B075N Armed for Life Resilience Initiative

The Objective

Our mission is to equip young people and communities in Western Australia with the knowledge and skills to identify and prevent mental health disorders before they take hold and normalise conversations around mental health, so our youth feel confident seeking help.

The Issue

Nearly 36% of Australian secondary school students report high levels of anxiety, depression, or both, according to a 2023 survey of roughly 140,000 students in grades 3 to 12. In addition, psychological distress climbs sharply with age, from about 31% at 12–14 to 65% by 18–25. Yet only around a third of young women and 13% of young men with mental health problems seek professional help.

Our Response

1.     Prevent mental illness by equipping and supporting young Australians for good mental health.

Rather than waiting for crisis, the Armed for Life Resilience Initiative focuses on prevention through evidence-based presentations (single session) and programs (multi-session) designed to equip communities (students, teachers, and schools) with the knowledge and tools to prevent harm before it takes hold.

2.     Normalise the conversation around mental health for youth, parents and the wider community.

The Armed for Life Resilience Initiative also addresses important conversations around unaddressed depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts. Too often people struggle with these issues without reaching out for help, so the organisation works to make asking for help acceptable and normalised.

Our Activities & Impact

Equip and empower Western Australian youth by building self-esteem, resilience, as well as personal and social skills that together bring hope and opportunity by:

1. School Presentations (single 90-minute sessions) focusing on resilience, anxiety and self-esteem, relationships and anti-bullying, addiction and protective behaviours.
2. School Programs (multi-session) provide personal and life skills training over a school term. The small group of 8-15 students choose a life skill or interest to be the shared vehicle for the training (e.g. barber shop, cooking, gym & fitness).
3. Wellness Days as a large-scale mental health event for an entire school or a local community.
4. Community camps divided into junior and senior cohorts running twice per year focusing on healthy relationships (summer camp) and resilience and self-esteem (winter camp).
5. “Road to Resilience” road trips taking Armed for Life on the road to regional communities.
6. Teacher training (professional development sessions)
7. Parent support (training, conversations, consultations)