Students will SpeakOut against mental health stigma
Students will SpeakOut against mental health stigma
Press release: SpeakOut NZ
September 17, 2014
Stigma surrounding mental health will be tackled by a new youth-led, non-profit initiative called SpeakOut.
SpeakOut’s goal is to increase awareness of mental wellness, improve youth knowledge of mental health services, and reduce mental health stigma for young people in New Zealand – all on a for-youth-by-youth basis.
New Zealand has one of the highest youth suicide rates in the world that can in part be attributed to stigma towards mental distress. Social stigma acts as a major barrier to youth seeking help.
Five New Zealand secondary schools have been confirmed as participants for the pilot programme.
The in-school programme will introduce Mental
Wellness committees into a number of schools. These teams of
senior students will receive training over an annual weekend
workshop, then carry out a number of mental health promotion
campaigns in their school each year.
The pilot workshop
will take place at the ASB North Wharf conference centre on
September 27-28, and will include self-development for
students, leadership training, and cultural training, with
the ultimate purpose of improving understanding of mental
health and increasing awareness of existing
services.
Jimi Hunt, founder of the Live More Awesome
charity, has been booked as a keynote speaker.
SpeakOut
realises that each school community is different and
subsequently will support committees in designing campaigns
and in-school programmes that work for them.
“Our team is passionate about improving the mental health and wellbeing of Kiwi secondary school students, and we have a group of young people committed to making this happen,” said SpeakOut spokesperson Harriet Sims.
The executive of SpeakOut is entirely comprised of university students and recent graduates, and the project is being conducted with support from the US Embassy.
SpeakOut is currently exploring funding options, and welcomes contributions via its Givealittle page: www.givealittle.co.nz/cause/SpeakOut
For more information on SpeakOut check out its website: www.SpeakOutNZ.org
ENDS