One Eighty: Youth Mental Health, Done Differently

There’s no doubt that youth suicide is an issue here in Australia, and it’s scary when you look at the statistics. Suicide is the leading cause of death among young Australians — more people die from suicide than die on the roads.  

One Eighty core team

So when their local community was deeply affected by the suicides of two young men they went to high school with, Paris Jeffcoat and Samantha Callender teamed up. Knowing that youth suicide was preventable if it was done differently, the pair founded One Eighty.

We chatted with Maddie Walsh, the Head of Relationships + Development of One Eighty, about what the future looks like for the youth-led organisation.

Hi Maddie! Thanks for speaking on behalf of One Eighty. How did you get involved with the organisation?

One Eighty first started in response to a number of youth suicides in my local area. I thought what this bunch of young people were doing at the community level was so interesting and I was always keen on getting involved in one way or another. Things lined up for me when I started as an intern about 1.5 years ago while completing my Graduate Diploma in Community Development. I‘ve always thought there was something so real and impactful about community-driven change and this was a great opportunity for me to get involved and learn more about the youth mental health sector.

As an intern, I LOVED working with a small team of passionate young individuals and continued getting involved as much as I could in various roles such as a volunteer Peer Support Worker and as part of the Street Team.

 Currently, I am working as One Eighty’s Head of Relationships & Development. Every day I get to have meaningful conversations with members of the community and experience the positive impact One Eighty’s programs are having on young people. How lucky am I!?

That’s awesome to hear! How does One Eighty differ from the traditional mental health model consisting of psychologists, counsellors, and therapists?

One Eighty differs from clinical mental health interventions primarily through our peer-to-peer support group, Open Up. Open Up fills a gap identified in the current national suicide prevention strategy. It is a time and space for young people to learn how to talk openly about their mental health by practising skills of sharing, listening, connecting with others, and asking for help. We wanted to see a time and space created for young people to practise skills of sharing, listening, connecting with others, and asking for help. 

Being young people ourselves, we knew that our friends wouldn’t want this in a clinical setting, so we created a more casual and accessible (but still safe) setting that we knew young people would feel comfortable using.

Many participants come along to Open Up alongside their current mental health treatment, but for many others Open Up is the first step in starting the conversation and learning about what professional support services are out there.

Recent consultations conducted by the Office of Advocate for Children and Young People found that young people want peer support and recommend “support for youth-led programs… that encourage peer to peer support and training for young people.” This shows just how important peer support is within the current suicide prevention strategy and alongside professional support services.

Maddie, Head of Relationships & Development at One Eighty

Indeed, one of the things that One Eighty is known for is your Open Up sessions. What does a session look like? And what inspired One Eighty to create sessions like these? 

Co-founders Paris and Sammy were inspired to create One Eighty because they wanted to see a change in the way young people interacted with mental health services. One of the most exciting projects that came out of a bunch of young people joining forces to tackle youth suicide, is our Open Up program. 

Open Up Facilitators

One Eighty’s Open Up sessions are held in-person at various locations across Sydney as well as online. Sessions run for 1.5 hours and are led by two trained Peer Support Workers. A typical group session has 4-10 young people. The Peer Support Workers guide the conversation, cover important ground rules and ensure discussion flows and everyone has a chance to contribute if they are comfortable doing so

Every session is unique to who is in the room but generally over the course of the 1.5 hours participants might have gained new insights, connected with people’s stories, or gotten something important off of their chest. People often express how refreshing the honesty is, the casual and judgement-free nature of the group dynamic, and the genuine openness to listen to each other and explore ideas and experiences.

Online Open Up Session

At the end of the session facilitators remind participants about the Anonymity Ground Rule, and provide guidance as to how to access professional mental health services, should anyone be looking for further support.

From experience as a participant and Peer Support Worker, I am always blown away by the strength of young people sharing their stories and experiences. Each Open Up encounter is special and every participant that comes into the room contributes in their own way. I encourage anyone interested in the program to try it out for themselves and sign up for a session today!

That sounds very special, indeed! What other aspects of the organisation showcase your commitment to being “by young people, for young people”?  

I work alongside a team of amazing and passionate young people. Our senior management and Board of Directors are all under the age of 30. This demonstrates our commitment to ensuring our programs stay relevant to young people and provides a platform for young diverse voices to be heard within the mental health sector.

What other youth mental health programs does One Eighty have apart from your Open Up sessions?

 One Eighty currently offers Mental Health First Aid and Lifeline Accidental Counsellor Training for free to members of the community as part of our Community Training program. These training courses teach people essential skills, including how to offer support to those who are developing mental health problems, experiencing a worsening of an existing mental health problem, or in a mental health crisis.

We also have our Advocacy Program that is set to launch this year. We will be providing proactive leadership, support, and educational resources for young people to engage in local, state, and federal advocacy on issues affecting youth mental health. We are very excited to be entering this space with a more proactive approach.

One Eighty primarily targets young people from the Northern Beaches of Sydney. What are the particular aspects of this community that makes an NGO like this necessary?

The World Health Organisation has highlighted the essential role that community plays in any successful national suicide prevention strategy. Suicide is preventable, and this prevention requires a collaborative effort, including both top-down and local bottom-up processes. One Eighty offers a model for such a local, bottom-up approach.

One Eighty started on the Northern Beaches of Sydney and has proven to be an important resource for many young locals. We are now using this model to roll out similar models of support on a more national scale.

What has been an important lesson you’ve learnt so far about community mental health?

I personally think it is important to recognise that each community or group of people is unique as a result of their experiences, values, culture etc. When bringing programs into new communities, it is important to take the time to listen, learn and understand what is needed and adapt accordingly.

 One Eighty works closely with the community, and as an organisation we are constantly taking into account feedback from participants and mental health experts to ensure our programs continue to remain safe, effective and strengthen over time. 

What new things are happening this year with One Eighty?

One Eighty’s Open Up peer-support program will be at the core of One Eighty’s efforts to increase community support over the next year. 

The Organisation is in the process of expanding the program to new locations including universities across NSW, and strengthening the online delivery of the program, so that we can continue welcoming participants from across Australia. In line with this, we have hired Content Team members and Peer Support Workers from WA and VIC. This expansion will increase the program's reach dramatically, with approximately 10,000 young people across Australia expected to directly benefit from engagement with the Open Up program over the next 2 years.

With the predicted surge of suicides as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, One Eighty has also increased the number of Lifeline Accidental Counsellor and Mental Health First Aid training opportunities offered to the public, including offering tailored training options for community groups, sports clubs and businesses that can be run online across Australia.

Further to this, One Eighty will be investing in advertising campaigns aimed at increasing awareness and educating the community, to maximise the numbers of young people and the broader community who may benefit from our programs.

One Eighty is also putting time and resources into providing proactive leadership, support, and educational resources for young people to engage in local, state, and federal levels on issues affecting youth mental health through our advocacy program set to launch in 2021.

What is a commonly-held stigma people have around mental health that you’d like to demystify?

A stigma that I come across a lot is: “I will be a burden if I ask for help or speak out about my mental wellbeing.” 

I believe this stigma needs to be demystified immediately because being honest, vulnerable, and open about our feelings is one of the most courageous and powerful things we can do. By taking the time to reflect on how we are feeling and starting conversations with friends and loved ones, we remove the stigma surrounding mental ill health everyday. Learning to speak to yourself the way you would speak to someone you care for is also an important way to reduce those feelings of being a burden.

What would you say to a fellow young person experiencing a difficult period in their life?

 You are not alone, I am here to listen, you are brave for getting through each day as it comes.

Your feelings are valid. Take the time you need but know that I am here to support you. 

Feeling overwhelmed? Stressed? Worried? Join One Eighty at one of their Open Up sessions – everyone between 18 – 29 is welcome!

You can also catch them at:
https://www.oneeighty.org.au/
Instagram: @oneeighty_inc
Facebook: One Eighty Inc.

WORDS: JESSIE WANG, MADDIE WALSH
PHOTOGRAPHY: ONE EIGHTY INC