It was a special moment for the Ottomin Foundation at its charity committee meeting on 11 March 2024 as the Black Dog Institute acknowledged the ten-year relationship of the two organisations and Ottomin’s $250,000 donation for their RAFT (Reconnecting AFTer a Suicide Attempt) project.
Since 2015, the Ottomin Foundation has been a lead funder of the RAFT project, a mobile phone app that supports the continuity of care through the high-risk period following hospitalisation for a suicide attempt. RAFT aims to reduce the risk of repeat suicide, particularly amongst young people who are digital natives. The service sends a series of supportive text messages in the weeks and months after hospital with links to online therapeutic content.
Recruitment for the randomised control trial closed in December 2023. In early 2025 a data linkage activity will be conducted which will further assess the trial outcomes. The Ottomin Foundation looks forward to receiving the analysis and conclusions and remains a strong supporter of the Black Dog Institute’s broader quest for better mental health outcomes through research and practical applications.
