Orygen Launches #chatsafe Guidelines Globally

Youth mental health organisation, Orygen has released its guidelines globally to help young people communicate safely online about suicide. #chatsafe was developed in Melbourne in partnership with young people and the guidelines are now available in local languages in Brazil, Finland, Hong Kong, Mexico, Nigeria, Norway, South Korea, Singapore, Sweden and the United Kingdom. 

Associate Professor Jo Robinson, head of suicide prevention research at Orygen, said the key to making the guidelines available globally has been working with international partners who share a commitment to the safety and mental health of young people.

“Now more than ever young people are using social media to connect with each other and talk about difficult issues, including suicide,” Associate Professor Robinson said. “The #chatsafe guidelines aim to help them do this safely. They have been a great success in Australia and we are really excited to have worked with the different partners so that we can now share them with young people from all over the world.”

The aim of the #chatsafe project is to support: 

• people who might be responding to suicide risk or suicide-related content posted by others
• young people who might be looking for information or help for suicidal feelings
• those who want to share online their own feelings and experiences with suicide
• talking online about someone who has died by suicide

Globally, we have observed a shift in the way we express ourselves digitally. It is essential that we create conversations that matter online and #chatsafe is a guide that educates the community in ways to engage in conversations around suicide and self-harm responsibly.

Learn more about #chatsafe here.