Frontline digital mental health service ReachOut is calling on people across Australia to take part in Laps for Life‚ a month-long swimming challenge event happening in March 2020.
Laps for Life was launched in 2019 to raise funds and awareness for young people in Australia living with mental health difficulties and to help prevent youth suicide.
Laps for Life is open to everyone across Australia and is simple to take part in this March. People can get involved by visiting lapsforlife.com.au to register a personal swimming challenge and fundraise towards a goal. Participants set their own lap or distance goal and then dive on in. Whether they are swimming in a pool or getting out into the ocean, they log their laps to record their progress.
Ian Thorpe AM, Patron and Board Member of ReachOut, is supporting Laps for Life and is once again calling everyone to jump in the pool for this important cause.
In 2019 the Laps for Life community swam more than 16,000kms to help ReachOut continue its vital work when it comes to early intervention and suicide prevention for young people.
Myself, and so many Australians, know firsthand what it's like to face mental health challenges. We can all do our bit to change the statistics when it comes to youth suicide. By swimming and raising funds for ReachOut, you'll also be doing something great for your own wellbeing, too, he said.
Ashley de Silva, Chief Executive Officer of ReachOut, said he was inspired by the individuals and communities who embrace Laps for Life.
It was incredible to see communities across the country come together for Laps for Life. More than 1000 people swam to raise funds, and many others shared stories and got behind one another in support of youth mental health and suicide prevention. We're looking forward to seeing the same energy and support in March 2020.
Swimming‚ and exercise in general‚ is a great way to improve our wellbeing. And at the same time, swimmers help raise funds for the work ReachOut does to help so many young Aussies through whatever life throws at them, he said.
Leading International swimwear brand Zoggs returns as Principal Partner for the event in 2020. Zoggs originated in Australia and are known for their innovative and award-winning goggles, Zoggs is generously supporting the event via product donation to reward all fundraising participants. To learn more about Zoggs, visit: zoggs.com.au
To register to take part in Laps for Life, visit: lapsforlife.com.au.
For more information about ReachOut, visit ReachOut.com and ReachOut.com/Parents.
Join the journey and stay connected by following our socials. We're @LapsForLife.Aus on Facebook and Instagram, and LapsForLife_Aus on Twitter.
ENDS
Key statistics
- ReachOut saves more than 300 lives every year through the provision of digital mental health support for young people and their parents.
- One in four people in Australia aged 14 to 25 live with a mental health difficulty.
- 70 percent of those living with a mental health difficulty don't get the help they need.
- Suicide remains the leading cause of death for young Australians, which means that more young Australians die each year by suicide than in car accidents or from cancer.
- After friends and family, the internet is the first place young people turn to for information and support.
Media contact
Tessa Anderssen / 0411 708 587 / tessa@reachout.com
About ReachOut
ReachOut is the most accessed online mental health service for young people and their parents in Australia. Their trusted self-help information, peer-support program and referral tools save lives by helping young people be well and stay well. The information they offer parents makes it easier for them to help their teenagers, too.
ReachOut has been championing wider access to mental health support since they launched their online service more than 20 years ago. Everything they create is based on the latest evidence and is designed with experts, and young people or their parents. That's why ReachOut is a trusted, relevant service that's so easy to use.
Accessed by more than 2 million people in Australia each year, ReachOut is a free service that's available anytime and pretty much anywhere.
