About Youthbeyondblue
Youthbeyondblue’s all about getting the message out there that it’s okay to talk about depression, and to encourage young people and their family and friends to get help when it’s needed.
One in five young Australians experience depression each year, and more than half of those aren’t getting the professional help they need to get through it.
Research shows that when young people are feeling depressed they’re most likely to talk about it with their family and friends. Youthbeyondblue aims to give advice on ways to recognise depression and how to talk about it, and to let young people know what services are out there to help.
Youthbeyondblue’s story
Youthbeyondblue started in 2000 as Ybblue, as a Centenary of Federation Millennium Legacy Initiative run through Toowong Private Hospital in Brisbane, Queensland. Then, as now, youth suicide was an issue of concern to a lot of people. Doctors, advertising agencies, health professionals, web designers, musicians, young people and many other groups worked together to set up Youthbeyondblue to address the high youth suicide rates in Australia.
In 2002, beyondblue: the national depression initiative partnered with the Toowong Private Hospital to support the Youthbeyondblue campaign and take it nationwide. Since then, beyondblue has worked to expand the focus of the campaign from suicide to youth depression awareness and prevention as a whole and to involve young people in all it does.
Programs and Projects
beyondblue is involved in a wide range of projects and programs for young people.
National Youth Week www.youthweek.com
National Youth Week is the largest celebration of young people in Australia. Working with Commonwealth, State and Territory governments, beyondblue encourages thousands of young people across Australia to become involved in National Youth Week each year.
Save-A-Mate (SAM) Our Way www.redcross.org.au
The Australian Red Cross, in partnership with beyondblue, has commenced work on the Save-A-Mate (SAM) Our Way Program, aiming to build on the strengths of remote Indigenous communities and provide support by addressing key social and emotional wellbeing issues.
Good Sports Good Mental Health www.adf.org.au
The Good Sports Good Mental Health Program is a new initiative which builds on the Australian Drug Foundation’s Good Sports Program. The program aims to promote positive mental health in community sports clubs. beyondblue and the Australian Drug Foundation are promoting this work in rural and regional areas of Victoria and New South Wales.
Coach the Coach www.familycare.net.au
beyondblue supports Goulburn Valley Family Care in co-ordinating the Coach the Coach Program, which promotes good mental health and wellbeing particularly among young people. Coach the Coach operates in country Victoria through football and netball leagues.
Red Frogs University and Schoolies Initiative www.redfrogs.com.au
Red Frogs Australia Chaplaincy Network works with universities and schools around Australia to assist young people through transitional periods. beyondblue proudly supports the Red Frogs in their activities during O week and in their successful Schoolies Program
VIBE www.vibe.com.au
beyondblue is proudly supporting the five VIBE Alive Festivals in 2009. VIBE is a dynamic Aboriginal media, communications and events management agency that produces the Deadly VIBE magazine, The VIBE 3on3, Deadly Sounds Radio program, The Deadly Awards and the VIBE Alive Festivals.
Anti Racism Action Band (A.R.A.B.) www.vass.org.au
A.R.A.B. is an artistically innovative, collaborative community development performing arts project for young people in Melbourne. The project works with young people from culturally diverse backgrounds.
Indigenous Hip Hop Projects (IHHP) www.indigenoushiphop.com
The IHHP group, with the support of beyondblue, tours Australia working predominantly with Indigenous communities promoting healthy lifestyles, while raising awareness of positive social and emotional wellbeing and supporting young people in regional, rural and remote Australia.
Rock Eisteddfod Challenge www.rockchallenge.com.au
beyondblue has supported the Rock Eisteddfod Challenge since 2003. The Rock Eisteddfod is Australia’s biggest and longest-running youth performing arts and health promotion event. The Rock Eisteddfod Challenge is successful in engaging young people from all around Australia, raising awareness of depression and anxiety among the participants and the wider community.
Dream Inc. www.dreaminc.com.au
Dream Inc Music Workshops deliver a program which gives young people the opportunity to gain a knowledge of song writing, singing and performing skills whilst fostering self-belief and self-esteem. Dream Inc has partnered with beyondblue to raise awareness of the signs and symptoms of depression and anxiety among the young people participating.
Phunktional www.phunktional.org.au
beyondblue supports Phunktional with their innovative, artistic methods of engaging young people through dance, music and theatre. They explore issues such as depression, substance use, suicide, risk-taking behaviour, family conflict and friendship.
Yshareit www.yshareit.com
yshareit is an online Youth Ambassador Training program which aims to develop supportive e-mental health peer networks for young Tasmanians.
Young Minds - Treating Depression & Anxiety in Young People www.beyondblue.org.au/index.aspx?link_id=4.1147#youngminds
Young Minds is a training program developed for GPs, practice staff and allied health professionals, focusing on skills development in the diagnosis, management and treatment of high prevalence mental health disorders commonly occurring in young people.
beyondblue Secondary Schools Research Initiative www.beyondblue.org.au/index.aspx?link_id=4.64
The beyondblue Schools Research Initiative is a research partnership between school systems, local communities, the health sector and academics to examine how school communities can prevent depression in young people.
KidsMatter www.kidsmatter.edu.au
KidsMatter is the first national mental health promotion, prevention and early intervention initiative specifically developed for primary schools.
