No fooling: There's Life After Bad Moves

01 April 2015

Leading online youth mental health organisation ReachOut Australia is using April Fools’ Day to launch a campaign showing young people that there’s life after making bad moves.

As Australians set about playing practical jokes and hoaxing each other, ReachOut is launching a one-month online campaign about making mistakes and moving past them. ReachOut will showcase public admissions of bad moves from people all around the country in an online confessional from 1–26 April 2015.

The campaign “There’s Life After Bad Moves” is designed to remind young people that it’s possible to put their best foot forward and learn from mistakes or difficult situations.

Broadcasters and celebrities will help launch the campaign, with their own videos posted at ReachOut.com/thereslifeafter.

ReachOut Australia CEO Jonathan Nicholas called on Australians to contribute online by posting their own stories on Facebook or Twitter with the hashtag #TheresLifeAfter as a show of support for anyone who might be struggling with learning to fail or getting it wrong.

“Young people can feel lots of pressure to nail it every time,” he said. “We want them to know that their friends, teachers, parents and other responsible people sometimes get it wrong. What’s really important is to build resilience and realise that your mistakes do not define you.”

Tips and practical advice will be available at ReachOut.com, as well as live forums and factsheets. Teachers and health professionals can access specially designed content at ReachOut.com/professionals.

People from all around Australia are encouraged to talk about their own bad moves and how they moved past them by posting a clip on Facebook or Twitter using the hashtag #TheresLifeAfter. You can also follow the conversation by using the #TheresLifeAfter hashtag.

About ReachOut Australia

ReachOut is Australia’s leading online mental health organisation, providing practical support to help young people get through anything from everyday issues to tough times.

Since 1998, ReachOut has worked alongside young people to deliver online tools that address youth mental health and reduce youth suicide. Available anytime and pretty much anywhere, ReachOut receives more than 1.85 million visitors a year.