Perth will become home to the new It Gets Better Australian Project, a series of online video messages from prominent LGBT community members raising issues surrounding same-sex attracted and gender diverse youth.

The Australian version of the highly successful US ‘It Gets Better’ campaign will focus on community leaders in Perth and Australia.

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It Gets Better Australian project creator Joel Murphy adopted the idea for Perth and Australia after he felt inspired from the US project.

“I know for myself growing up in high school as the only openly gay youth wasn’t fun. High school isn’t a good place for anyone, let alone if you identify as LGBT,” Murphy said.

Initially, Murphy thought he would struggle to find support for the online video campaign but over had 25 people volunteered their time and skills.

Community leaders and some state and federal politicians will be among the speakers raising awareness and promoting support for gay, lesbian, bisexual and gender-diverse youth facing homophobia, living with mental health problems or contemplating suicide.

The third and most recent Writing Themselves In (WTI) report found the number of young LGBT Australians who had experienced verbal abuse were twice as likely to have attempted suicide compared to people who had not experienced abuse.

Young LGBT people who had experienced physical abuse were four-and-a-half times more likely to have attempted suicide, according to the recent WTI report.

“I want the project to be a space that youth that identify as LGBT can go to see it does get better, and there is support out there if needed for those struggling with their sexuality,” Murphy said.

“Initially the project will be launched in WA, although we do have plans to roll it out nationally by the end of the year.”

Murphy said recent mental health studies found mental health campaigns and funding specifically targeting the LGBT community had been overlooked.

“The project is necessary to raise awareness for the issues LGBT youth face, and to raise awareness of LGBT support organisations like the Freedom Centre and PFLAG that are there to support the LGBT youth community,” he said.

“Frankly if this project prevents one LGBT individual from committing suicide then it’s worthwhile.”

Columnist and gay rights advocate Dan Savage began the It Gets Better project on YouTube in September last year after a spate of LGBT youth suicides throughout the US.

Just two months after Savage posted his first video message, nearly 10,000 user-generated videos were published from people across the world.

The launch of It Gets Better Australian Project is expected in mid March.

For more information, check out the Facebook page. For crisis counselling contact Lifeline on 13 11 14

Benn Dorrington