A BILOELA youth worker and personal trainer have joined forces in the fight against youth depression and anxiety.

Lisa Limpus, a local youth worker, and Mitch Terrick, a personal trainer for Anytime Fitness, have teamed up to create To BOOT Depression - volunteering their own time to run free boot camps across Banana Shire for youth aged 12 and up who suffer from depression and anxiety.

Both Lisa and Mitch have fought their own battles against the invisible diseases in their lifetimes, and have the scars as reminders.

"Whilst I used to hide my scars, I now wear them with pride and tell my story to the youth I work with," Lisa said.

"They are constant reminders of the battles I have won against a deadly illness."

Australia's suicide rate in 2016 was the highest it has been for at least 10 years, and suicide is the leading cause of death among all people 15-44 years of age.

Twenty-one young people took their lives in a remote town in central Queensland between 2010 and 2012.

"It really is heartbreaking and the numbers just keep on climbing," Lisa said.

"I know I can't be everywhere but it's a topic I hold dear to my heart and I just want to help."

Lisa was diagnosed with depression at the end of 2015, something the happy-go-lucky 30-year-old never thought would happen to her.

"It was hard admitting to my doctor that I needed help, but it was harder telling those I love," she said.

"You get the same response - 'How the hell can you have depression? You're so happy and outgoing'.

"It is the hardest illness to see in anyone. We are the best actors and have the ability to hide behind these fake smiles, but meanwhile behind closed doors we are fighting one of the toughest battles.

"And for so many, that battle ends their lives."

Lisa became friends with Mitch when she joined Anytime Fitness in Biloela in February last year, when she was in her darkest days.

"I told him my story and he was straight onto it, he explained to me how to use the gym to help treat my depression," she said.

"Due to his own personal experience he could pick up when I was having dark days just by looking at me, and when I didn't feel like working out he would push me and talk to me, which I didn't know at the time was what I needed.

"Without him and a few close friends I wouldn't be here to tell my story, to be a mum and to help others. That's something I will be forever grateful for."

Mitch himself was diagnosed with severe depression, social anxiety and PTSD after he suffered a traumatic brain injury in November 2014 when someone smashed a stubby bottle over his head.

It caused him to stop breathing twice, he suffered internal bleeding on his brain and he received permanent nerve damage.

"To this day it is still extremely hard for me to think about everything and at times I still break and suffer a lot," he said.

"My anxiety was so severe at one stage that I couldn't bear to be around my family, which broke my little sisters' hearts and tore my dad into pieces. My poor mum was just as broken.

"I turned to self-harm and when that wasn't enough I tried to commit suicide.

"Luckily for me my mum was so worried she called the police, who arrived just in time to cut the rope and get the noose from around my neck.

"Opening up to like-minded people has helped me out a lot and when I found out about Lisa I felt I could really relate, and from there I began to talk more about my story and realised it helped a lot of people as well.

"Now giving back to the community and helping kids is something I enjoy and am passionate about."

Lisa and Mitch's boot camps will be free to attend, and are aimed at educating Banana Shire youth on how regular exercise and healthy eating can help treat anxiety and depression.

"We aren't saying (exercise) will cure depression, but it does help," Lisa said.

"It releases feel-good endorphins in the brain, but also reduces immune system chemicals that can worsen depression."

Mitch agreed exercise was an important step in his own recovery.

"Every day will always be a battle for me but when I'm in the gym I forget about everything for that short period of time," he said.

"When I finish a workout or even if I'm out with mates having a swim I feel so much better and realise that I'm not alone, I'm not the only person hurting."

The workshops will teach participants how to exercise outside when they don't have access to a gym.

"We are already looking at taking it to remote indigenous communities like Woorabinda but would also like to target the smaller areas like Wowan, Banana and Goovigen," Lisa said.

"We may start applying for grants so we can run them monthly in different communities and offer a breakfast barbecue afterwards so people can ask questions and we can encourage conversations around depression and anxiety, especially about the importance of seeking help from professionals such as your GP and counsellors."

Lisa can be contacted for more information on 0409 764 529.

Check out To BOOT Depression on Facebook.

WHEN AND WHERE:

Biloela: February 18, Lions Park 9am.

Moura: March 18, venue TBA.

Baralaba: TBA

Theodore: TBA

WHAT TO BRING:

A towel, water bottle, hat and your friends. Permission slips for those under 18 will need to be signed by a parent.