The fight against mental mental health stigma is now playing out in the social media newsfeeds of young Australians. In an innovative partnership between ReachOut.com and Facebook's Ross Wakeham, this pioneering work has been recognised with a Suicide Prevention Australia LiFE award.
"We're raising awareness and reducing barriers to seeking help by making mental health part of young people's daily interactions," said Jonathan Nicholas, CEO of ReachOut.com by Inspire Foundation.
"Many young people are still uncomfortable talking about mental health difficulties and suicide, let alone getting help," said Nicholas. "Because we help young people understand what they're going through and how to get help, ReachOut.com is often the first step for a young person in getting the help they need."
ReachOut.com expanded its service into social media several years ago, driven by a belief that the program must go where young people are.
"Traditional mental health services require young people to visit in person. Our approach is to go where young people are - online - and be available wherever and whenever they need help.
"We don't just use social media to expand our reach - we use it to deliver meaningful messages about improving mental health and wellbeing."
A recent Facebook post by ReachOut.com challenging mental health stigma has been seen by almost 700,000 Facebook users. In addition, the service has a Facebook community of more than 30,000 people who are keen to show their support for mental health in their social media news feeds.
Global Marketing Solutions Client Partner at Facebook, Ross Wakeham, praised ReachOut.com for shaping the service around the ways young people use the internet.
"What ReachOut.com is doing on Facebook is really unique," said Wakeham.
"They've made mental health information interesting and useful, and it's reaching huge numbers of young people."
This is the fourth year in a row that the ReachOut.com social media program has been recognised with a Suicide Prevention Australia LiFE Award.
“By supporting national initiatives such as R U OK day and World Suicide Prevention Day, ReachOut.com also helps deliver important suicide prevention messages to people who may not otherwise see them, particularly high risk groups such as young men, said Sue Murray, CEO of Suicide Prevention Australia.
The award cites ReachOut.com as a catalyst for change in the suicide prevention sector, heralding the next generation of mental health help tools being delivered online.
“Its multiple award-winning social media program recognises that young people interact with the online world in diverse ways, heralding the next generation of mental health help tools," added Murray.
Like the post on Facebook:
[facebook_embedded_post href="https://www.facebook.com/ReachOutAUS/photos/a.349155277057.151512.162465492057/10152252149902058/"]
ABOUT REACHOUT.COM BY INSPIRE FOUNDATION
ReachOut.com is Australia’s leading online youth mental health service. Designed to help young people under 25 tackle everything from finding motivation to getting through really tough times, the service provides practical tools, forums and information in a safe and anonymous online environment. ReachOut.com is the help young people need, where and when they need it.
ABOUT JONATHAN NICHOLAS
Jonathan Nicholas is the CEO of ReachOut.com. One of the most prominent and passionate advocates for the mental health of young people in Australia, Jonathan was a member of the original team that launched the ReachOut.com service in 1998. With a background in child psychology and human rights, Jonathan has provided training to Indonesia on the Convention on the Rights of the Child, and co-authored a report for UNICEF on the situation of children and women living in Cambodia. Amongst many industry contributions, Jonathan is a current Board member of the Mental Health Council of Australia (MHCA) and the Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education (FARE).
MEDIA CONTACTS
Mick Garnett
Director of Marketing and Communications
michael@inspire.org.au
0499 977 123
Doug Millen
Marketing & Communications Coordinator
doug@inspire.org.au
0425 865 851
