Be There for Others
Cotton On Foundation + Born This Way Foundation Present: The Be There Certificate by Jack.org.
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What is the Be There Certificate
Born This Way Foundation and Cotton On Foundation are working together to share the Be There Certificate, a free, self-paced, interactive online mental health course for young people aged 16-25 created by Jack.org in partnership with Born This Way Foundation. The program has been designed to build the knowledge, skills, and confidence of young people to safely support anyone who may be struggling with their mental health.
- 6 interactive lessons
- Less than 2 hours
- Free of charge
- Available in French, English and Spanish
- Videos and real life scenarios
- Unlimited access
A Kinder World Is Our Kinda World
Born This Way Foundation is partnering with Australian-born fashion and lifestyle brand Cotton On and their philanthropic arm Cotton On Foundation with the goal to raise $5 million USD for global mental health. Learn more about the partnership here.
It is important to recognise that the majority of young people who have accessed the Be There Certificate live in the United States and Canada and that the content was not written specifically for young people in Australia. It is hoped the themes, ideas and skills are relevant to young people across the world however, in collaboration with Orygen, Born This Way Foundation met with young people from across Australia to ensure that the content makes sense to young people living here.
Learning to Be There for each other
What you'll learn:
- How to recognize signs of struggle
- What to say to start the conversation
- How to build trust and offer practical support
- Tips to become a better listener
- The importance of setting healthy boundaries
- How to help someone access professional and community resources
- How to maintain your own mental health
Here is what some young people who helped us develop this guide wanted to share with other young people in Australia:
The boundaries aspect was really good. You can be there for someone but it doesn’t have to be 100% of the time because you need to look after yourself and your own safety.
The certificate raises things in a way that allow young people to reflect on how they currently engage with friends, reflecting on whether they are doing things to the best of their ability.
The Be There Certificate encourages and helps young people to have conversations about mental health. It’s accessibility and fun makes people want to do it.
Be There Golden Rules
It provides a deep understanding of Be There’s 5 Golden Rules — a simple but actionable framework on how to recognize when someone might be struggling with their mental health, your role in supporting that person, and how to connect them to the help they deserve.
Golden Rule #1
Say What You See
How to break the ice and start the conversation.
Golden Rule #2
Show You Care
How to build trust and support someone.
Golden Rule #3
Hear Them Out
Learn to be a good listener and balance the conversation.
Golden Rule #4
Know Your Role
Learn to set boundaries to protect your relationship and your mental health.
Golden Rule #5
Connect to Help
Learn to access professional and community resources, and what to expect from them.
About Us
Jack.org is a Canadian charity that works alongside young leaders (age 13–24) in every province and territory to improve youth mental health outcomes in their communities.
Born This Way Foundation's Mission: Co-founded by Lady Gaga and her mother, Cynthia Bissett Germanotta with the mission to support youth mental health and work with young people to build a kinder, braver world, Born This Way Foundation creates impactful conversations and accessible programs and resources.
The philanthropic arm of Cotton On, Cotton On Foundation, is creating a world where every young person can thrive. With outreach programs in Uganda, South Africa, Thailand and Australia, the foundation’s 15-year outreach has raised $170m. Together with their team and customers, creating lasting impact across three key areas: Holistic Education, Mental Health and Environment.