Prop People Reaching Out To People

PROP, or People Reaching Out to People, was set up after I lost five friends to suicide over a twelve month period. Couldn't understand how and why, so I embarked on a personal journey to try to educate myself on the subject of suicide. And while I may have been "aware" of suicide, it become abundantly clear that much of my awareness was littered with the stigma often associated with mental health. And had one of these five friends come forward, with such stigma, would confess that I doubt I could have offered any meaningful empathy given my own stigmatic fears. Working with others, we have put together an easy-to-read electronic tutorial program directed not at the one in four who are experiencing depression/anxiety, but at the other three who are not. By directing this tutorial program to those who aren't experiencing depression, the goal here is to unlearn the stigma indirectly taught to us by society's antiquated and unjustified fears. And while this tutorial may not turn anyone into a mental health counsellor, by unlearning the stigma we will hopefully feel empowered enough to be present for family/friends/loved ones who are experiencing depression/anxiety. PROP is similarly undertaking other initiatives within the suicide prevention circles to help support those suicide prevention and support groups. Amongst one such initiative is to create an app as a supplement to a toll free suicide crisis hotline. The idea here is to create a medium which along with telephony would include text and video, all with direct access to a suicide prevention call centre. PROP is NOT a health or crisis service, nor does it provide clinical advice or professional services. The information provided on or through this communication is therefore intended for educational and information purposes only. It cannot take the place of any professional medical help, diagnosis or treatment. If you're in a crisis, and in Australia, please call Lifeline on 13 11 14.