13YARN Is The First Nationwide Mental Health Hotline For Mob, By Mob
Mob struggling with mental health can call 13 92 76 for culturally sensitive care.
First Nations peoples will now be able to access a culturally sensitive crisis hotline called 13YARN.
Exclusively created and run by First Nations staff, 13YARN will offer clinical and cultural support to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, 24/7. National Program Manager Aunty Marjorie Anderson said that the hotline centres on the power of storytelling, taking a conversational approach.
“When utilising other helplines they [First Nations peoples] would often have to spend the beginning of the call having to explain about their culture, the way our families work, and their community before they could actually get any help,” Anderson told SBS.
Lifeline and the Black Dog Institute’s Aboriginal Lived Experience team co-designed and co-developed the service in collaboration with Gayaa Dhuwi (Proud Spirit).
Gayaa Dhuwi is a newly established network of First Nations experts in suicide prevention and mental health, whose goal is to promote better social, mental, and emotional well-being in healthcare for First Nations peoples. 13Yarn is funded by the Australian Government with the support of Lifeline
“Research has shown a gap in mental health services designed and staffed by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. With the launch of 13YARN we are ensuring culturally safe and appropriate support is a phone call away,” said Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention David Coleman.
The crisis hotline service was designed, led, and delivered by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people across different backgrounds including age, family status, and location. It is confidential, anonymous, and accessible by any phone in Australia.
Mental health in First Nations communities across the continent was disproportionately worsened by the pandemic. Research conducted by the Healing Foundation found that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders’ mental well-being was worsened due to the loss of cultural community connection as a result of restrictions, which significantly affected survivors of the Stolen Generations.
The 13Yarn Service (13 92 76) is available across the country 24/7. For more information, check out 13YARN’s website.