Youth Focus has called on the community to ‘sock it to suicide’ this World Suicide Prevention Day by wearing colourful socks to raise awareness about the biggest killer of young people in Australia.
World Suicide Prevention Day, to be held on September 10, raises awareness about the high number of people taking their own lives.
To coincide with the global awareness campaign, Youth Focus will launch its Sock it to Suicide initiative – encouraging the community to don bright, bold socks as an important youth mental health message to help arrest the shocking trend.
Suicide is the biggest killer of young Australians, with latest statistics showing 51 young people aged between 15 and 24 took their own lives in Western Australia in 2017.
Research shows that for every suicide, another 25 people attempt to take their own lives.
Youth Focus Chief Executive Officer Arthur Papakotsias said the Sock it to Suicide campaign created an opportunity for community members to broach important conversations about mental health to help curb youth suicide.
“We are encouraging the community to get behind our Sock it to Suicide campaign on World Suicide Prevention Day and wear colourful, flamboyant socks as a statement to the youth suicide prevention cause,” said Mr Papakotsias.
“As a community, we all have a role to play to ensure more young lives are not lost to suicide. This initiative is about raising critical awareness about the serious impacts of youth suicide in an upbeat way that resonates with young people.
“We hope it will encourage more young people to start important conversations if they are facing mental health challenges and need support.”
Last financial year, Youth Focus supported a record number of young people in WA, providing free counselling and assessment services to 4,559 youths and school and community education to another 6,800 people.
The range of fun, colourful socks, dubbed Smiley Socks, was launched by Transit Clothing last year and were sold in-store to raise funds for Youth Focus counselling, mental health support and suicide prevention services.
Smiley Socks for the Sock it to Suicide campaign are available for a $5 donation to Youth Focus. For more details, visit www.youthfocus.com.au/support-us/sock-suicide-september/ or make a purchase by visiting Youth Focus at 54 Goodwood Parade, Burswood.
Share your photos of the Sock it to Suicide campaign on social media by tagging #sockit19 and @youthfocuswa
If you or someone you know needs urgent support please contact the Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467, the Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800 or Lifeline on 13 11 14.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Nicole Cox – 0419 941 443
[email protected]
Interviews and pics available on request.