This presentation will provide an overview of batyr’s Program Evolution project, an innovative approach to designing mental health prevention programs in secondary schools and universities in Australia. batyr’s development process breaks the mould of mental health education by first asking what young people truly need to support their mental health and that of their community. This translates into evidence-based programs that centre peer-to-peer engagement and lived experience storytelling.
Since 2011, batyr has reached over 330,000 young people with mental health education and training programs that reduce stigma and improve help-seeking. batyr’s collaborative approach with young people, service partners and educators has been creating pathways for young people to better inform support structures around them to meet their needs.
The batyr team will share with conference delegates how the Program Evolution project embedded youth participation and lived experience within the design process, while greatly improving capacity to scale nationally and creating fewer barriers for young people across Australia to access their programs. The presenters will share the research design and key findings that led to the development of the new program structure. Finally, the batyr team will present the initial pilot insights and their relevance to the mental health education sector.
We look forward to talking action with delegates and leaving the audience with the following key learnings:
1 - Ways stakeholders can move from listening to youth insights to taking actionable steps for change.
2 - How youth insights can be embedded in research design for program development.
3 - Practical ways to ensure program adaptability in responding to the evolving needs of young people.