LIVIN: A Decade Of Breaking The Silence

Ten years ago, in the wake of a gut-wrenching tragedy, LIVIN was born. Our mission? Simple but powerful: To create a future where suicide is no longer the number one killer of young Australians.

LIVIN started as a tiny spark – two blokes – Casey Lyons, a chippy and footballer, and Sam Webb, a dude with a finance degree and some sales experience – with an ambitious idea built on raw emotion. Motivated by the worst imaginable loss, they were determined to turn their pain into something that could eliminate such heartache for others. They didn’t know much about mental health jargon or nonprofit protocols. But they knew one thing for certain – their mate Dwayne needed something that didn’t exist. Something real. Something that spoke his language.

They stumbled. They fumbled. They even mumbled their way through those early days. They respected the professionals and organisations already in the game, but were determined to create something different. Something that cut through the complicated, clinical language and reached the everyday punter.

LIVIN isn’t your typical mental health charity. It’s loud. It takes research-informed risks. It innovates. And they’re damn proud of it. Because sometimes, that’s what it takes to break through the silence and stigma surrounding mental health. Having Chris Hemsworth wear the OG classic grey LIVIN hoodie on the set of Thor helped break that silence even further.

For a decade, LIVIN has been on a wild ride of highs and lows. Securing funding to provide FREE mental health education to students nationwide is a constant grind, but it’s a grind worth grinding. The organisation has celebrated victories, landed incredible partnerships, delivered education in some of Australia’s most remote areas, and witnessed the empowerment of hundreds of thousands of young Aussies. LIVIN has faced setbacks, COVID was a bitch, and learnt hard lessons along the way. But through it all, one thing has remained constant – its unwavering commitment to spreading the message that “It Ain’t Weak to Speak.”

This is LIVIN’s story. It’s raw. It’s real. And it’s just the beginning. Because LIVIN isn’t just a charity – it’s a movement. A revolution in mental health that’s changing lives and saving futures, one conversation at a time.

As LIVIN reflects on the past decade, the organisation is filled with a mix of pride, gratitude, and determination. Its journey has been marked by numerous key milestones, touching memories, and plenty of funny moments that have shaped LIVIN into what it is today. Unfortunately, we simply do not have enough space on these pages to cover everything, and it wouldn’t feel right to unintentionally suggest one thing is more important than another. Therefore, we’d like to reflect on the ‘firsts’ as they relate to our key pillars: our first LIVINWell In School, In Work, and Community mental health education sessions, our first merch sale, our first fundraising event, and a couple of our wonderful corporate partners who have been by our side for so long.

Firsts That Paved the Way:

1st LIVINWell In School session: Cleveland District State High School. Thanks to Tim McKinnery for facilitating this opportunity back in 2014 and helping develop our initial program.

1st LIVINWell In Work: While not our first, Hastings Deering became a pivotal partner. Nearly 100 sessions delivered over five years, plus ongoing financial support for our school programs.

1st LIVINWell In Community: Clermont, Queensland. Showed us our potential impact at the community level.

1st Merch Sighting: James Street, Burleigh. Spotting a stranger in LIVIN gear was a huge motivator. This bloke provided hope that we could make a legitimate difference.

1st Major Fundraiser: Hit the Hill in Townsville. Crucial for our early financial stability.

Key Corporate Partners: Snap Fitness, Hastings Deering, Von Bibra, The Lott and Ian and Shirley Norman Foundation. Their ongoing support has been invaluable. It’s hard to know where we’d be today without generous organisations and seriously amazing people in these organisations who believe in what we do.

These firsts represent just a fraction of the support we’ve received. We’re grateful to everyone who’s helped spread our message that It Ain’t Weak to Speak.

As LIVIN marks its tenth anniversary, it stands as a testament to the power of turning tragedy into hope. Founded in response to a heartbreaking loss, this organisation has grown into a formidable force in Australia’s mental health landscape, with no signs of slowing down.

This milestone is more than just a celebration of LIVIN’s past achievements; it’s a launchpad for the next decade of impact. From its humble beginnings to becoming a nationwide movement, LIVIN has consistently challenged the status quo, breaking down barriers and stigmas surrounding mental health.

As we look to the future, LIVIN remains unwavering in its mission: to create a world where suicide is no longer the leading cause of death among young Australians. This anniversary serves as both a moment of reflection on a decade of challenging yet profoundly meaningful work and a renewal of LIVIN’s commitment to fostering open conversations about mental health.

The journey continues, fuelled by the same raw emotion and determination that sparked LIVIN’s creation. As long as there are minds to reach and lives to save, LIVIN will be there, reminding everyone that “It Ain’t Weak to Speak.”

CLICK HERE TO DONATE TODAY – For just $10, you can help power the next decade of impact and support LIVIN’s mission to create a future where suicide is no longer the number one killer of young Australians.