Never Have I Ever initiative launched to support young people and mental health
Young adulthood can be exciting, but it can also bring real pressure. Recent Australian Government research through the National Drug Strategy Household Survey showed that while risky drinking among young adults aged 18-24 has declined overall, rates among young women have increased in recent years. As an evidence-based organisation, DrinkWise commissioned research to better understand what was driving that shift. What emerged was clear – for some young Australians, particularly young women, stress and anxiety can build quietly and some are turning to alcohol as a way to cope.
That is why DrinkWise developed Never Have I Ever – a national education campaign that encourages healthier coping strategies and moderation by highlighting the link between stress, anxiety and alcohol among young adults. Supported by dual Olympic gold medallist Shayna Jack OAM, leading medical practitioners, government and support services including ReachOut, the campaign is designed to prompt self-reflection, open up conversations about mental health, stress, anxiety and alcohol and provide a clear pathway to advice and support for those who may be using alcohol to try to cope. This is not about judgement. It is about recognising a pattern early, encouraging healthier coping strategies and connecting young people with trusted support.
The national rollout also builds on earlier work shaped by youth input and mental health expertise, including a local pilot delivered with Federal Member for Macquarie Susan Templeman, the Macquarie Youth Advisory Committee and ReachOut. That pilot helped demonstrate the value of engaging with young adults in ways that resonate to start important, accessible and non-judgemental conversations.
Official launch of campaign at Parliament House
Never Have I Ever was officially launched on Tuesday 31 March 2026 at Parliament House in Canberra by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Hon Milton Dick MP, alongside DrinkWise Chief Executive Officer Simon Strahan, ReachOut’s Tessa Mithieux and Olympic gold medallist Shayna Jack OAM.
Shayna Jack OAM speaks up to support Never Have I Ever
Olympic gold medallist Shayna Jack OAM is supporting Never Have I Ever because she knows firsthand how overwhelming pressure can feel and how important the right support can be.
As an athlete, I’ve been lucky enough to experience some incredible highs in my career. But I’ve also been in a situation that was devastating to me personally and that played out on a national stage. As an Australian swimmer I expected to be in the spotlight for my performances – good or bad – but when I was told I had returned a positive doping test my world instantly crumbled around me and this spotlight was not something I could handle alone. I had not knowingly taken anything and it was acknowledged by the courts as being unintentional but everything I had worked for was gone and I felt my reputation was destroyed. As you can imagine it took a significant toll on my mental wellbeing.
When I was told about the suspension I felt completely overwhelmed by the stress, anxiety and weight of everything that came with it. At first, I just wanted to escape what I was feeling and shut out the noise around me. But I’m lucky – my support network rallied around me and helped me realise that avoiding the pain was never going to be the answer. I opened up about what I was going through, asked for help and worked on a plan to keep myself on the right path. I reminded myself of who I am, what I stand for and that this situation didn’t define me.
What helped me through those moments was having honest conversations with the people around me – my family, my coach, my fiancé and those I trust. I was lucky to have that support network – some don’t. That experience is a big reason why partnering with DrinkWise on Never Have I Ever means so much to me.
The most important message I want young Australians to hear is that they are not alone! I hope sharing my experience as part of this DrinkWise campaign gives young people the confidence to speak up and ask for help if they need it from one of the many valuable support services such as ReachOut and through the information available on the DrinkWise website,” said Jack.
Medical perspective on stress, anxiety and alcohol
DrinkWise ambassador and medical health expert Dr Andrew Rochford said alcohol can worsen underlying stress and anxiety.
As a doctor, I know using alcohol as a way to cope with stress and anxiety won‘t solve the problem and could actually make the situation worse by interfering with sleep, mood and overall mental wellbeing. As a dad of young adults, I also know this age can come with a lot of pressure – work, money, relationships, social life and uncertainty about the future. That’s why campaigns like Never Have I Ever matter. It responds to what young adults are actually dealing with and helps them recognise when alcohol may be shifting from social to coping.
“Sometimes we need a nudge to realise that we need help. What gives this campaign real value is that it has been developed in consultation with young adults to make those conversations safer, kinder and more likely to lead to real support. The message is clear – alcohol is not a coping strategy. if you are feeling stressed or anxious, talk to someone you trust, check in with a health professional or connect with a support service like ReachOut,” said Dr Rochford.
Support service backs the Never Have I Ever message
DrinkWise has again partnered with ReachOut to help ensure Never Have I Ever does more than raise awareness – it also encourages young Australians to seek support early and know where to turn if they need help. As a trusted youth mental health service, ReachOut is a strong first point of call for young people looking for practical advice, tools and support pathways. The partnership reflects a core part of the campaign’s purpose – helping young adults recognise when alcohol may be shifting from social to coping and to make those first conversations feel more normal and easier to begin. When young people connect with trusted evidence-based support early – it can make a real difference.
CEO of ReachOut, Gary Groves, said the campaign complements broader mental health support efforts and normalises help-seeking as a critical part of supporting young people’s wellbeing.
“At ReachOut we know supporting young people to start conversations about how they’re feeling is critical when it comes to mental health. Campaigns like Never Have I Ever play an important role in helping to reduce the stigma that still surrounds speaking up about mental health concerns and this campaign also encourages connection.
“A simple prompt, a conversation and a link to a support service can make a real difference,” said Groves.
If you or someone you know needs help, please visit:
Government support Never Have I Ever
Federal Member for Macquarie, the Hon Susan Templeman MP, welcomed the national Never Have I Ever campaign, which builds on the first developed with young people in her local electorate to help young Australians needing mental health support.
 |
“I’m proud to see Never Have I Ever build on the strong foundations of the work we began in the Macquarie electorate. What I value about this initiative is that it gives young people a practical and relatable way to start conversations that can otherwise feel difficult to begin. It grew from the ideas of young people in our community and helps open up honest, non-judgemental discussions about stress, anxiety and alcohol. It is incredibly positive to see the campaign re-engaged and expanded, because the earlier those first conversations can happen, the earlier young people can get the assistance they need.” |
The campaign - getting the message out
To raise awareness of the Never Have I Ever message and encourage earlier conversations about stress, anxiety and alcohol, the initiative will roll out nationally across channels popular with young adults, including:
- targeted social media and digital content designed to prompt self-reflection, open up conversations about stress, anxiety and alcohol and provide easy pathways to trusted support through ReachOut
- licensed venues, where campaign materials can reach young adults in real-world drinking environments and encourage earlier recognition of when alcohol may be shifting from social to coping
- trusted and relatable content creators, using Never Have I Ever prompts to spark discussion, reinforce the importance of seeking help early and encourage young people to reach out for support if they need it
- additional earned media and partner amplification to broaden message visibility and reinforce the campaign’s key messages.
Through the DrinkWise Young Female Adult research (2025) a number of topics linked with stress and anxiety were identified. Please view the Never Have I Ever – Conversation Cards to view the full list of conversation starter prompts that will be used as part of the social media campaign.
Examples of socials
Examples of posters
Audio
Video
