Atari Metcalf, ReachOut’s former Evaluation Manager of ten years, was last night recognised for his tireless efforts in suicide prevention research with Suicide Prevention Australia’s ‘LiFE’ Award, one of Australia’s highest accolades in mental health.
Atari is a seasoned mental health researcher, evaluator, health promoter and persevering advocate for young people’s mental health, particularly sexuality and gender diverse young people. Atari recently stepped away from this work to study medicine, where he intends to promote mental health within the medical profession, but his achievements continue to have a lasting impact – improving the ways that young people are supported by services as well as their communities.
ReachOut Australia CEO Jono Nicholas said, ‘We’re delighted that Atari’s enormous contribution to suicide prevention has been recognised with a LIFE award.
‘This award is a fitting recognition of his drive to collaborate and share knowledge to bring about the best possible health outcomes for young people, and he leaves a legacy of excellence in mental health research and program delivery far beyond ReachOut.’
Atari has held a range of positions since beginning his career in Perth’s youth work sector 13 years ago, where he led the development of one of the earliest health promotion resources for same-sex attracted and gender diverse young people. Upon moving to Sydney several years later, Atari led research and evaluation at ReachOut Australia and conducted a range of projects with VicHealth, the Australian Human Rights Commission and Curtin University. Atari served on the board of Suicide Prevention Australia and co-chaired the board of LGBTQI youth homelessness service Twenty10, where he is now a board director.
In his role at ReachOut, Atari developed innovative early intervention and prevention program logics that to this day ensure the ReachOut service and content are driven by an evidence-based rationale – maximising ReachOut’s capacity to deliver what young people need to live happier and healthier lives.
Alongside this work, Atari was the principal researcher on Suicide Prevention Australia’s Position Statement on GLBT Suicide and Self-harm, and published a seminal paper with the National LGBTI Health Alliance reviewing Australia’s approach to mental health promotion among LGBTI people.
ReachOut Australia also received commendations from the LiFE Awards judging panel for our work on ReachOut Next Step in partnership with the University of Melbourne supported by the Young and Well Cooperative Research Centre, and for our annual exam stress campaign There’s Life After Year 12 Exams.
Atari is a seasoned mental health researcher, evaluator, health promoter and persevering advocate for young people’s mental health, particularly sexuality and gender diverse young people. Atari recently stepped away from this work to study medicine, where he intends to promote mental health within the medical profession, but his achievements continue to have a lasting impact – improving the ways that young people are supported by services as well as their communities.
ReachOut Australia CEO Jono Nicholas said, ‘We’re delighted that Atari’s enormous contribution to suicide prevention has been recognised with a LIFE award.
‘This award is a fitting recognition of his drive to collaborate and share knowledge to bring about the best possible health outcomes for young people, and he leaves a legacy of excellence in mental health research and program delivery far beyond ReachOut.’
Atari has held a range of positions since beginning his career in Perth’s youth work sector 13 years ago, where he led the development of one of the earliest health promotion resources for same-sex attracted and gender diverse young people. Upon moving to Sydney several years later, Atari led research and evaluation at ReachOut Australia and conducted a range of projects with VicHealth, the Australian Human Rights Commission and Curtin University. Atari served on the board of Suicide Prevention Australia and co-chaired the board of LGBTQI youth homelessness service Twenty10, where he is now a board director.
In his role at ReachOut, Atari developed innovative early intervention and prevention program logics that to this day ensure the ReachOut service and content are driven by an evidence-based rationale – maximising ReachOut’s capacity to deliver what young people need to live happier and healthier lives.
Alongside this work, Atari was the principal researcher on Suicide Prevention Australia’s Position Statement on GLBT Suicide and Self-harm, and published a seminal paper with the National LGBTI Health Alliance reviewing Australia’s approach to mental health promotion among LGBTI people.
ReachOut Australia also received commendations from the LiFE Awards judging panel for our work on ReachOut Next Step in partnership with the University of Melbourne supported by the Young and Well Cooperative Research Centre, and for our annual exam stress campaign There’s Life After Year 12 Exams.
