Project Yarn Circle builds connection to culture in Indigenous youth

The National Suicide Prevention Trial continues to roll out with Indigenous owned mental health organisation, Youth to Knowledge (Y2K) taking its Project Yarn Circle program to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students in the Brisbane North and Moreton Bay region.

Y2K’s Project Yarn Circle seeks to promote mental health resilience and cultural connection for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students.

Through extensive consultation and collaboration with local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander elders, Y2K developed a program that aims to reconnect students to culture, as well as educating them about mental wellbeing and resilience.

As part of the program, community service organisation Kurbingui Youth Development and youth mental health foundation headspace have provided students with information about services available in their local areas.

Y2K founder Charles Rolls said Project Yarn Circle was receiving a positive response from participating schools, with many requesting the program make a return.

“It’s an extremely positive response with students reporting to teachers they feel greater pride in being Aboriginal and in their identity,” Mr Rolls said.

A study developed in conjunction with the Australian Institute for Suicide Research and Prevention will help to evaluate Project Yarn Circle, examining the connection between cultural connection and reduction of suicidality.

Brisbane North PHN is one of 12 sites involved in the National Suicide Prevention Trial, funded by the Department of Health until June 2020, which takes a coordinated approach to implementing evidence-based suicide prevention interventions at the community level.

For more information contact Brisbane North PHN on 07 3630 7300 or email info@brisbanenorthphn.org.au.

For crisis support call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or the Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467.