This paper outlines a proposed cyberbullying awareness campaign for Beyond Blue, an Australian mental health organization focused on depression and anxiety in youth. It examines the organization's governance structure β including national leadership, a Board of Directors, and geographically organized state and territory units β and identifies the key roles and stakeholders needed to design an effective campaign. The paper argues that cyberbullying is a root cause of teenage depression and suicide, placing it squarely within Beyond Blue's mandate. A detailed 38-week project timeline is provided, covering coordination, message development, communications design, school outreach, and campaign evaluation.
Beyond Blue is an Australian campaign organization designed to help young people manage depression and anxiety. It addresses a range of related issues, including connecting individuals with support during times of distress. Cyberbullying is one issue that fits squarely within Beyond Blue's mandate, as it is a significant cause of depression and suicide among teenagers. By addressing cyberbullying at its root, the organization can help young Australians tackle depression more effectively.
Outlining the key roles and responsibilities of the team is essential to building the most effective campaign possible. Beyond Blue's organisational structure has three main leaders: Chairman Jeff Kennett, CEO Kate Cornell, and Deputy Chair Tim Marney. A Board of Directors provides overarching leadership to the organisation. Beyond Blue is then structured along geographic lines, with one overarching Commonwealth of Australia unit and separate departments for the six states, the Northern Territory, and the ACT (Beyond Blue, 2014).
Each geographic unit has a series of managers and volunteers who run programs at the functional level. Designing a new campaign addressing cyberbullying will be undertaken at the national level, and will therefore require input from the national unit, the Board of Directors, and outside experts in the field. It should also involve members of individual state teams who have direct experience working in this area. In particular, staff who are actively dealing with suicide and depression through crisis hotlines will be able to offer firsthand perspectives on cyberbullying. Research has found a clear connection between cyberbullying and suicide, which places addressing this issue well within Beyond Blue's mandate (Sveticic, Milner & De Leo, 2010).
The goal is to have a campaign in place within six months, with the full rollout extending to approximately 38 weeks. The project timeline is as follows:
Weeks 1β4: Appoint a national-level coordinator for the project and set a funding budget.
Weeks 4β8: Identify the key issues, gather knowledge, and begin formulating a set of key messages for the campaign. Hire key support staff for the project.
Weeks 7β8: Determine the best communication mechanisms for reaching the target audience.
Weeks 9β12: Begin design of all campaign communications materials.
Weeks 12β14: Publish posters.
"38-week phased campaign schedule"
"Cited sources for the paper"
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