Global spotlight: Korean media highlights batyr’s approach to youth mental health
June 24, 2026
Yesterday, batyr and CEO Patrick Darcy were featured in a major South Korean publication as part of a special series exploring innovative approaches to youth mental health and suicide prevention around the world.
The article, published by Naver, examined how organisations in countries including Australia and the Netherlands are creating opportunities for young people to access support, build connection and talk openly about mental health.
As part of the feature, Patrick spoke about the importance of making mental health conversations an everyday part of school life, rather than something reserved for times of crisis.
"A culture where mental health can be discussed naturally must take root within schools. Even if you appear surrounded by good friends and family on the surface, if you are enduring pain alone, that is when mental health issues can begin."
The article highlighted our storytelling model, where young people use their lived experience of mental ill-health to educate and inspire their peers. Each year, tens of thousands of students participate in batyr programs that encourage help-seeking, reduce stigma and create safer spaces for conversations about mental health.
Importantly, the feature also recognised something we know to be true: young people must be at the centre of the solutions designed to support them.
Patrick shared that effective suicide prevention starts by listening to young people and understanding what they need to thrive.
"No child wants to lose a friend to suicide. Governments and decision-makers must directly ask young people what they need and reflect those answers in policy."
Graphic by Design Reporter Kim Hyun-jung.
At batyr, this belief shapes everything we do. Whether it's through our storytelling workshops and training, school and university programs, community events or advocacy work, we know that young people are experts in their own experiences and their voices are critical to creating meaningful change.
While we're incredibly proud to see batyr's work recognised internationally, this feature is also a reminder that improving youth mental health is a shared challenge being tackled by organisations around the world. No single organisation, community or country has all the answers, and as youth mental health challenges continue to grow globally, collaboration across the sector has never been more important. By listening, sharing knowledge and learning from partners both here in Australia and overseas, we can continue building better systems of support for young people everywhere.
We're honoured to see batyr's work recognised internationally and grateful to the many young people, storytellers, volunteers, staff, partners and supporters who make this work possible every day.