The Harrison Riedel Foundation Limited is an Australian nonprofit organization dedicated to youth mental health, aiming to reduce the time between young people needing help and receiving appropriate support. Established in 2017 by Amanda and Scott Riedel following the tragic suicide of their 13-year-old son Harrison, the foundation focuses on prevention and early intervention in youth mental health crises.

Mission and Vision

The foundation's mission is to increase the rate of help-seeking among young people experiencing emotional distress by empowering them to manage their mental health proactively. Their vision is to reduce the incidence of intentional self-harm among Australian youth to zero. Harrison Riedel Foundation emphasizes the importance of timely conversations and support networks as critical factors in preventing small problems from escalating into crises.

Programs and Initiatives

To achieve its goals, the foundation developed the YourCrew mobile application and YourCrew Classroom programs. These resources provide young people with knowledge, skills, and tools to support themselves and their peers safely, fostering healthy relationships and promoting mental well-being. The YourCrew Safety Plan was notably adapted in partnership with South Australia's Women’s and Children’s Health Network to enhance mental health treatment within emergency settings.

Background and Approach

Suicide is the leading cause of death among Australian youth, with on average one young person dying by suicide daily. Recognizing a gap in early intervention—where many young people wait an average of 11 years after onset of mental health issues before receiving help—the foundation prioritizes reducing this delay by lowering barriers to help-seeking.

The foundation works with the belief that every young person needs a reliable "crew" or support network to catch them when they fall. Their approach centers on prevention, aiming to reach young people before they reach crisis point, rather than focusing solely on intervention during emergencies.

Values

The Harrison Riedel Foundation operates on values of care, empowerment, courage, inclusiveness, and transparency, seeking to create a supportive and open environment for young people and their communities.

This summary is based on information available from the Harrison Riedel Foundation's official website and accredited charity registers, reflecting its ongoing commitment to youth mental health and suicide prevention in Australia.[1][3][4]

[1] https://www.harrisonriedelfoundation.com [2] https://www.harrisonriedelfoundation.com/our-story/ [3] https://www.acnc.gov.au/charity/charities/bdba43a1-3aaf-e811-a962-000d3ad24a0d [4] https://tradeforgood.com.au/charities/harrison-riedel/ [5] https://resources.yourcrew.org.au/yourcrew-app-terms-privacy/yourcrew-privacy-policy