Blue Leaf Initiative

For young people aged 15 to 24, suicide is the leading cause of death.

There is an increase in the number of young people reporting feelings of loneliness and isolation. 54 per cent of young people lacked companionship, 47 per cent felt left out and 43 per cent felt isolated. The pandemic and enforced lockdowns have limited opportunities for close and meaningful connection, an important protective factor for good mental health. This is especially the case for young people, many of whom have been physically separated from their support networks at an important time in their personal development.

With two in every five young people experiencing mental ill-health according to the latest Australian Bureau of Statistics data, it’s more important than ever that we support young people to stay connected with the people and things that make them feel happy and healthy.

Connecting with others gives us a sense of belonging and can improve our mental health and wellbeing… That’s why we started the Blue Leaf Initiative.