Thirty little people sit in front of Adam Przytula, their eyes tracking him as he slowly paces up and down the undercover area.

Before he gets to the core of the presentation, Przytula sets up a cup stacking competition, which the kids clearly enjoy, cheering their friends on.

But there is a serious and important message behind the fun and games. As the winners sit down, chocolate in hand, Przytula opens up to the group of year fives. “The worse mistake I ever made over my entire five years of high school was not asking for help,” he says.

Przytula is the founder of Armed for Life, a harm prevention charity that delivers presentations and runs camps for young people. He works alongside a team to build the resilience and self-esteem of children and teenagers.

According to the National Study of Mental Health and Wellbeing, mental health disorders among young people are on the rise, up 26 per cent from 2007 to 39 per cent in 2022.

This is the highest of any age group, with the Burnet Institute forecasting that one in two Australian teens will face depression or anxiety by age 20 unless urgent action is taken now.

While 2021’s Most Inspiring Man of the Year (awarded at the Men in Black ball) gives advice on emotions, bullying and mental health, they are lessons born from experiences he had to navigate alone.

It’s why he founded Armed for Life in 2011, though the idea was sparked while working at a school. A student walking past him, head down, disengaged, biting his nails. Przytula saw himself reflected in the boy and knew he wanted things to be different for other children like him.

From year four to year 12, Przytula was ruthlessly bullied. Friends became those who hurt him the most, physically, emotionally and mentally. Things weren’t much better at home; his parents were constantly fighting, until year 8 when his mum moved out.

Przytula speaks of constantly being angry, feeling worthless, and trying to numb his emotional pain. “I didn’t know what anxiety was. Waking up feeling sick, almost vomiting every morning … I thought there was something wrong with me,” he says.

He hid this for most of his schooling until one day he decided to tell his dad. He told him to ignore it. “I should never bother anyone with anything,” he remembers thinking.

Seeking distraction from constant loneliness, his passion for films turned into a gaming addiction, and then porn. In year 10, he made a plan to end his life. The only reason he didn’t follow through was because he cared too much about his family.

It wasn’t until after school, when he started volunteering at Powerhouse Youth Services, that he realised something needed to change. He still remembers the message that jolted him in to action. That his life had purpose. “It’s imprinted on my brain and my heart… the realisation I had value, and I hadn’t been treated that way my entire life,” he says.

Przytula is who he is today through getting help from others and having honest moments of self realisation. He has now shared his message of hope and resilience with more than 950,000 children across Western Australia.

But he remains vigilant about his mental health. “I’m still really broken; I’m just however many steps ahead of everybody else,” he says.

Kerry Paul, the operations manager at Armed for Life, has worked alongside Przytula for more than two years. “He’s super passionate. And very focussed and driven on his mission,” she says.

She speaks about his ability to create psychological and emotional safety at Armed for Life’s camps, which kids often leave with a sense of self back. However, it’s his personal impact on her that stands out. Through tears and a cracked voice, Paul recounts the support he gave her through her toughest times. “When I say he lives who he is, he really does, and that’s not something I expected at all,” she says.

Mitchell Anderson was in year seven when Przytula talked about the camps at his school. He didn’t think much about it at the time, but by 15 Anderson was in a dark place. He had moved out of home and in with a mate, working as an apprentice plumber to get by. “To be honest, I didn’t see any point towards life in general at that time,” the now 17 year old says.

Encouraged by a mate, Anderson went to an Armed for Life camp. A combination of presentations, social conversations and activities helped Anderson to realise what he was struggling with wouldn’t last forever and he wasn’t alone. “It gave me guidance to where to go get help and support… and gave me a really good opportunity to reflect on myself in a safe space,” he says.

If it weren’t for Przytula, Anderson says he would’ve gone down a completely different path. Now he’s weeks away from graduating high school, is an apprentice plumber, and owns his own pool maintenance business. He also returns to the camps as a team leader.

Przytula is immensely proud to see young people step up to make others feel safe seeking comfort and advice.

According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, only 50 per cent of kids diagnosed with a mental disorder access school support systems, so it’s vital kids have other avenues for support.

Przytula talks about the importance of kindness, something he has instilled within his own son, Cale. “He’s exactly like me. I thought he was going to get bullied in primary school… didn’t get bullied once. Everyone liked him so damn much. Strangers commented how kind he is,” he says.

He enjoys presenting in front of kids, but cherishes the moments after when kids ask him personal questions or talk about their experience. He remembers the time a year 12 volunteer firefighter hung back after a presentation. The student told him he saved his life, that when he was at his lowest he remembered something Przytula had said about resilience at his school four years earlier.

“Out of everything, that’s my favourite thing. The actual legitimate impact on the ground and planting seeds that don’t just save someone’s life, or have an impact, or bring realisation in that moment – which does happen. It can happen four years later. You never know when that seed is planted,” Przytula says.

After Przytula wraps up his session with the year fives, the bell goes for lunch time. A few kids hang back, one boy waiting for them all to leave. He’s little but musters up the courage to go up to the tall, broad man to talk to him. And Przytula listens.

Armed for Life: https://armedforlife.com.au/

If you or someone you know is struggling, call Lifeline Australia on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636