Young people are often at the forefront of seeing their friends exhibit suicidal thoughts.
But you’re not sure what you can do to help.
A new website launched in Perth hopes to serve as a guide on how to support anyone with a strong desire to tackle this problem.
Right by you It was designed by Generation Z, including project leader Nika Zand, who was inspired to create the platform after a struggling friend called an ambulance.
“When I was 23, a friend of mine was going through a rough patch and one day I was at work and got a very strange but sweet message from her thanking me,” she said.
“I had done some training in suicide prevention so I realized this was a warning sign. When I couldn’t make the contact I knew, in that moment, I had to have an emergency response. Fortunately, they reached her in time.”
The website, launched by mental health provider Nemi National, came about after Ms Zand noticed similar situations happening to hundreds of other young people.
It was a particular death of a high school student that was the main inspiration for the website.
“Friends have seen strange messages, and they’ve seen social media posts, but they just don’t know what to do, so they just leave it, which is a common thing that happens to a lot of young people,” she says.
“I wanted to create a website where people could quickly find information about what they needed to know in those times.”
RightByYou is bringing you educational articles and videos on how to recognize warning signs and what to do if something happens to a friend to reduce suicide among youth.
The center includes information tailored to people with disabilities, parents and carers, LGBTQIA+ and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
In the year In 2021, 434 young Australians will die by suicide, most of them aged 15-17, according to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.
Among young people, there are 100 to 200 suicide attempts for every suicide.
“It’s a challenging time for young Australians who are still finding their feet and understanding the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and navigating the cost of living crisis,” Ms Zand said.
“While there is a wealth of information available to anyone experiencing a crisis, we empower friends with the knowledge and tools to take preventative action.”
of Web tool It is starting in Perth as a pilot phase in 2023.
If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health or suicidal thoughts, visit rightbyyou.org.aucall Lifeline on 131 114 or Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636.
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