Life lessons with ALLKND founder Milly Bannister - The importance of serious conversations

We are increasingly recognising the importance of relationships and connection in fostering mental health. However, this is something that is easy to say but harder to put into practice. What does a real conversation between friends around mental health look like?

Milly Bannister’s charity, ALLKND, aims to teach young people how to build and maintain strong relationships through her digital program aptly named Good Mate Training. 

Addressing the mental health gap

Generation Z is highly aware of mental health challenges, and with 26% of Australians experiencing a mental disorder (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2024), the topic remains both prevalent and widely discussed in the media. That said, awareness does not always translate into action. 

As Bannister notes, “Young people often feel ill-equipped to support their friends through challenges.” Good Mate Training recognises this gap and seeks to bridge it by offering – in her words – something “modern, relatable and evidenced-based”.

ALLKND seeks to harness social media platforms to support young people to use them as tools for the better. The organisation has partnered with major social media platforms, such as Instagram and Pinterest, starting the hashtag #knowmoredomore and working with many famous influencers. 

Self-belief and partnerships

Social media is often blamed for the rise in mental health challenges among young people, as it contributes towards body image issues, bullying, harmful language and fear of missing out.

However, Bannister explains that “partnering with a platform that has such a massive influence on young people allows us to amplify our message in a way we couldn’t have done alone”. These partnerships also enable the company to speak in Gen Z’s language: “It wasn’t just about reach – it was about leveraging their tools to create content that resonated deeply with our audience. Seeing creators championing mental health alongside us was incredibly helpful.”

How was Bannister able to form these partnerships with such major companies? “One concept that has profoundly shaped my approach is the idea of giving other people the opportunity to say no before I say it to myself. It’s so easy to self-reject out of fear or doubt, but I’ve learned that the worst thing someone can say is no, and even then, it’s just feedback. This mindset has opened doors I never thought possible and taught me the true value of persistence and self-belief!” 

Reflecting on motivation and purpose, she emphasises, “Purpose doesn’t have to be something grand or fixed – it can evolve and start small. Begin by focusing on what genuinely excites or moves you and take one step at a time. Motivation often follows action, not the other way around.”

Let’s talk about impact

Bannister envisions “a world where mental health is no longer stigmatised, where young people feel empowered to support one another, and where compassion and connection are woven into the fabric of our culture”. As the driving force behind ALLKND, her goals are embedded in its core operations. She leads strategy, creative direction, program design and delivery. 

Given that the organisation is rooted in Bannister’s own experiences with mental health, it is easy to see her as ALLKND’s first success story – but she is definitely not the only one. She recounts hearing about a teenager who completed Good Mate Training: “She shared how the program gave her the confidence to help a friend in crisis. Knowing that something we created has had such a direct and meaningful impact on someone’s life reinforced why this work matters so much.” 

In the often stigmatised and misunderstood landscape of mental health, ALLKND stands out with its clear and impactful vision. Open communication and just being a good mate are among the most important virtues – ones we should actively prioritise and share.