“Hawks Talk” Mental Health Initiative

Participants at Northern Hawks Mental Health Initiative

In 2022 the Northern Hawks successfully applied to Mental Health Sports Fund Program for grant funding for its “Hawks Talk” initiative, which aims to reduce stigma surrounding mental illness and suicide. This was needed to increase mental health literacy amongst club and community and increase help-seeking behaviors amongst club and community members who are facing mental health difficulties.

Outcomes for the Hawks Talk Initiative are as follows:

●       Train two club leaders in Mental Health First Aid (AMHFA) for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples Facilitator Course.

●       Have our club leaders deliver MHFA for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples to at least 30 of our club and community members in 2022.

●       Hold a Hawks Talk Community Event at a local venue with an invitation extended to neighboring sports clubs and the local community. 

●       Employ a consultant to work with our club leaders to co-design a postvention plan in the event that our club community experiences an unexpected death by suicide.  A postvention plan will aim to limit distress and reduce the risk of contagion.)