Words and Images
Be heard, be seen.
Everymind is seeking participants for a series of focus groups exploring the use of language and imagery in public communication about suicide, mental ill- health, and alcohol and other drug use.
Media professionals, professional communicators, people with professional and personal experience with mental ill-health, suicidal behaviour and/or alcohol and other drugs are invited to participate and share their perspectives.
We are also seeking participants from a range of identified priority population groups, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people from a culturally and linguistically diverse background, young people, people who identify as LGBTIQ+ and men.
For more information about this research study and to register to participate, please visit https://redcap.link/96lwui6k
If you have any questions regarding the focus groups, please contact Dr Elizabeth Paton, Project Lead at [email protected]
About the project:
Everymind is working with a Project Advisory Group, a Research Leadership Group and a range of other stakeholders to develop guidelines and web-based resources to support image and language use that is safe, inclusive, hopeful and non-stigmatising when communicating about mental health and wellbeing, mental illness, suicidal behaviour, and alcohol and other drugs.
Work is being undertaken using a research framework and is grounded in a participatory design approach including people with lived experience, professional communicators, clinicians, community members and others involved in communicating about mental health issues. This will be enhanced through significant stakeholder engagement and testing throughout the life of the project.
Guidelines, resources and other outputs from the project will be developed in stages between 2021-2022 with dissemination of guides scheduled for 2022-2023.
This project is funded by the National Mental Health Commission, and forms part of a long-term vision for an Australian society where stigma and discrimination, based on experiences of mental ill-health, suicidal distress and alcohol and other drug use, are no longer barriers to all people living long and contributing lives.
Words and Images Project Advisory Group
The Words and Images project is informed by a number of different stakeholder groups. The Project Advisory Group contributes diverse views and expertise, guiding the project activities, outcomes, and supports wider engagement across multiple sectors; members include:
Dr Jaelea Skehan OAM (Co-Chair), Everymind, Director
Stefani Caminiti (Co-Chair), The Inner Ninja Foundation, CEO and Founder
Allison Lubransky-Moy, Gayaa Dhuwi, Operations and Policy Lead
Amelia Banks, Suicide Prevention Australia, Communications Manager
Nikki Hogan, Mental Health Australia, Partnerships Manager
Sophie Plumridge, SANE Australia, Director for Communications and Engagement
Ina Mullin, National Mental Health Commission, Director Engagement & Communication
Zed Tintor (they/them, she/her), LGBTIQ+ Health Australia, Deputy Chief Executive Officer
Ruth Das, Embrace (Mental Health Australia), National Project Manager - National Multicultural Mental Health Project
Sejla Stammers, Alcohol and Drug Foundation, Senior Project Manager
Adj. A/Prof. Learne Durrington B.Soc.Wk MPPM GAICD CHE ACHSM, Western Australia Primary Health Alliance, Chief Executive Officer
Heather McIntyre, University of South Australia, Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Research and Education Group, Research Assistant
Mahlie Jewell, SANE Australia, Peer Ambassador
Bucky Toller, Department of Veterans Affairs, Assistant Director for Veteran Mental Health, Open Arms
Phoebe Kingston, SANE Australia, Peer Ambassador
Julie Holmes, Roses in the Ocean, Visual Content Specialist
Dr Louise La Sala, Orygen, Research Fellow
Caitlin Evans, Communications Specialist
Dominic Hilbrink, Fortem Australia, Senior Clinician
For more information about the Words and Images project, please contact Dr Elizabeth Paton, Project Lead.
