It Takes All of Us to Reduce Mental Health Stigma!
Resources
A guide for AFL clubs impacted by suicide.
This guide is for all Australian Football Clubs, whether they are professional, high-performance, or community. The impact of suicide is immediate and ongoing, and requires a calm, compassionate response to ensure the safety of others. Clubs may struggle to cope with the news of suicide, and find challenges in seeking the right resources to manage the experience post suicide.​
Featured Research
Mental Health First Aid is an effective public health intervention for improving knowledge, attitudes, and behaviour: A meta-analysis
The paper aims to synthesize published evaluations of the MHFA programme in a meta-analysis to estimate its effects and potential as a public mental health awareness-increasing strategy
Australian rural football club leaders as mental health advocates: an investigation of the impact of the Coach the Coach project
Rural football clubs appear to be appropriate social structures to promote rural mental health awareness. Club leaders, including many coaches, benefit from MHFA training, reporting increased skills and confidence.
Systematic review and meta-analysis of Mental Health First Aid training: Effects on knowledge, stigma, and helping behaviour
This review supports the effectiveness of MHFA training in improving mental health literacy and appropriate support for those with mental health problems up to 6 months after training.
Review of Australian initiatives to reduce stigma towards people with complex mental illness: what exists and what works?
Meta-analyses show the program leads to a reduction in stigmatising attitudes after training and up to six months later. Of note, the course has been evaluated in several culturally and linguistic diverse populations in Australia, with positive effects on stigma.