When James Peterson lost a close family member to suicide just a few weeks after graduating high school, he decided he wanted to help others live.
At 18 years old, James created an educational school program that teaches young people practical habits and strategies to look after their mental health. In the first year, he delivered nine programs, followed by 34 in the second year. Today, James delivers approximately 80 programs annually, impacting over 20,000 young people.
Initially, James self-funded the programs and resources while he attended university and worked part-time jobs. He then founded the charity, breakingFree, to expand and deliver his program.
Since starting 11 years ago, James has personally delivered over 630 school programs, providing comprehensive mental health education to over 130,000 young people. Eighty-five per cent of students report making a positive life change and 87 per cent are more likely to seek help for mental health issues.