Speak Up! Stay ChatTy marks 10 year anniversary of positive mental health conversations

Mitch McPherson never thought the charity he started in the wake of his brother’s suicide would shift the stigma of mental health in Tasmania. One decade on, he’s more determined than ever to keep the conversation flowing. His mission

SPEAK UP! Stay ChatTY’s 10th anniversary. Senior Project Officer Natasha Cloak, Project Officer Kylea Aldred, Founder Mitch McPherson, Project Officer Callan Hume and Project Support Officer Leah McCrae at Hobart. Picture: Chris Kidd

Mitch McPherson never thought the charity he started in the wake of his brother’s suicide would shift the stigma of mental health in Tasmania – but one decade on, he’s more determined than ever to keep the conversation flowing.

Mr McPherson, the founder of Speak Up! Stay ChatTY, said while the charity had given him an “amazing purpose in life, the 10-year milestone was also a reminder of what inspired its creation; the suicide of his younger brother, Ty.

“I am quickly reminded as to why I started Stay ChatTY and why I have that purpose, and it makes me pretty emotional,” Mr McPherson said.

But through the emotion, Mr McPherson said it was the memory of his brother that gave him his ‘why’ to continue the work in the hopes that open conversations about mental health are held.

“I’ve learnt so much about mental health and how easy it is to have a conversation, and there are so many moments I would give anything to back and have with (Ty), knowing what I know now.

SPEAK UP! Stay ChatTY’s 10th anniversary. Founder Mitch McPherson says he is proud of what the charity has accomplished. Picture: Chris Kidd

“And that’s a real driver for me; for other people that are in the same boat, that have someone suffering under their own roof, or are going through a difficult time … that they can go home with some basic tools because of the work we do to support them.”

He said it was great to have sustained such support from the community.

“There’s been such a transformation … so many people now, whether its individuals or community groups and organisations, are really talking about mental health,” he said.

“When I first started, you’d never dare talk to a young grade six [student] about wellbeing or mental health, but now there’s schools and individuals and parents screaming out for their children to be educated … so we feel like we’ve got our finger on the pulse.”

The Stay ChatTY team share in around 300 sessions, engaging more than 6500 people, every year, and Mr McPherson said they would not slow down.

“I’d love to have the dream of no-one to ever take their life again … [but] all we can do is just keep reminding people of the importance of learning, educating themselves and being there for others,” he said.