluebell helping teenagers to build resilience against life's challenges | photos

He told more than 300 high school students in Wagga on Thursday he would be dead by now if he had not made a key change to his life – he stopped worrying about what other people thought.

He stopped trying to impress the crew in his gang, and after a few stop-starts along the way to a new life is now a successful businessman and happily married.

“I am now incredibly happy because I am being myself,” Mr Kennedy said.

His advice to the students was: “Just be yourself.”

Mr Kennedy was one of five mental health advocates who spoke to the teenagers from throughout the Riverina at the Wagga RSL Club about developing skills to maintain resilience, an inner toughness and a better sense of well-being.

The presentation was organised by mental health advocate, Riverina Bluebell.

Acclaimed author Matthew Johnstone told the group people were capable of overcoming extreme difficulties in their lives.