Normalising Help-seeking for Mental-health in Young People, Across Drought Impacted Communities
Tracks
Conference Centre Room 2
| Monday, March 28, 2022 |
| 3:30 PM - 3:50 PM |
Overview
Ms Courtney Bilske, Batyr Australia
Speaker
Miss Courtney Bilske
Engagement & Development Manager
Batyr Australia
Normalising Help-seeking for Mental-health in Young People, Across Drought Impacted Communities
Abstract
Stigma is a leading barrier preventing young people from talking openly about mental health, contributing to lower help-seeking rates (SANE, 2021). However there is hope. Research shows reductions in stigma are achieved through the peer-to-peer “in-vivo” model of sharing lived-experience stories (Corrigan, 2012). Since 2011, batyr has delivered evidence-based, preventative mental health programs in schools and communities across Australia. Designed by young people, for young people, batyr’s aim is to reduce stigma, and improve help-seeking behaviours.
Underpinning batyr’s programs are trained lived-experience storytellers who share their stories, with 1000 young people having received this comprehensive training. batyr have reached close to 300,000 young people nationwide with these stories of recovery and resilience.
This presentation will highlight the way batyr have incorporated the ‘in-vivo’ model; partnering with high schools, government organisations, and peak state sporting bodies to apply an outreach approach across severely drought impacted communities, to normalise mental health. Delegates will hear about the power of listening to young people to inform models such as this, including a thematic analysis supported by the National Mental Health Commission that reported on the impact of having an ‘anchor person’ as vital to young people going through mental ill-health.
batyr will share specific examples on how a collaborative approach between young people, government, NGO's, sporting bodies and mental health services provide wrap-around social impact and engagement, for both young people and the wider community that supports them. By empowering “anchor people'' with the skills, knowledge and confidence to play informal supporting roles, the presentation will highlight how this early intervention model helps to overcome stigma, creating more resilient communities.
Key themes learned from young people's lived-experiences will also be shared; as well as challenges and lessons learned through this community engagement model, all which can be applied by delegates in their own settings.
Underpinning batyr’s programs are trained lived-experience storytellers who share their stories, with 1000 young people having received this comprehensive training. batyr have reached close to 300,000 young people nationwide with these stories of recovery and resilience.
This presentation will highlight the way batyr have incorporated the ‘in-vivo’ model; partnering with high schools, government organisations, and peak state sporting bodies to apply an outreach approach across severely drought impacted communities, to normalise mental health. Delegates will hear about the power of listening to young people to inform models such as this, including a thematic analysis supported by the National Mental Health Commission that reported on the impact of having an ‘anchor person’ as vital to young people going through mental ill-health.
batyr will share specific examples on how a collaborative approach between young people, government, NGO's, sporting bodies and mental health services provide wrap-around social impact and engagement, for both young people and the wider community that supports them. By empowering “anchor people'' with the skills, knowledge and confidence to play informal supporting roles, the presentation will highlight how this early intervention model helps to overcome stigma, creating more resilient communities.
Key themes learned from young people's lived-experiences will also be shared; as well as challenges and lessons learned through this community engagement model, all which can be applied by delegates in their own settings.
Biography
Courtney’s background is in mental health research and community projects, previously working at the Centre for Rural and Remote Mental Health in Orange. She has been with batyr for 4 years in various roles, which have allowed her to understand the value in the sharing of lived-experience stories, and the unique role that batyr plays in the prevention education space. Courtney is currently managing Community Partnerships where she supports various stakeholders in order to grow batyr’s regional reach across Australia. Courtney is a lived-experience speaker for batyr, and is currently batyr’s representative for the Commonwealth's National Resilience and Recovery Agency.
