SANE Australia launches Better Off With You suicide prevention campaign

National mental health charity, SANE Australia has launched Better Off With You, a targeted suicide prevention campaign featuring real stories of people with experiences of suicidal thoughts and the actions from two communities in Sydney and Northern Queensland.

Burden is an aspect of suicidal thinking that is not often discussed. When people feel like a burden - on their family or friends - they can begin to wonder if their loved ones would be better off without them.

Better Off With You aims to speak directly to people who are feeling suicidal, and to challenge the perception that they are a burden on their family, friends and other people.

The campaign illustrates that people whose thoughts of suicide stem from feeling they are a burden can come to see things differently. By sharing their stories, it seeks to provide hope, and to send a message to those contemplating suicide: “you’re not alone, you can get through this, there is support available and ultimately, the people in your life are better off with you”.

Better Off With You is being promoted across social media, radio, print media, outdoor advertising and television. The website also houses the video stories, support information, a listing of national and local services, and an online moderated forum where people can discuss the campaign and share their experiences.

The suicide prevention initiative was developed in consultation with local groups and those with lived experience, and includes a research component to ensure the campaign’s safety, measure impact and to inform future national suicide prevention activities.

The pilot is being delivered by SANE Australia in partnership with Sydney North Primary Health Network (PHN) and Northern Queensland Primary Health Network (NQPHN) and funded by the Australian Government Department of Health. The campaign will run for six weeks, until 28 February 2020.