What We Do Young Men’s Project

The Young Men’s Project is designed to prompt life-saving conversations around mental health in response to the alarming rate of suicide among young Australian men.

Creating solutions to prevent youth suicide.

Creating solutions to prevent youth suicide.

The Young Men’s Project creates a process where young men can develop their own solutions to help prevent suicide within their peer groups and wider community.

More young men take their own lives than die in road accidents, and this trend is not declining. Despite all kinds of care, research and campaigns, research suggests that suicide among young people is on the rise.

The Young Men’s Project aims to reduce male youth suicide by asking young men to create ideas, programs or events to make it easier for their peer group to seek help and shift the way they think about mental health issues. It is an initiative led by Youth Focus with support from Black Dog, ReachOut, Australian of the Year Professor Patrick McGorry and Lotterywest grants.

For more information, please email hello@youthfocus.com.au

What is a Young Men's Project workshop?

What is a Young Men's Project workshop?

YMP workshops are large-scale, co-creation sessions. A YMP workshop is a day where young guys come together to discuss, create and prototype ways that young men can better understand mental health issues, and be open to talking about it. Each workshop generates a unique project relevant to the community that designed it. 
During the workshop, young men work in groups to:
  • Identify the things preventing themselves and their peers from talking about mental health,
  • Select an issue to tackle
  • Create and prototype a creative solution to the problem.

At the end of the day, each team presents their concepts and a panel of judges choose which idea will be made into reality.

Why hold a workshop?

The act of participating in a YMP workshop has already proven effective at getting young men to understand, learn about and talk about mental health issues.

Starting more conversations

After participating in the workshops, guys told us they had gone back to their friends and started previously un-had conversations about mental health and the idea of looking out for each other.

The output of a workshop is a co-created solution suited to the young men and their community. Whether it’s Perth uni students, a Geraldton football club or a high school in Albany, the ideas speak directly to the guys in these groups.

Want to set up your own workshop?

 

If you are in an emotional crisis and require urgent support, please contact:

  • Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467
  • Kids Helpline on 1800 551 800
  • Lifeline on 13 11 14

If you are looking for more information and online support, please refer to the following online resources:

Headspace Reach Out BeyondBlue

To enquire about the services we can provide for you, or someone you know, please call:

(08) 6266 4333 More contact information