'I'm good'*

Often when someone asks “How are you?” a common response is “Good thanks, you?” - Sound familiar? Even on the hard days when we might be really stuck in our head or struggling with our mental health.

But what if we went beyond polite responses, and said how we actually feel? 

We’re excited to announce our 2024 campaign ‘Going Beyond Polite Responses’ which encourages young people to open up and talk about how they really feel. Too often, shame, embarrassment, and fear can stop young people from sharing how they’re feeling and reaching out for the support they need, before a mental health crisis. It’s time to ditch the pleasantries, and normalise the real stuff.

At batyr, we're all about helping young people to open up and lead mentally healthy lives. We’re giving young people and their communities the tools and skills to support their mental health, early and often. And the confidence to reach out for support, instead of letting shame or embarrassment, not wanting to burden others, make people mask how they are really feeling. 

We meet thousands of young people every week through our preventative mental health education programs in Australian schools and universities, and through our storyteller workshops. 

We’ve reached over 400,000 young people… But we have a long way to go. Mental health education starts with talking about how we feel, and really hearing each other, which is what this campaign is all about.