The National Mental Health Commission has launched a new communication program designed and delivered by young people and parents, for young people and parents.
The Commission said the Program, called #ChatStarter, used social media to connect, engage and promote the benefits of supportive conversations with young people and children who were going through a difficult time.
It said the Program had been created jointly by the Commission, ReachOut, Butterfly Foundation, Orygen, batyr, headspace, Kids Helpline and Beyond Blue.
Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention, David Coleman said #ChatStarter was aimed at empowering parents and young people to recognise and respond to signs of distress through conversation and providing access to appropriate resources.
“Conversations play an important role in recognising someone is going through a difficult time and connecting them to care,” Mr Coleman said.
“However, we all like to have conversations in different ways and what works for one person might not work for someone else.”
He said #ChatStarter provided people with a range of different options to start a conversation and to continue it in a safe and supportive way.
“We hope #ChatStarter helps Australians to feel confident in supporting each other and holding open conversations about how we are feeling,” Mr Coleman said.
He said he believed #ChatStarter would be an invaluable tool at a time when Australians were understandably fatigued after more than 18 months of COVID-19.
The #ChatStarter Program can be accessed on the Head to Health website at this PS News link.
