Student Wellbeing

Headspace mailing list

Headspace have set up a mailing list to ensure families are the first to hear about upcoming headspace workshops and webinars designed for parents and carers. 

You can sign up using the following link Stay in the loop with headspace! 

Headspace is Australia’s National Youth Mental Health Foundation, providing early intervention mental health services to 12-25 year olds.

https://headspace.org.au/ 

Living with OCD: A continuous struggle in education and Mental Health

Student Essay by Jake Dyke, year 12 graduate 2024

Throughout my schooling, I have faced numerous challenges—none more crippling than the battle with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). It has affected me tremendously, leaving deep imprints on my academic journey, social life, and mental health. OCD is often misunderstood as a condition involving a neat obsession with cleanliness or organization. For me, however, the disorder manifested in far more insidious ways—through vile and repulsive intrusive thoughts that would consume my mind, making it incredibly difficult to focus on anything, least of all my studies. These thoughts were not only distressing but also felt uncontrollable, and they often spiralled into compulsive actions, forcing me into rituals I believed would alleviate the discomfort. Yet, these actions brought only temporary relief, trapping me in a cycle that was hard to break.

This overwhelming battle with OCD often resulted in missing a substantial amount of class time. While it might seem like simply skipping school or lacking motivation to some, for me, it was an entirely different reality. Avoidance became a coping mechanism—a way to reduce anxiety when my mind felt like it was imploding with incessant thoughts. But avoiding school only brought with it more stress, guilt, and self-loathing. I began to fall behind in my classes, miss deadlines, and lose touch with my peers. These gaps in attendance and engagement significantly affected my academic performance. Where once I had excelled, now I struggled to even concentrate long enough to finish a single assignment. OCD blurred my cognitive focus, making studying an overwhelming task that I often couldn’t even begin.

A link to the full essay can be found here https://docs.google.com/document/d/1gW1-B6pf7SxlEigq9GH9tA4oC3-qF1Nr1wkPvE4B3Hw/edit?usp=sharing 

Holiday Technology Tips

The holiday period for some adolescents can mean more time spent on devices. Here are some tips, that can help your adolescent navigate the online world safely and positively

1. Communicate Openly

• Talk Regularly: Make conversation about social media a regular part of your discussion.  Ask your adolescent about the apps, games and websites they use and show genuine interest.
• Reassure Them: Let your adolescent know they can always come to you with any concerns or questions about their online experiences.

2. Set Boundaries and Rules

• Create a Family Media Plan: Work together to set rules about media use, including time limits and tech free zones or times, like during meals or before bed.
• Parental Controls: Use parental controls to block inappropriate content, but also teach your adolescent how to make good decisions online.

3 Educate Yourself

• Stay Informed: Learn about the social media platforms your adolescent uses.  Create your own accounts to understand how they work and what kind of content is available.
• Privacy Settings: Teach your adolescent about privacy stings and the importance of keeping personal information private

4. Discuss Online Safety

• Cyberbullying: Talk about what cyberbullying is and how to handle it.  Encourage your adolescent to speak up if they or someone they know is being bullied online.
• Responsible Posting: Remind your adolescent to think before they post and to avoid sharing anything they wouldn’t say in person.

5. Lead By Example

• Model Good Behaviour: Show your adolescent how to use social media responsibly by modelling good behaviour yourself.  Be mindful of your own screen time and the content you share

6.  Encourage Offline Activities

• Balance is Key: Encourage your adolescent to engage in offline activities and hobbies to ensure a health balance between screen time and other interests