At batyr, we're all about creating open conversations surrounding mental health. It's our mission to ensure young people across Australia have access to the resources, support and skills they need to increase help-seeking and improve wellbeing. In line with this vision, we're excited to share some fantastic news about our involvement in the National Suicide Prevention Leadership and Support Program (NSPLSP), funded by the Australian Government Department of Health & Aged Care.
The NSPLSP focuses on national suicide prevention support for at-risk populations and communities. In 2021, batyr was selected to be part of this critical initiative and received funding of $1.7 million to roll out ‘Project Thrive On’, a project aimed at providing evidence-based, peer-to-peer mental health and suicide prevention activities. Our goal is to reach more than 30,000 high school and tertiary education students across 340 programs nationwide.
To make ‘Project Thrive On’ a reality, we've partnered with LivingWorks Australia (LWA). LWA is renowned for its expertise in suicide prevention, making them the perfect ally in our mission. Together, we aim to deliver activities that are designed to reduce suicide and suicidal behaviour, for at-risk populations and communities.
The cornerstone of this collaboration is the training of 600 individuals aged 15-30 in suicide prevention skills through LivingWorks’ ‘safeTALK’ workshops.
"Young people often turn to their friends and peers for support, which is why it is essential that we invest in building young people’s capabilities to ensure they have the knowledge, skills and confidence to support their friends and themselves during challenging times. At batyr, we recognise the value of connecting with young people and meeting them where they are at. Our partnership with LivingWorks allows us to leverage how we meaningfully engage with young people through peer-to-peer education and lived-experience, providing them with vital, evidence-based suicide prevention training and helping to build stronger and more equipped communities."
Amy Brown
Head of Programs - batyr
Developed in 2006 from the decades of evidence behind their flagship program LivingWorks ‘ASIST’, LivingWorks ‘safeTALK’ has made its mark in over 20 countries worldwide. It's a half-day suicide alertness workshop designed to equip anyone over the age of 15 with the knowledge and skills to become a suicide-alert helper, regardless of their prior experience or training.
Research tells us that up to 87% of young people are more likely to confide in their peers or those in their everyday lives rather than seek professional support.* This places a significant responsibility on these individuals to play a vital role in the help-seeking process. When adequately prepared, they can keep someone safe and guide them toward further support.
"We know young people are more prone to situational suicide; it can appear to come out of the blue. At LivingWorks we have the training programs to support early intervention but we also know young people engage with trusted youth organisations - like batyr. This relationship bringing the LivingWorks science of suicide intervention skills training together with an agency like batyr that is connected to young people is an exciting partnership that will help reduce youth suicide attempts and deaths. We thank Minister Emma McBride and the Federal Government for the investment in this project."
Marc Bryant
Director of Suicide Prevention - LivingWorks Australia
Our batyr-run ‘safeTALK’ workshops will integrate our lived experience storytelling and peer-to-peer engagement expertise with LivingWorks’ existing program. This approach ensures that the training is delivered through a youth-focused lens, meeting the specific needs of young people.
Over the course of 2023 to 2025, batyr will deliver 20 youth-focused ‘safeTALK’ workshops for school and tertiary students across the country. Through this initiative, we aim to:
Collect and provide insightful school and tertiary community feedback during our program delivery phase.
Capture program data to continually refine and enhance our impact.
Gain insights into young people's experiences relating to suicide prevention.
We're incredibly excited about the potential impact of ‘Project Thrive On’ and our partnership with LivingWorks Australia. Together, we're working tirelessly to create a more open and understanding community surrounding mental health and suicide prevention.
*Hall, S., Fildes, J., Perrens, B., Plummer, J., Carlisle, E., Cockayne, N., & Werner-Seidler, A. (2019). Can we talk? Seven Year Youth Mental Health Report - 2012-2018. Mission Australia.
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