Deepend Group is a Strategic Design Consultancy helping organisations navigate complex problems by listening, designing, and transforming how they do business. We believe in a strategic enterprise design approach to solving the most complex business problems. We run multidisciplinary teams threading cross-siloed projects within the business to create the most impact. This project was delivered by the Group’s digital transformation and innovation teams, working hand-in-hand with ReachOut's diverse internal strategic design capability.  

About the Project

ReachOut PeerChat is a safe, anonymous space for young people to be heard. Through online text chat, young people can talk for free for up to 45 minutes with a trained peer worker with lived experience. PeerChat helps young Australians overcome systemic mental health support barriers and: 

• reduces distress 

• increases mental health knowledge  

• enhances wellbeing through connection, understanding, and hope 

• improves accessibility for vulnerable communities 

• is inclusive and non-biased  

PeerChat exemplifies the power of design to impact complex social issues through social learning and participatory methods. It demonstrates the value of co-design and peer leadership.