Major Partner:
Supported By:
Unfortunately, mental illness is so common. Over 1 in 4 people in the world will be affected by a form of mental illness in their lifetime, and more than 500 million people are currently suffering from a form of mental illness in the world right now. This makes mental disorders among the leading causes of ‘ill-health” and disability worldwide.
Unfortunately, of the total numbers of people experiencing mental illnesses, many of those people will not seek professional help. There is still stigma attached to mental health – it is more important than ever that we focus on the mental wellbeing of our people.
Molycop is committed to the overall health and wellbeing of all our employees. An effective modern health and safety system needs to encompass mental health. There are clear business benefits for Molycop too. Employees who feel mentally healthy and supported are typically more engaged and productive at work. Through normalising conversations about mental health, we aim to remove the stigma and give our employees options to seek help if needed. We saw the positive impact that this initiative had in 2020. We are delighted to be expanding the program this year and helping more companies focus on mental health awareness and support. Everyone has a story and sharing them is powerful. These conversations could assist in saving a life” .
Michael Parker, President – Molycop Australia
“Out of the Square recognises we all need to play a role in breaking down barriers and lessening the stigma around talking openly about ‘unseen struggles’. As a creative agency we are fortunate to have a skill set to be able to create communication tools to help others. Having that skill is one thing, actively going out of a commercial comfort zone to do so is another. So we have made a conscious choice to ‘use our powers for good and not evil’ and be part of the change. Everyone has a Story is our vehicle to do so. We have committed to this project all in, as we know if not done from the heart and backed up with genuine action nothing will be achieved. Our love for the Newcastle and the Hunter Region also means we wish to see the healthiest workforce mentally and physically possible to help us all thrive.”
Marty Adnum, Founder & Managing Director – Out of the Square.
9
Australians die every day by suicide.
75
of those who take their own life are male.
15 - 44
Suicide is the leading cause of death for Australians ages
General Statistics:
- 8.6 million or 44% of Australians aged 16–85 are estimated to have experienced a mental disorder at some time in their life, with 1 in 5 having experienced a mental disorder in the previous 12 months. (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare)
- 1 in 3 Australians are lonely and have no one to speak to.
- Over 65K Australians make a suicide attempt each year.
- In 2019, 3,318 Australians took their own life.
- Suicide is the leading cause of death for Australians between the ages of 15 and 44 (AIHW, 2022a).
- The suicide rate in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples is twice that of their non-Indigenous counterparts.
- People in rural populations are 2 times more likely to die by suicide.
- LGBTIQ+ community members report having attempted suicide in the past 12 months at a rate 10 times higher than the general Australian population.
- For each life lost to suicide, the impacts are felt by up to 135 people, including family members, work colleagues, friends, first responders at the time of death.
- Males aged 85 and older experience the highest age-specific rate of suicide.
- People in rural populations are 2 times more likely to die by suicide.
- The suicide rate in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples is twice that of their non-Indigenous counterparts.
Lifeline’s Own Statistics:
- Each year, over 1 million Australians reach out to Lifeline for support.
- Lifeline’s 13 11 14 crisis support line receives a call every 30 seconds.
- Lifeline’s network of 41 centres, 10,000 volunteers, and 1,000 employees provide a lifesaving national infrastructure for those experiencing immense pain and anguish.
- There are 3,500 Crisis Supporters working with Lifeline so that no person in Australia has to face their darkest moments alone.
Everyone has a story is an extremely positive step in the right direction providing a platform for us to share and talk about our mental health. Lifeline Hunter is proud to support this initiative and help support our local community in these difficult times now and in the future
Patrick Calabria, Corporate and Community Manager – Lifeline Hunter
