Wellbeing

Body Kind Youth Survey 2023 

Student Voices Can Make a Difference

Butterfly Foundation is inviting all young people aged 12 - 18 to share their views on body image and what needs to change to create a more Body Kind Australia. The annual Body Kind Youth Survey is voluntary, anonymous, online and ethics approved.  It takes around 15 minutes to complete and requires parental consent for under 15's. A better understanding of the body image experiences of young Australians will help Butterfly help more young people to be kinder to their body, so please encourage your child to take part.  

They can enter the draw to win a gift voucher when they participate. To find out more and to access the survey visit: 

www.butterfly.org.au/bkyouthsurvey

Holiday time Help

This guide provides tips and resources for parents, carers and families to support the mental health and wellbeing of children and young people in their care during the school holidays. This includes services to reach out to if more support is needed.

Actions that support positive mental health

Encourage your young person to: 

• Exercise and eat healthily to boost their mood 

• Prioritise sleep to support mental and emotional wellbeing

• Explore relaxation techniques and coping strategies 

• Stay in touch and catch up with friends and loved ones

• Make time to do things they enjoy 

• Practice positive self-talk, and remind them they are not alone 

• Seek professional help if needed.1 The Department have developed wellbeing activities and conversation starters for parents and carers of primary school-aged children and secondary school-aged children. 

Feeling it: mindfulness resources and activities for senior secondary students. Smiling Mind gives tips on self-care, understanding and managing emotions, being mindful, being kind to yourself, navigating uncertainty and preparing for change.

Signs a child or young person may need mental health support

In some cases, these actions will not be enough to support positive mental health. 

Keep an eye out and seek professional help for changes that last two or more weeks such as: 

• Loss of interest or involvement in activities normally enjoyed 

• Feeling ‘low’, unusually stressed or worried 

• Ordinary things get harder 

• Being easily irritated or angry 

• Taking more dangerous risks, like using alcohol or drugs 

• Withdrawal or feeling overwhelmed 

• Difficulties with concentration and motivation 

• Having a lot of negative thoughts 

• Changing in sleeping and eating.

Mental health support

• Your local GP 

• headspace Counselling: Victorian Government secondary school students, including those who have just finished schooling, can access counselling services from headspace. During the holidays, students can self-refer by calling their local headspace centre. 

• eheadspace: 1800 650 890 www.headspace.org.au/eheadspace

• Kids Helpline: 1800 551 800 www.kidshelpline.com.au

• Parent line: counselling and support for parents and carers, 13 22 89 services.dffh.vic.gov.au/parent line 

• Lifeline: 13 11 14 www.lifeline.org.au 

• Beyond Blue: 1300 224 636 www.beyondblue.org.au

• Head to Help: 1800 595 212 www.headtohelp.org.au

• Suicide Call Back Service: 1300 659 467 www.suicidecallbackservice.org.au

• Family violence information and support services 

• Contacting 000 for urgent assistance

Wellbeing Team