The United Project: UNITE to prevent suicides
Donation protected
Please take a few minutes to read about this new global campaign focused on protecting our workers from mental illness and suicide. COVID-19 has now supercharged this issue, increasing the risk and impact across all aspects of our lives, organizations and economies. Thank you for your support.
Why are we raising funds?
The United Project exists to improve mental health and prevent suicides. We believe that everyone deserves to live a full, happy and productive life.
COVID-19 will deliver a spike in mental illnesses and suicides and we're aiming to minimise that spike.
Funds will be used to conduct awareness campaigns, to support the delivery of preventative workplace coaching programs.
80% of all profits will be donated to fund mental health research, front-line mental health services and suicide prevention initiatives. 75% of profits generated from within a specific country will be donated back to organizations in that country. The remaining 25% will be donated to support research and front-line organizations in developing countries. An independent and experienced governance board is being formed to carefully oversee the distribution of funds to ensure that money is direct to where the most significant impact on individuals and their families will be felt.
Our initial goal is to accrue more gratitude points than global COVID-19 cases. AU$1 = 1 Gratitude Point. As at 21 May 2020, there were over 5 million confirmed cases around the world. So that's over $5. You can read more about Gratitude Points below and on our website at www.theunitedproject.net.
Why we must act now
COVID-19 has accelerated the shift in how the world works and is having a significant strain on the worker and their family's security, income and health. In Australia alone, the number of people reporting poor mental health has more doubled during April 2020, and the feeling of despair, more than tripled. [34]
It is well researched that mental health disorders, such as depression and anxiety, have a significant economic, business and personal impact. The World Health Organization reported in 2019 that the estimated cost to the global economy in lost productivity was US$1 trillion per year. [30 - see Reference list below]
Rising unemployment accounted for approximately a quarter of excess suicides during the 2008 Global Financial Crisis (GFC) [29]. Considering nearly 800,000 people die of suicide globally every year [25], this could equate to an additional 200,000 lives post during and after this pandemic. In Australia, preliminary modelling by the Brain and Mind Centre at the University of Syndey suggests COVID-19 could cause up to 1,500 extra suicides a year, if the unemployment rate was around 16 per cent (750 deaths at 11%). [35]
Suicide is preventable [27] but the data we receive is often lagging. [35] Therefore, we must act NOW on this issue, to protect our staff, businesses and the economy and emerge healthier, happier, more resilient and productive.
What is our vision?
Our vision is to bring together the world's leaders, workers and stakeholders around the core message of UNITY.
Neuroscience tells us that relatedness (or feeling connected with others) is one of the strongest predictors of our wellbeing. [31,32,33] Prolonged isolation, job changes, uncertainty, and distancing measures will make feelings of connectedness even harder – adding to stress and exposing our mental health and wellbeing.
As humans, we require an ongoing sense of belonging and connectedness to:
· feel safe and establish self-worth
· feel more supported and reduce stress
· help people with symptoms of anxiety and depression.
We want to see leaders and employers feeling 'united' with one another, that they are supported and connected to their work and that they are building new levels of resilience and wellbeing for a positive future.
What's our strategy to combat this?
There are six components:
1. Build further levels of awareness, acceptance and support of mental health in the workplace.
2. Help identify those at risk in the workplace and provide a pathway to professional support.
3. Promote the importance of and build capabilities that help establish unity, belonging, connectedness, gratitude and individual value.
4. Build skills to better identify and be more mindful of negative and unhelpful thoughts, while learning how they can be reframed to limit their impact.
5. Build greater resilience and psychological flexibility so management and staff can look to take advantage of constant challenge, change and uncertainty confronting them.
6. To collaborate and partner with existing providers to maximize our reach and effectiveness.
Gratitude Points & the link to COVID-19 cases
Gratitude is such a positive and effective way to prevent and support mental illness. As such, we have centred our fundraising campaign around Gratitude Points. For every dollar raised, we will assign one Gratitude Point. Our first goal is to accrue more Gratitude Points than the global number of confirmed global COVID-19 cases. As at 18 May 2020, there were 4.4 million cases of COVID-19. As the number of cases increases, so does our goal. Therefore, we need your help to get ahead of it, and stay ahead of it!
There are multiple ways to build the Gratitude Points tally. These currently are:
· Donations via this GoFundMe page or via corporate donations and sponsorships (please contact us directly)
· Branded t-shirts, apparel and postcards (coming in June '20)
· Corporate mental health upskilling and risk identification programs (coming in June '20)
We will track and promote our progress against this goal and keep everyone informed via this page, social media and email.
How are we delivering our strategy?
1. By building awareness and acceptance
We will use these methods to grow awareness:
· Workplaces wearing our branded t-shirts and apparel (coming June '20)
· Social media campaigns
· Major media/TV campaigns in major markets
· Website and online advertising
· Influencer marketing (via personalities and leading influencers).
2. By developing new skills
We are working with senior, experienced psychologists and industry practitioners who will offer an online coaching program for managers and their employees.
We plan to leverage specialist techniques to help:
· build skills to better identify and be more mindful of negative and unhelpful thoughts, while learning how they can be reframed to limit their impact.
· build greater resilience and psychological flexibility so management and staff can look to take advantage of constant challenge, change and uncertainty confronting them.
· promote the importance of and build capabilities that help establish unity, belonging, connectedness, gratitude and individual value. All keys to being mentally healthier and core ingredients to stronger and higher performing teams.
For those companies who are unable to pay, we intend to fund these programs from the donations we receive.
3. By identifying 'at risk' individuals
We will provide a private, secure and responsive online service to assist in the immediate identification of actual and potential risk of mental illness, at an individual level.
We intend to make available Uprise, a leading app built by psychologists, that people will install on their mobile phone or computer. They will complete a 1-minute assessment and will receive a call back within 24 hours if there are signs they may be at risk.
Also, for companies who are unable to pay, we will fund these programs from the donations we receive.
It's all in the numbers
There is a large body of research and the figures associated are clear and alarming.
· In 2017, it is estimated that slightly more than one in ten people globally (or 792 million people, 10.7%) live with a mental disorder. [24]
· For every US$1 put into scaled up treatment for common mental disorders, there is a return of US$4 in improved health and productivity. [30]
· Australia and the United States operate with two of the highest rates of mental and substance use disorders (per 100,000 people) in the world. [24]
· An individual with an anxiety disorder is around 3 times more likely to die from suicide than someone without; depression is 20 times. [24]
· Globally, one person dies from suicide every 40 seconds and nearly 800,000 people die by suicide in the world each year. [25]
· In the USA, rates of suicide were 33% higher in 2017 than they were in 1999. [27]
· While females experience depression at roughly 2x the rate of men and attempt suicide 3x as often as males, suicide among males is 4x higher than among females. [26]
· In Europe and North America alone, the GFC accounted for an additional 10,000 suicides. [28]
Refer the full reference list below.
How will funds raised be used?
80% of all profits will be donated to fund mental health research, front-line mental health support and suicide prevention organizations and initiatives. The remaining 20% will be used to fund innovation and development programs to ensure The United Project remains relevant and effective.
75% of profits generated from within a specific country will be donated back to organizations in that country. The remaining 25% will be donated to support research and front-line organizations in developing countries.
Within The United Project, money raised will be used to fund:
· our major awareness and activation campaigns initially in Australia, followed by select international markets.
· the delivery of corporate programs for those who are unable to afford it. We are anticipating that these funds will help us support 750 teams or about 10,000 managers and staff.
In addition to this GoFundMe campaign, The United Project's overall goal will be to eventually raise $50m; funding mental health research and prevention programs around the world.
An independent and qualified auditor has agreed to oversee the establishment of the governance framework and decision-making Board to determine which organisations will receive funding, how much they will receive and the process for accepting applications. We are committed to ensuring full and clear transparency of where funds are distributed, what they are being used for and the impact the funds are having on people's lives.
How can you help?
Please contribute funds today by clicking the Donate Now button. Every dollar counts!
You can also help get the word out! Please share this with your friends and across your professional network. Click the Share button on your screen or copy and paste this page's URL - www.gofundme.com/f/united-project.
Donations over $5,000 will be acknowledged as Program Donors. Donations of over $50,000 will be acknowledged as Principal Program Sponsors and will be offered visibility across all major promotional campaigns and on The United Project website.
If you are a business, government or community leader and you would like to get involved, please reach out. We have already been humbled by the support received so far (some have been listed below), however, would welcome any help and contribution.
Don't forget to follow our journey on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn, and visit us at www.theunitedproject.net.
Who is behind The United Project?
We are two founders:
Mr Greg Muller - Greg is an Australian-based business leader and entrepreneur committed to the development and commercialization of responsible, ethical and sustainable innovation and technology. He is a company director and most recently took his technology business to IPO in 2016 on the Australian Stock Exchange. Greg has been the recipient of numerous business and industry awards, is closely connected to mental health and lives in Melbourne with two teenage girls.
Mr Matine Rahmani - Matine was an international strategy consultant and state-level hockey coach. Matine is currently on sabbatical as he’s been suffering from and managing treatment-resistant chronic major depression for over six years. Matine is married and the father of three children.
Advisors and supporters
With thanks to the following advisors and supporters who have provided their valuable time, wisdom and expertise to this project:
Dr Kim Hazendonk (Neuropsychologist & Principal, Positive Brain), Mr Andrew Williams (Founder & Managing Director, Agility Consulting Group), Mr Jason Tonelli (Chief Product Officer, Publicis Groupe Australia), Ms Michelle Ridsdale (Chief People Officer, Envato and Board Member, Envato Foundation), Ms Sheenagh Edwards (Partner, KPMG), Ms Lesley Horsburgh (Chief Executive Officer, APSCo Australia), Mr James Jarrett (Director, One Advisory), Mr David Westgate (Mental Health Advisor & Speaker, Westgate & Friends), Mr Jay Spence (Chief Executive Officer, Uprise), Mr Kevin Ferry (Creative Director), Mr Brett Jackson (Chief Executive Officer, Innovyz and Innovyz Institute), Ms Renae King (Graphic Designer), Corey Wright (Photographer, Corey Wright Photography), Ms Angela Maglieri (General Manager, Minter Ellison), Mr Malcolm Peak (Principal, Peak Consulting), Mr Barry Newstead (ex Chief Executive Officer, RedBubble) and The GREST Partnership.
Reference & useful resource list
If you'd like to understand more, these references may be of use:
1. Ruhm, C. May 1996. "Are recessions good for your health?" https://www.nber.org/papers/w5570.
2. The Conversation, 26 March 2020. "Coronavirus: why lockdown may cost young lives over time." http://theconversation.com/coronavirus-why-lockdown-may-cost-young-lives-over-time-134580.
3. Sullivan, D., and von Wachter, T. August 2009. "Job Displacement and Mortality: An Analysis Using Administrative Data". The Quarterly Journal of Economics, Volume 124, Issue 3, Pages 1265–1306, https://doi.org/10.1162/qjec.2009.124.3.1265.
4. "Can you put a price on COVID-19 options? Experts weigh lives versus economics". 31 March 2020. American Association for the Advancement of Science, https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/03/modelers-weigh-value-lives-and-lockdown-costs-put-price-covid-19#.
5. "How will humans, by nature social animals, fare when isolated? Covid-19 will harm people’s mental health". 4 April 2020. The Economist. https://www.economist.com/international/2020/04/04/how-will-humans-by-nature-social-animals-fare-when-isolated.
6. "The hard choices COVID policymakers face". 4 April 2020. The Economist. https://www.economist.com/briefing/2020/04/03/the-hard-choices-covid-policymakers-face.
7. "Mental Health Effects of COVID-19 Pandemic: A Ripple or a Wave? Coronavirus won't be just a medical phenomenon". 18 March 2020. MedPage Today. https://www.medpagetoday.com/blogs/suicide-watch/85484.
8. Cummins, I. Feb 2015. "The link between unemployment and suicide." World Economic Forum, https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2015/02/the-link-between-unemployment-and-suicide/. Published in collaboration with The Conversation.
9. Reeves, A., Stuckler, D., McKee, M., Gunnell, D., Chang, S., and Basu, S. Nov 2012. "Increase in state suicide rates in the USA during economic recession." The Lancet, https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(12)61910-2/fulltext.
10. "Family violence perpetrators using COVID-19 as 'a form of abuse we have not experienced before'". 29 March 2020. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-03-29/coronavirus-family-violence-surge-in-victoria/12098546.
11. "NSW domestic violence support groups warn coronavirus isolation is prompting surge in demand for services." 27 March 2020. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-03-27/coronavirus-domestic-family-violence-covid-19-surge/12096988.
12. "Domestic abuse advocates warn of an increase in violence amid coronavirus crisis." 20 March 2020. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-03-20/domestic-violence-spike-amid-coronavirus-crisis/12074726.
13. "Causes of Death, Australia, 2017: Intentional self-harm, key characteristics." Australian Bureau of Statistics. Updated September 2019 https://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/Lookup/by%20Subject/3303.0~2017~Main%20Features~Intentional%20self-harm,%20key%20characteristics~3.
14. "Causes of Death, Australia, 2017: Deaths due to harmful alcohol consumption in Australia." Australian Bureau of Statistics. Updated September 2019, https://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/Lookup/by%20Subject/3303.0~2017~Main%20Features~Deaths%20due%20to%20harmful%20alcohol%20consumption%20in%20Australia~4.
15. "Suicide Statistics." 1 March 2020. American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. https://afsp.org/about-suicide/suicide-statistics/.
16. "'Cabin fever': Australia must prepare for the social and psychological impacts of a coronavirus lockdown." March 2020. The Standard. https://www.standard.net.au/story/6677667/cabin-fever-australia-must-prepare-for-the-social-and-psychological-impacts-of-a-coronavirus-lockdown/.
17. "A Picture of overweight and obesity in Australia, Australian Institute of Health and Welfare." Nov 2017. https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/overweight-obesity/a-picture-of-overweight-and-obesity-in-australia/contents/summary.
18. Darnell, B (PhD). March 2020. "Staying Sane and Current on COVID-19, Advice and resources, by specialty, for those caring for patients." MedPage Today. https://www.medpagetoday.com/infectiousdisease/covid19/85660.
19. Hlavinka, E. April 2020. "COVID-19 and Suicide: ‘A Perfect Storm’?" MedPage Today. https://www.medpagetoday.com/infectiousdisease/covid19/85916.
20. Kanter, J., and Manbeck, K. 8 April 2020. "The coronavirus could lead to a nationwide depression epidemic that the US is not prepared to handle." The Conversation, https://www.businessinsider.com/covid-19-may-cause-depression-epidemic-that-us-cant-handle-2020-4.
21. Aked J., Marks, N., Cordon, C., and Thompson, S. October 2008. "Five Ways to Wellbeing." New Economics Foundation. https://neweconomics.org/2008/10/five-ways-to-wellbeing.
22. Stephens, L. 30 March 2020. "Five Ways to Wellbeing at a Time of Social Distancing." New Economics Foundation. https://neweconomics.org/2020/03/five-ways-to-wellbeing-at-a-time-of-social-distancing.
23. Nicholas, J., and McMaster, J. April 2020. "Podcast: Change Happens". Ernst & Young. https://www.ey.com/en_au/podcasts/change-happens.
24. Ritchie, H., and Roser, M. April 2018. "Mental Health." Our World In Data (a project of the Global Change Data Lab). https://ourworldindata.org/mental-health.
25. "Suicide: one person dies every 40 seconds." 9 Sept 2019. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/news-room/detail/09-09-2019-suicide-one-person-dies-every-40-seconds.
26. "Suicide facts". SAVE (Suicide Awareness Voice of Education). https://save.org/about-suicide/suicide-facts/.
27. Pesce, NL. Sept 2019. "Someone dies by suicide every 40 seconds, WHO reports." Market Watch. https://www.marketwatch.com/story/someone-dies-by-suicide-every-40-seconds-who-reports-2019-09-10.
28. Reeves, A., McKee, M., and Stuckler, D. 2014. "Economic suicides in the Great Recession in Europe and North America." The British Journal of Psychiatry, 2014; DOI: 10.1192/bjp.bp.114.144766. Original reference from the article "Recession linked to over 10,000 suicides across Europe, North America." June 2014, Science Daily. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/06/140612085801.htm.
29. Chang, S., Stuckler, D., Yip, P., and Gunnell, D. Sept 2013. "Impact of the 2008 global economic crisis on suicide: time trend study in 54 countries." https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3776046/.
30. "Mental health in the workplace." May 2019. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/mental_health/in_the_workplace/en/.
31. “Well-Being Concepts”, October 2018, US Department of Health & Human Services, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Division of Population Health, https://www.cdc.gov/hrqol/wellbeing.htm.
32. “Relationships in the 21st century: the forgotten foundation of mental health and wellbeing”. May 2016. Mental Health Foundation. https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/publications/relationships-21st-century-forgotten-foundation-mental-health-and-wellbeing.
33. Dolcos, S., Moore, M., & Katsumi, Y. 2018. “Neuroscience and Well-Being.” In E. Diener, E., Oishi, S., & Tay, L. (Eds.). “Handbook of well-being”. Salt Lake City, UT: DEF Publishers. DOI:nobascholar.com. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/323072027_Neuroscience_and_Well-Being.
34. Liddy, M., Hanrahan, C., and Byrd, J. 28 April 2020. ABC News. “How Australians feel about the coronavirus and Scott Morrison’s response.” https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-04-28/coronavirus-data-feelings-opinions-covid-survey-numbers/12188608.
35. Dalzell, S. 8 May 2020. “National suicide register needed soon to manage increased risk from coronavirus”. ABC News. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-05-07/national-suicide-register-needed-coronavirus-surge/12208668.
36. Scott, S., Ryan, B., and Edmonds, C. 16 May 2020 ABC News. "Coronavirus pandemic plan for mental health too small, suicides likely to increase, expert says". https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-05-15/coronavirus-pandemic-mental-health-package-reaction/12253820.
37. Swan, N. 7 May 2020. ABC Emergency. "Norman Swan looks at mental health issues associated with coping with coronavirus". https://www.facebook.com/ABCemergency/videos/585747062039663/.
Why are we raising funds?
The United Project exists to improve mental health and prevent suicides. We believe that everyone deserves to live a full, happy and productive life.
COVID-19 will deliver a spike in mental illnesses and suicides and we're aiming to minimise that spike.
Funds will be used to conduct awareness campaigns, to support the delivery of preventative workplace coaching programs.
80% of all profits will be donated to fund mental health research, front-line mental health services and suicide prevention initiatives. 75% of profits generated from within a specific country will be donated back to organizations in that country. The remaining 25% will be donated to support research and front-line organizations in developing countries. An independent and experienced governance board is being formed to carefully oversee the distribution of funds to ensure that money is direct to where the most significant impact on individuals and their families will be felt.
Our initial goal is to accrue more gratitude points than global COVID-19 cases. AU$1 = 1 Gratitude Point. As at 21 May 2020, there were over 5 million confirmed cases around the world. So that's over $5. You can read more about Gratitude Points below and on our website at www.theunitedproject.net.
Why we must act now
COVID-19 has accelerated the shift in how the world works and is having a significant strain on the worker and their family's security, income and health. In Australia alone, the number of people reporting poor mental health has more doubled during April 2020, and the feeling of despair, more than tripled. [34]
It is well researched that mental health disorders, such as depression and anxiety, have a significant economic, business and personal impact. The World Health Organization reported in 2019 that the estimated cost to the global economy in lost productivity was US$1 trillion per year. [30 - see Reference list below]
Rising unemployment accounted for approximately a quarter of excess suicides during the 2008 Global Financial Crisis (GFC) [29]. Considering nearly 800,000 people die of suicide globally every year [25], this could equate to an additional 200,000 lives post during and after this pandemic. In Australia, preliminary modelling by the Brain and Mind Centre at the University of Syndey suggests COVID-19 could cause up to 1,500 extra suicides a year, if the unemployment rate was around 16 per cent (750 deaths at 11%). [35]
Suicide is preventable [27] but the data we receive is often lagging. [35] Therefore, we must act NOW on this issue, to protect our staff, businesses and the economy and emerge healthier, happier, more resilient and productive.
What is our vision?
Our vision is to bring together the world's leaders, workers and stakeholders around the core message of UNITY.
Neuroscience tells us that relatedness (or feeling connected with others) is one of the strongest predictors of our wellbeing. [31,32,33] Prolonged isolation, job changes, uncertainty, and distancing measures will make feelings of connectedness even harder – adding to stress and exposing our mental health and wellbeing.
As humans, we require an ongoing sense of belonging and connectedness to:
· feel safe and establish self-worth
· feel more supported and reduce stress
· help people with symptoms of anxiety and depression.
We want to see leaders and employers feeling 'united' with one another, that they are supported and connected to their work and that they are building new levels of resilience and wellbeing for a positive future.
What's our strategy to combat this?
There are six components:
1. Build further levels of awareness, acceptance and support of mental health in the workplace.
2. Help identify those at risk in the workplace and provide a pathway to professional support.
3. Promote the importance of and build capabilities that help establish unity, belonging, connectedness, gratitude and individual value.
4. Build skills to better identify and be more mindful of negative and unhelpful thoughts, while learning how they can be reframed to limit their impact.
5. Build greater resilience and psychological flexibility so management and staff can look to take advantage of constant challenge, change and uncertainty confronting them.
6. To collaborate and partner with existing providers to maximize our reach and effectiveness.
Gratitude Points & the link to COVID-19 cases
Gratitude is such a positive and effective way to prevent and support mental illness. As such, we have centred our fundraising campaign around Gratitude Points. For every dollar raised, we will assign one Gratitude Point. Our first goal is to accrue more Gratitude Points than the global number of confirmed global COVID-19 cases. As at 18 May 2020, there were 4.4 million cases of COVID-19. As the number of cases increases, so does our goal. Therefore, we need your help to get ahead of it, and stay ahead of it!
There are multiple ways to build the Gratitude Points tally. These currently are:
· Donations via this GoFundMe page or via corporate donations and sponsorships (please contact us directly)
· Branded t-shirts, apparel and postcards (coming in June '20)
· Corporate mental health upskilling and risk identification programs (coming in June '20)
We will track and promote our progress against this goal and keep everyone informed via this page, social media and email.
How are we delivering our strategy?
1. By building awareness and acceptance
We will use these methods to grow awareness:
· Workplaces wearing our branded t-shirts and apparel (coming June '20)
· Social media campaigns
· Major media/TV campaigns in major markets
· Website and online advertising
· Influencer marketing (via personalities and leading influencers).
2. By developing new skills
We are working with senior, experienced psychologists and industry practitioners who will offer an online coaching program for managers and their employees.
We plan to leverage specialist techniques to help:
· build skills to better identify and be more mindful of negative and unhelpful thoughts, while learning how they can be reframed to limit their impact.
· build greater resilience and psychological flexibility so management and staff can look to take advantage of constant challenge, change and uncertainty confronting them.
· promote the importance of and build capabilities that help establish unity, belonging, connectedness, gratitude and individual value. All keys to being mentally healthier and core ingredients to stronger and higher performing teams.
For those companies who are unable to pay, we intend to fund these programs from the donations we receive.
3. By identifying 'at risk' individuals
We will provide a private, secure and responsive online service to assist in the immediate identification of actual and potential risk of mental illness, at an individual level.
We intend to make available Uprise, a leading app built by psychologists, that people will install on their mobile phone or computer. They will complete a 1-minute assessment and will receive a call back within 24 hours if there are signs they may be at risk.
Also, for companies who are unable to pay, we will fund these programs from the donations we receive.
It's all in the numbers
There is a large body of research and the figures associated are clear and alarming.
· In 2017, it is estimated that slightly more than one in ten people globally (or 792 million people, 10.7%) live with a mental disorder. [24]
· For every US$1 put into scaled up treatment for common mental disorders, there is a return of US$4 in improved health and productivity. [30]
· Australia and the United States operate with two of the highest rates of mental and substance use disorders (per 100,000 people) in the world. [24]
· An individual with an anxiety disorder is around 3 times more likely to die from suicide than someone without; depression is 20 times. [24]
· Globally, one person dies from suicide every 40 seconds and nearly 800,000 people die by suicide in the world each year. [25]
· In the USA, rates of suicide were 33% higher in 2017 than they were in 1999. [27]
· While females experience depression at roughly 2x the rate of men and attempt suicide 3x as often as males, suicide among males is 4x higher than among females. [26]
· In Europe and North America alone, the GFC accounted for an additional 10,000 suicides. [28]
Refer the full reference list below.
How will funds raised be used?
80% of all profits will be donated to fund mental health research, front-line mental health support and suicide prevention organizations and initiatives. The remaining 20% will be used to fund innovation and development programs to ensure The United Project remains relevant and effective.
75% of profits generated from within a specific country will be donated back to organizations in that country. The remaining 25% will be donated to support research and front-line organizations in developing countries.
Within The United Project, money raised will be used to fund:
· our major awareness and activation campaigns initially in Australia, followed by select international markets.
· the delivery of corporate programs for those who are unable to afford it. We are anticipating that these funds will help us support 750 teams or about 10,000 managers and staff.
In addition to this GoFundMe campaign, The United Project's overall goal will be to eventually raise $50m; funding mental health research and prevention programs around the world.
An independent and qualified auditor has agreed to oversee the establishment of the governance framework and decision-making Board to determine which organisations will receive funding, how much they will receive and the process for accepting applications. We are committed to ensuring full and clear transparency of where funds are distributed, what they are being used for and the impact the funds are having on people's lives.
How can you help?
Please contribute funds today by clicking the Donate Now button. Every dollar counts!
You can also help get the word out! Please share this with your friends and across your professional network. Click the Share button on your screen or copy and paste this page's URL - www.gofundme.com/f/united-project.
Donations over $5,000 will be acknowledged as Program Donors. Donations of over $50,000 will be acknowledged as Principal Program Sponsors and will be offered visibility across all major promotional campaigns and on The United Project website.
If you are a business, government or community leader and you would like to get involved, please reach out. We have already been humbled by the support received so far (some have been listed below), however, would welcome any help and contribution.
Don't forget to follow our journey on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn, and visit us at www.theunitedproject.net.
Who is behind The United Project?
We are two founders:
Mr Greg Muller - Greg is an Australian-based business leader and entrepreneur committed to the development and commercialization of responsible, ethical and sustainable innovation and technology. He is a company director and most recently took his technology business to IPO in 2016 on the Australian Stock Exchange. Greg has been the recipient of numerous business and industry awards, is closely connected to mental health and lives in Melbourne with two teenage girls.
Mr Matine Rahmani - Matine was an international strategy consultant and state-level hockey coach. Matine is currently on sabbatical as he’s been suffering from and managing treatment-resistant chronic major depression for over six years. Matine is married and the father of three children.
Advisors and supporters
With thanks to the following advisors and supporters who have provided their valuable time, wisdom and expertise to this project:
Dr Kim Hazendonk (Neuropsychologist & Principal, Positive Brain), Mr Andrew Williams (Founder & Managing Director, Agility Consulting Group), Mr Jason Tonelli (Chief Product Officer, Publicis Groupe Australia), Ms Michelle Ridsdale (Chief People Officer, Envato and Board Member, Envato Foundation), Ms Sheenagh Edwards (Partner, KPMG), Ms Lesley Horsburgh (Chief Executive Officer, APSCo Australia), Mr James Jarrett (Director, One Advisory), Mr David Westgate (Mental Health Advisor & Speaker, Westgate & Friends), Mr Jay Spence (Chief Executive Officer, Uprise), Mr Kevin Ferry (Creative Director), Mr Brett Jackson (Chief Executive Officer, Innovyz and Innovyz Institute), Ms Renae King (Graphic Designer), Corey Wright (Photographer, Corey Wright Photography), Ms Angela Maglieri (General Manager, Minter Ellison), Mr Malcolm Peak (Principal, Peak Consulting), Mr Barry Newstead (ex Chief Executive Officer, RedBubble) and The GREST Partnership.
Reference & useful resource list
If you'd like to understand more, these references may be of use:
1. Ruhm, C. May 1996. "Are recessions good for your health?" https://www.nber.org/papers/w5570.
2. The Conversation, 26 March 2020. "Coronavirus: why lockdown may cost young lives over time." http://theconversation.com/coronavirus-why-lockdown-may-cost-young-lives-over-time-134580.
3. Sullivan, D., and von Wachter, T. August 2009. "Job Displacement and Mortality: An Analysis Using Administrative Data". The Quarterly Journal of Economics, Volume 124, Issue 3, Pages 1265–1306, https://doi.org/10.1162/qjec.2009.124.3.1265.
4. "Can you put a price on COVID-19 options? Experts weigh lives versus economics". 31 March 2020. American Association for the Advancement of Science, https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/03/modelers-weigh-value-lives-and-lockdown-costs-put-price-covid-19#.
5. "How will humans, by nature social animals, fare when isolated? Covid-19 will harm people’s mental health". 4 April 2020. The Economist. https://www.economist.com/international/2020/04/04/how-will-humans-by-nature-social-animals-fare-when-isolated.
6. "The hard choices COVID policymakers face". 4 April 2020. The Economist. https://www.economist.com/briefing/2020/04/03/the-hard-choices-covid-policymakers-face.
7. "Mental Health Effects of COVID-19 Pandemic: A Ripple or a Wave? Coronavirus won't be just a medical phenomenon". 18 March 2020. MedPage Today. https://www.medpagetoday.com/blogs/suicide-watch/85484.
8. Cummins, I. Feb 2015. "The link between unemployment and suicide." World Economic Forum, https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2015/02/the-link-between-unemployment-and-suicide/. Published in collaboration with The Conversation.
9. Reeves, A., Stuckler, D., McKee, M., Gunnell, D., Chang, S., and Basu, S. Nov 2012. "Increase in state suicide rates in the USA during economic recession." The Lancet, https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(12)61910-2/fulltext.
10. "Family violence perpetrators using COVID-19 as 'a form of abuse we have not experienced before'". 29 March 2020. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-03-29/coronavirus-family-violence-surge-in-victoria/12098546.
11. "NSW domestic violence support groups warn coronavirus isolation is prompting surge in demand for services." 27 March 2020. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-03-27/coronavirus-domestic-family-violence-covid-19-surge/12096988.
12. "Domestic abuse advocates warn of an increase in violence amid coronavirus crisis." 20 March 2020. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-03-20/domestic-violence-spike-amid-coronavirus-crisis/12074726.
13. "Causes of Death, Australia, 2017: Intentional self-harm, key characteristics." Australian Bureau of Statistics. Updated September 2019 https://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/Lookup/by%20Subject/3303.0~2017~Main%20Features~Intentional%20self-harm,%20key%20characteristics~3.
14. "Causes of Death, Australia, 2017: Deaths due to harmful alcohol consumption in Australia." Australian Bureau of Statistics. Updated September 2019, https://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/Lookup/by%20Subject/3303.0~2017~Main%20Features~Deaths%20due%20to%20harmful%20alcohol%20consumption%20in%20Australia~4.
15. "Suicide Statistics." 1 March 2020. American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. https://afsp.org/about-suicide/suicide-statistics/.
16. "'Cabin fever': Australia must prepare for the social and psychological impacts of a coronavirus lockdown." March 2020. The Standard. https://www.standard.net.au/story/6677667/cabin-fever-australia-must-prepare-for-the-social-and-psychological-impacts-of-a-coronavirus-lockdown/.
17. "A Picture of overweight and obesity in Australia, Australian Institute of Health and Welfare." Nov 2017. https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/overweight-obesity/a-picture-of-overweight-and-obesity-in-australia/contents/summary.
18. Darnell, B (PhD). March 2020. "Staying Sane and Current on COVID-19, Advice and resources, by specialty, for those caring for patients." MedPage Today. https://www.medpagetoday.com/infectiousdisease/covid19/85660.
19. Hlavinka, E. April 2020. "COVID-19 and Suicide: ‘A Perfect Storm’?" MedPage Today. https://www.medpagetoday.com/infectiousdisease/covid19/85916.
20. Kanter, J., and Manbeck, K. 8 April 2020. "The coronavirus could lead to a nationwide depression epidemic that the US is not prepared to handle." The Conversation, https://www.businessinsider.com/covid-19-may-cause-depression-epidemic-that-us-cant-handle-2020-4.
21. Aked J., Marks, N., Cordon, C., and Thompson, S. October 2008. "Five Ways to Wellbeing." New Economics Foundation. https://neweconomics.org/2008/10/five-ways-to-wellbeing.
22. Stephens, L. 30 March 2020. "Five Ways to Wellbeing at a Time of Social Distancing." New Economics Foundation. https://neweconomics.org/2020/03/five-ways-to-wellbeing-at-a-time-of-social-distancing.
23. Nicholas, J., and McMaster, J. April 2020. "Podcast: Change Happens". Ernst & Young. https://www.ey.com/en_au/podcasts/change-happens.
24. Ritchie, H., and Roser, M. April 2018. "Mental Health." Our World In Data (a project of the Global Change Data Lab). https://ourworldindata.org/mental-health.
25. "Suicide: one person dies every 40 seconds." 9 Sept 2019. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/news-room/detail/09-09-2019-suicide-one-person-dies-every-40-seconds.
26. "Suicide facts". SAVE (Suicide Awareness Voice of Education). https://save.org/about-suicide/suicide-facts/.
27. Pesce, NL. Sept 2019. "Someone dies by suicide every 40 seconds, WHO reports." Market Watch. https://www.marketwatch.com/story/someone-dies-by-suicide-every-40-seconds-who-reports-2019-09-10.
28. Reeves, A., McKee, M., and Stuckler, D. 2014. "Economic suicides in the Great Recession in Europe and North America." The British Journal of Psychiatry, 2014; DOI: 10.1192/bjp.bp.114.144766. Original reference from the article "Recession linked to over 10,000 suicides across Europe, North America." June 2014, Science Daily. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/06/140612085801.htm.
29. Chang, S., Stuckler, D., Yip, P., and Gunnell, D. Sept 2013. "Impact of the 2008 global economic crisis on suicide: time trend study in 54 countries." https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3776046/.
30. "Mental health in the workplace." May 2019. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/mental_health/in_the_workplace/en/.
31. “Well-Being Concepts”, October 2018, US Department of Health & Human Services, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Division of Population Health, https://www.cdc.gov/hrqol/wellbeing.htm.
32. “Relationships in the 21st century: the forgotten foundation of mental health and wellbeing”. May 2016. Mental Health Foundation. https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/publications/relationships-21st-century-forgotten-foundation-mental-health-and-wellbeing.
33. Dolcos, S., Moore, M., & Katsumi, Y. 2018. “Neuroscience and Well-Being.” In E. Diener, E., Oishi, S., & Tay, L. (Eds.). “Handbook of well-being”. Salt Lake City, UT: DEF Publishers. DOI:nobascholar.com. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/323072027_Neuroscience_and_Well-Being.
34. Liddy, M., Hanrahan, C., and Byrd, J. 28 April 2020. ABC News. “How Australians feel about the coronavirus and Scott Morrison’s response.” https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-04-28/coronavirus-data-feelings-opinions-covid-survey-numbers/12188608.
35. Dalzell, S. 8 May 2020. “National suicide register needed soon to manage increased risk from coronavirus”. ABC News. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-05-07/national-suicide-register-needed-coronavirus-surge/12208668.
36. Scott, S., Ryan, B., and Edmonds, C. 16 May 2020 ABC News. "Coronavirus pandemic plan for mental health too small, suicides likely to increase, expert says". https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-05-15/coronavirus-pandemic-mental-health-package-reaction/12253820.
37. Swan, N. 7 May 2020. ABC Emergency. "Norman Swan looks at mental health issues associated with coping with coronavirus". https://www.facebook.com/ABCemergency/videos/585747062039663/.
Organizer
Greg Muller
Organizer
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