Almost half (46%) of young Australians surveyed don’t know how to work through challenging emotions in a healthy way, new research commissioned by national prevention organisation Our Watch has found.
Today, Our Watch has launched End of the World, a campaign from its youth initiative The Line, to help young people aged 14 to 21 navigate anger, jealousy and fear of rejection in relationships.
The online survey of 1,000 young Australians, conducted in April 2026, found that 82% agreed healthy relationships involve recognising emotions such as jealousy or anger and communicating them respectfully.
However, almost three in 10 (30%) were not confident they could distinguish between healthy and unhealthy emotional responses, highlighting the need for practical support.
Our Watch CEO Patty Kinnersly said the findings showed the importance of helping young people put respectful relationship skills into practice.
“When you’re young, an argument with a friend or feeling rejected by someone you like can feel like the end of the world,” Ms Kinnersly said.
“Feeling angry, jealous or rejected doesn’t make you a bad person. What matters is how you respond. Feeling jealous doesn’t give anyone the right to control their partner, and feeling rejected is never an excuse to hurt or humiliate someone.
“Most young people recognise the importance of communicating respectfully. We need to help them feel confident doing that when a situation is difficult and emotions are running high.”
End of the World uses relatable scenarios, videos and practical advice to help young people recognise their emotions and respond respectfully.
At its centre is a three-step approach: Pause, Regulate, then Communicate. It encourages young people to notice what they are feeling, take time to manage the intensity of that emotion, and then express themselves calmly and respectfully.
“These are skills young people can learn and practise. Taking a moment to understand what you’re feeling can help you decide what to do next, including how to have a difficult conversation without blaming or hurting someone,” Ms Kinnersly said.
“The Line is part of our broader work to prevent violence against women by promoting equality and respect. This campaign gives young people practical support to build those values into their everyday relationships.”
The campaign was also shaped by insights from 35 young people aged 14 to 21 through workshops and consultations delivered in partnership with YLab. Their contributions informed its tone, language and creative direction.
It also draws on advice from experts in youth mental health, online safety, consent education, respectful relationships, LGBTIQA+ inclusion and the prevention of violence against women.
The campaign, funded by the Australian Government Department of Social Services, will run nationally from 14 October 2026 to 31 January 2027 across social media, video, streaming, audio, mobile gaming and other channels.
Young people can access campaign videos, practical tools and advice at theline.org.au/endoftheworld
Please contact media@ourwatch.org.au or call 0448 844 930.
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Our Watch is Australia’s leader in the primary prevention of violence against women. The organisation was created to drive nation-wide change in the practices, norms, and structures that lead to violence against women and children. Read more