Open uP
How are you…? But how are you REALLY?
Start the conversation with One Eighty
ABOUT
Let’s be real… life can be crappy sometimes. Start the conversation with One Eighty at Open Up, your free weekly mental health check in, run by young people, for young people. Open Up is a peer support group for young people. It’s a place where you can connect with other young people and share experiences (including feelings big and small).
Come along for a chat or just to listen if you would like to:
Connect with other young people
Get something off your chest
Share your experiences
Learn about available professional support services
Or, if you are feeling:
Isolated, lonely, anxious, low, or stressed (or any other emotion)
Feeling worried about challenges at home, work, uni, or in your relationships
who is open up for?
Open Up is for 18 - 29 year olds. We have Open Up sessions running in person and online. Any young person across Australia (and beyond) is welcome to join!
How to Join
Head to the sign up page, choose which session you’d like to join - in person or online - then register your attendance via our online booking system.
Lauren - PEER SUPPORT WORKER
“I first came to Open Up as a participant and really admired how a few hours of casually chatting with your peers could make you feel so supported. It’s a privilege to now be on the team of Peer Support Workers helping to bring the sessions together. I feel lucky being in the company of so many inspiring young people every week. Everyone adds to the night in their own way; all with their unique stories and personal experiences, yet a shared understanding and support for each other. Anyone that walks through the doors adds value just by being themselves.
My favourite thing about Open Up Sessions is that there’s a lot of freedom to it. We tend to talk about whatever people feel comfortable with, what’s been on their mind that week, how they’re feeling on the night. That’s one of the main things I love about it. Each session is unique to who’s in the room.”
Open Up was developed by One Eighty to fill a gap we identified in the mental health care sector. We wanted to see a time and space created for young people to practise skills of sharing, listening, connecting with others, and asking for help. Being young people ourselves, we knew that our friends wouldn’t want this in a clinical setting, so we created a more casual and accessible (but still safe) setting that we knew young people would feel comfortable using. To date, One Eighty has run 250+ Open Up session, welcoming 1500+ young people from NSW, VIC, QLD, WA, USA, UK, and Japan
It is important to remember that Open Up is a community support group, and not a professional mental health care service. If you need extra support, or have further questions about your own mental health, please do not hesitate to reach out to a trained professional at anytime (24/7) at Lifeline on 13 11 14. In cases of emergency, always call 000.