Pastoral Care
- World Mental Health Day
- Support your teen to build healthy digital habits
- New Social Media Laws for under 16s
SPECIAL REPORT: World Mental Health Day
World Mental Health Day, observed on 10 October each year, is a global initiative that highlights the importance of mental health to overall wellbeing. It serves as a timely reminder that mental health challenges can affect anyone: children, teens, and adults alike.
This day is not only about reducing stigma, but also about strengthening awareness, encouraging open conversations and ensuring young people know where to turn to for support. By acknowledging World Mental Health Day we can help reduce stigma to build more compassionate and supportive environments.
Parents and caregivers play a central role in shaping the mental health of their children. World Mental Health Day is an opportunity to pause and reflect on the pressures young people face in today's world and how we can best support them. Whether it's helping them find balance between school, technology and rest, encouraging open conversations about feelings, or modelling healthy coping strategies ourselves, taking small steps at home can make a big difference. By engaging with resources and discussions on this day, families can strengthen their understanding of mental health and contribute to a culture where seeking help is seen as a sign of strength, not weakness.
For additional resources and further information on World Mental Health Day visit the Mental Health Foundation website.
SPECIAL REPORT: World Mental Health Day | St Pius X College - Chatswood
Support your teen to build healthy digital habits
The Teens & Screens programs by Black Dog Institute support Years 7 – 12 students to develop healthy online habits and confidently navigate the digital world.
This guide provides practical strategies to help you, as a parent or carer, start open conversations with your child about screen time, online safety, and positive digital behaviours.
It’s natural to feel concerned about how much time your teen spends online, who they’re interacting with, or the type of content they might encounter. The online world moves quickly and it’s not always easy to keep up.
At the same time, being online is a big part of teen life. From learning and friendships to creativity and self-expression, the digital space plays an important role. While most teens are digitally savvy, some may face risks that are harder to manage alone.
These nine strategies are here to help you guide your child towards safe, healthy, and confident online experiences, both now and in the future.
Please click the link below for the nine strategies.
Teens & Screens program: A guide for families - Black Dog Institute | Better Mental Health
New Social Media Laws for under 16s
Many parents would be aware of changes being implemented by the Australian government in response to growing global concerns about online harm on major social media platforms. By the end of this year, these platforms will need to have age-verification measures to restrict access for users under 16 from accessing these platforms.
Without preparation, teens risk losing access access to connections, content, or communities they love, with little notice.
Please see the following two documents with further information.
Mr Martin Gillogly - Assistant Principal, Pastoral Care