The Australian Government this week rushed through legislation banning children 16 and under from using social media. The Whisperer Team founder, Jonathan Hart, suggests that many of Australia's young people will feel socially isolated as they are forced to disconnect from friends and online communities where they have formed friendships and experienced inclusion in the past. This may in turn have detrimental affects on their mental health. Jonathan believes this will place even greater pressure on our youth and suicide prevention services, which has seen a rise in calls, as Australia has experienced a rise in deaths to suicide, since 2020. That figure now 9 a day, on average. The Whisperer Team can lift this burden. Cafes, pubs, community centres, clubs, anywhere young people congregate, can assist young people who may be experiencing suicide ideation and are unfamiliar with how to navigate it. When posters, outlining the GLASS EMPTY suicide prevention signal for anyone experiencing suicide ideation to deploy and seek help, are on the walls of these spaces, they can be confident that using the signal will attract connection from someone with suicide prevention skills, who can then get them to safety. That assistance can be as simple as a 5 minute chat or connecting them with family, friends, loved ones, work colleagues who they trust and feel safe with, to express how they're feeling when they're going through tough times. This can in turn ease the burden on suicide prevention crisis helplines, that rely heavily on the support of volunteers. A free suicide prevention method for pub, bar, cafe and club staff is available at www.thewhispererteam.org In fact, it's available for anyone, anywhere. Young people may not know the words to say to express that they're dealing with suicide ideation. So introduce them to the GLASS EMPTY Suicide Prevention Signal so you can connect, show you're there to support them and get them the assistance they need during tough times. More on the Signal at www.glassempty.live Feel free to share the love and get this website to your local cafe, community centre, club, pub or anyone you feel may need this info, so they can be found on The Whisperer Team map and start saving lives. This video below, from online channel Cold Fusion, suggests there may be detrimental affects from the impact of the social media ban on the Australian population, which aren't generally recognised when taking the Government's new legislation at face value.
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November 2024
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