A young Canberra woman could launch new suicide prevention programs across the territory if a unique chance to pitch for money pays off.
Youth in ACTion for Suicide Prevention chairperson Maddeline Mooney, 27, was the only Canberran selected for this year's four-month Youth Social Pioneers program which was designed to accelerate innovative ideas by young Australians.
The Hackett woman will have the chance to put her new business skills into action and argue her idea to bring a theatre performance about the role of self-care into education venues was worthy of a $10,000 grant in July.
"Not for profit organisation Mind Blank do an interactive performance and we're hoping to get that around all the secondary schools, universities and TAFEs," she said.
"We've costed the format and with $10,000 that program could probably come here by the end of this year."
The moves to expand the suicide prevention services in the ACT and beyond came as the latest figures showed one in three deaths of people aged 15-24 was the result of intentional self-harm.
Ms Mooney said she was selected for the pioneers program, created by the Foundation for Young Australians, thanks to her Treat yo'self campaign which encouraged young Canberrans to keep an eye out for signs they were stressed and take action to relax.
The Master of Suicidology student, Lifeline volunteer and suicidology expert at the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare said the first meeting with the 51 other pioneers earlier this month was an "electric environment" and would help her develop skills to lead and grow a social enterprise.
In addition to the Mind Blank performances, Ms Mooney said Youth in ACTion was developing practical self-care workshops which she hoped would be in the community within the next two years.
Recently released Australian Bureau of Statistics figures showed 37 people died by suicide in the ACT in 2013, up about 50 per cent from the 24 the year before.
The national suicide rate for 15-19 year old males rose sharply in 2013, up to its highest level since 2002, while the equivalent rate for females dropped after a recent record rate in 2012, the figures released in March showed. Overall suicide rates declined in 2013.
Lifeline 13 11 14.
