As the world's leading organisation focused entirely on the prevention and early intervention of youth mental ill-health, everything Orygen does is about progressing better outcomes for young people like Tom.

Orygen's Lived Experience Strategy is a commitment to young people, their families, and our lived experience workforce to advance how we value and embed their expertise. Here, some of our lived experience leaders reflect on its significance. 📄 bit.ly/4tOb83O

Here at Orygen, we know from more than 30 years of research and practice that the right support at the right time changes the course of a young person's life. This end-of-financial-year, we're asking our community for their support to extend this impact: bit.ly/4uhsF4R

NEWS | The next generation of personalised and collaborative mental health care for young people has been given a major boost this week, with the announcement of multi-million dollar @wellcometrust.bsky.social funding for an Orygen Digital supported project. Details: bit.ly/4eiVBo4

Talk about a dream team 🤝 Excited to partner with the AFL in a collaboration that will connect thousands of young people with our innovative mental health platform, MOST. Details: bit.ly/4odm8XD

This #NationalReconciliationWeek, members of the Orygen team and our Cultural Strengthening Committee reflect on what this important week – and the 2026 theme, 'All In' – means to them. More from Reconciliation Australia: bit.ly/4dOwlVB

Orygen has spent the week working alongside global health leaders at #WorldHealthAssembly to explore the drivers of youth mental ill-health, understand gaps in research and systems, and find solutions. Read about our side events and more: bit.ly/4u6o8Ck

Orygen is proud to introduce our 2026-28 Lived Experience Strategy, which sets out our organisational commitment to build, strengthen and champion lived experience as a core part of our work and the youth mental health field more broadly. Access it here: bit.ly/4tOb83O

There are still more questions than answers when it comes to the impact of digital environments on youth mental health. Orygen, in partnership with @who.int, has released a global research agenda to help guide international research efforts. Learn more: bit.ly/4tO5qyU

A landmark moment, which reflects growing recognition that youth mental health is one of the defining health and economic challenges of our time, and bolsters our capacity to drive reform globally. Full details: bit.ly/49gIJw6

Dr Jasmine Elliott's involvement with governance here at Orygen began as an inaugural Youth Advisor to our Board – of which she's now a Director. We're inviting applications for six more Youth Advisor roles across our Board and its subcommittees: bit.ly/YouthinGover...

Australia's youth mental health system is facing a rate of demand it wasn't built for. Bridging this gap with accessible, evidence-based and free-to-access tools is what Orygen Digital's MOST, Mello and MindVR have been designed for.

Thrilled to today bring together Orygen's lived experience workforce and leaders to launch our new Lived Experience Strategy. As articulated by our Head of Lived Experience, Rafi Armanto, it's about "true allyship, building a strong culture, connection and commitment".

Nearly 1 in 4 high school students know someone who has died by suicide, and 50% have supported someone experiencing suicidal thoughts, new Orygen data from one of the largest evaluations of a suicide prevention program in Australia has revealed. Details: bit.ly/48QAIxD @sammckay.bsky.social

Delivered 100% online, including virtual classrooms, our new short course program aims to provide accessible, nationally-recognised learning tailored to those who work across health, community and education settings. Enrolments close soon: bit.ly/4cwCIMq

Orygen is excited to be inviting young people (aged 18-30) to join our Youth in Governance program and directly contribute their insights and expertise at the highest level of organisational decision-making, strategy and oversight. Apply by Tuesday 19/05: bit.ly/YouthinGover...

New research led by Orygen's Dr Ellie Brown has explored how participation in the national headspace Early Psychosis program impacted the substance use of nearly 2,000 young people – highlighting how programs like these can make a real difference: bit.ly/48s8hG8

Financial pressure is harming wellbeing and preventing young people from accessing support. That's the key finding of a new Orygen poll, which asked over 1000 Australians for their thoughts on links between the cost of living and youth mental health.

Delivered online by experienced mental health practitioners, the Foundations in Mental Health Practice program aims to provide accessible learning in areas like trauma-informed care, working with diverse social and cultural groups, and supporting self-advocacy. More: bit.ly/4cwCIMq

Behind the scenes: Papa Roach at Orygen HQ 🌱 During the band's recent visit to our Melbourne office, it was a pleasure to share a bit about our work, introduce some of the team, and connect on a shared vision of a brighter future for all young people.

Brilliant to today host the inaugural Orygen Research & Careers Showcase, alongside the Melbourne University Psychology Association team 🌱

Victoria's medical research institutes are delivering groundbreaking, meaningful work – but without sufficient investment, the sector's future is at risk. We were proud to be at Parliament Gardens with @aamri.bsky.social earlier this week, in support of this important initiative 👇

We were pleased to welcome Mayor Hou Yu-Ih of New Taipei City and a delegation of senior officials to Orygen this week, to exchange insights about our shared work in youth mental health and suicide prevention.

NEWS | AI for mental health is here – and major new funding will enable an Orygen Digital and University of Melbourne team led by Dr Isabelle Scott to research safer, more fit-for-purpose models. Details via @sydmorningherald.bsky.social (paywall): bit.ly/3Pnw6It

Orygen Executive Director, Prof. Patrick McGorry, had the privilege of meeting King Frederik and Queen Mary of Denmark last week at headspace South Melbourne, alongside headspace CEO Jason Trethowan and the wider team.

Congratulations to Orygen Senior Research Fellow Dr @sammckay.bsky.social, whose impactful work has been recognised with a 2026 Suicide Prevention Australia VIC LiFE Award!

RESOURCE | Orygen's Suicide Prevention team has developed a set of co-designed recommendations for researchers to use when considering the role of parents and carers of young people involved in suicide research. Free to access: bit.ly/3MqYAjx

Short-term supports are essential to ensure young people can access the mental health care they deserve. Orygen’s Brief Intervention Toolkit (BIT) helps equip clinicians to deliver this kind of care. Places are limited for our next one-day online training on 4 March: bit.ly/4avdKfi

We were pleased to yesterday welcome The Hon Emma McBride and Basem Abdo MP to headspace Craigieburn, who visited to congratulate the team for their delivery of high-quality student placements, and to see how this is building the workforce that supports young people locally.

Congratulations to the team at headspace Craigieburn on this week receiving a national award for their delivery of high-quality, multidisciplinary student placements – which have supported more than 58 emerging clinicians since 2022 👏 More: bit.ly/4axTMkj 📸: Jordy Scott

Developed by Orygen's suicide prevention team in partnership with young people, #chatsafe is a collection of resources and advice on how to talk about self-harm and suicide safely online. More from @chatsafe.bsky.social this #SaferInternetDay: bit.ly/4ksOtHs

Orygen's Prof. Patrick McGorry will be joining sector leaders at the First Step Futures Forum next week for an important conversation about what the next 25 years of care could look like. 📍 Wednesday 11 Feb at 3pm St Kilda Town Hall Free to register: bit.ly/4b6fKgj

While many young people experience suicidal thoughts and behaviours, it's estimated that fewer than half access support. Digital tools could help address this, new Orygen research has found: bit.ly/3MdTdUu

A new $770K research grant will advance an important pilot study led by Orygen's Prof. @kelly-allott.bsky.social, which aims to give young people, their families and supporters more say in the treatment decisions that affect them. Details: bit.ly/4q1XbgU

Orygen recognises 26 January as Survival Day. In the words of our First Nations team here at Orygen, it's also a reminder that history is created every day, and that by acknowledging the past and committing to learning and action, we can all individually contribute to a better future.

NEWS | Orygen has been appointed to operate a new headspace centre in Moonee Valley, expanding access to free, youth-specific mental health care across Melbourne's north-west. Details: bit.ly/4sQT2ix

RESEARCH | Delusions in psychosis are shaped by emotions and language, an important new study from @unibirmingham.bsky.social, @unimelb.bsky.social, @york.ac.uk and Orygen has found – challenging old notions about these experiences. More details + key findings: bit.ly/4pBBgg8

Integrated care can make a real, meaningful difference for young people experiencing mental ill-health and substance use concerns. First Step is bringing together leading voices including Orygen's Prof. Patrick McGorry to envision the future of care: bit.ly/4b6fKgj

RESEARCH | A new Orygen study has found that of young people who attend headspace centres and use substances, as many as 65% also meet the criteria for substance use disorder – with important implications for early intervention. More: bit.ly/45vTEQv

LGBTQIA+ people continue to experience significantly higher levels of mental ill-health than heterosexual people, and new research from Orygen and La Trobe University has shown why addressing stigma from every level matters. Details: bit.ly/4pP6MIy

Over 1.1 million Australians live with an eating disorder – and almost 1 in 3 are under 19. Early intervention saves lives, yet treatments have not improved in decades. These holidays, you can help change that: bit.ly/4pOSAPi

NEWS | $14m in funding from Wellcome will enable Orygen Digital and @unimelb.bsky.social to create MOST-Nexus, a world-first digital platform combining AI, clinical care, and peer support. Details: bit.ly/4pII38X

RESEARCH | The advice young men receive after a breakup is often the opposite of what they actually want and need, a new study led by Orygen Research Fellow @michaelwilson1.bsky.social has found. More: bit.ly/3KK6eob

As Australia implements age-based restrictions on social media, Orygen has published new research that shows Australians of all ages are being exposed to self-harm and suicide-related content online – and those aged 15-25 are especially vulnerable. More: bit.ly/3XJ0Swj

Eating disorders research funding amounts to just ~$2 for every person in need. It's this chronic underfunding that means A/Prof. Andrea Phillipou and her team's work is at risk of discontinuing. These holidays, you can help change that: bit.ly/4pOSAPi

Emerging research excellence has been in the spotlight here at Orygen recently, with two key events celebrating the impactful work of our early- and mid-career researchers 🧵

Are you a psychiatry trainee or consultant looking to specialise in youth psychiatry? Applications are now open to study Orygen's Professional Certificate in Youth Psychiatry, the only fully online course of its kind in Australia and New Zealand: bit.ly/3KnLl1M

NEW RESEARCH | One of Australia's largest, most comprehensive generational analyses of suicide-related behaviours has revealed the concerning extent to which Gen Z are experiencing these thoughts and behaviours. Key findings + recommendations: bit.ly/3KySFI3

RESEARCH | Early – and more rapid – exposure to the oestradiol (E2) hormone during puberty can lead to faster brain maturation and a greater risk of mental ill-health in girls. That's the key finding of a study led by Orygen PhD student Muskan Khetan: bit.ly/4pyX3Wm

As the most effective evidence-based supported employment program used in mental health services worldwide, IPS is all about supporting young people into meaningful work and study – and so is Orygen's Youth IPS Centre of Excellence 🧵 #InclusionAtWorkWeek