Beyond Blue - Mental Health Intervention in Local Schools
Background Information
The Kempsey YAC was able to secure $2000 from the Beyond Blue organisation, who fund among other things, Youth Forums on Mental health issues concerning young people in localities across Australia. With some additional funds, a program was put together to inform and educate youth in the local area about mental health issues as it applied to them. It addressed drugs and alcohol, mental health and how to access treatment locally.
Presentation
The Youth Development Worker (a former Drug and Alcohol Counsellor Family therapist) was able to develop a presentation with the help of the psychologist for Child and Family from Community Health Kempsey Hospital, and a speaker form the Black Dog Institute - Topo Rodriguez, a former professional Rugby Union Triple International who has Bipolar Disorder. Also supported by Adam Worthy (YAC) and Ian Robinson (Kempsey Family Support).
Aims
The aims of the intervention were to bring Drug and Alcohol education/information and the impact it has on a persons brain and subsequently their psyche; overlapped and reinforced by the second speakers personal experiences designed to de-stigmatise mental health through the use of a celebrity who has a mental illness but has found help to become productive and able to continue to achieve; overlapped and reinforced by the final speaker ,a professional psychologist, who was there to provide a human face to treatment and through a Q&A process demystify treatments and access points for support and or treatment. The team also collected data on a standardised Adolescent Life Stressor Event survey as well as a satisfaction survey which have been collated and assessed and have produced some astounding result
Results
There were surveys and mental health test conducted during this intervention. The results were very positive and surprising at the same time. The program received an over 90% approval rating to the intervention.
What they said - Feedback!!
Here are some comments from those who took part in the forum.
The Teachers
"The feedback from both staff and students was very positive. So much so that staff were asking for the same presentation to other year levels" Michael Vella, Principal, St Paul's College
> Read more ... Letter from St Paul's College (pdf 49KB)
"The messages promoted throughout the presentation, I believe, were informative, relevant, practical and useful for our students. This was reinforced to me through the students engagement throughout the session, their willingness to give up some of their lunch time to participate in the question and answer component and the feedback given to me when I chatted to them in the playground afterwards." Darren Love, Head Teacher, PDHPE, Kempsey High School
> Read more ... Letter from Kempsey High (pdf 39KB)
The Kids
Random comments from Year 10 students ...
Funny, helps encourage people to speak out.
Very interesting, good job.
Freakin awesome, thanks.
Was a good presentation promoted awareness.
It seems less scary now, bullies will always be bullies.
Very good, very entertaining, lets people know they not alone.
Lets people know where to find help.
It was awesome.
Educates us about mental health and the help available.
Good work guys.
It was Rad!
Young people can realise that they are not alone.
It was good I liked the girl’s shoes.
It was Mad!
Topo is a mad lad.
If I was depressed it would of helped me.
Gives us more understanding, it was very good.
Made us aware of the help available, I really enjoyed it.
Depressed now because I didn’t get a prize.
Inspirational.
know where to get help, Bullies will understand more.
