From the Wellness Centre
This week I have again included necessary detail about how to access counselling, as well as the information regarding Mental Health First Aid for Year Tens.
And I will share some recent startling research around sleep (for primary and secondary students), as well as throw light on a relatively new resource from DARTA’s incredible Mr Paul Dillon.
Accessing Counselling at GSG
For those families whose young people participated in counselling during Semester Two 2024 and would like to continue, please email me by Wednesday 20 February, so that we can recommence our work. (I require email permissions from both parents as appropriate.)
For other families including our new arrivals, in order to activate counselling services at GSG, you are encouraged to follow the relevant pastoral pathway through Head of School, Head of House, Homeroom Teacher, or make direct contact with me (sheryl.moncur@gsg.wa.edu.au).
In brief, counselling at GSG is informed by key modalities, including human-centered, strengths- and values-based, ACT, and narrative therapy. I do not diagnose, write reports, or perform psychometric testing. The duration of counselling is usually over a number of weeks (sometimes months) of either weekly or fortnightly 40-minute sessions.
Students over 16 years of age can self-refer.
Teen Mental Health First Aid - Semester One
For Year Ten Students
Welcome to 2025. I’m so keen to get started on the Mental Health First Aid Training. As you would most likely be aware, teenMHFA training comprises several sessions embedded in the Health Education Curriculum. Students will learn how to notice and support their peers who might be struggling. This training offers an approach that helps students to discuss with a friend/peer they are concerned about and to link them with an adult, as well as provide them with local and online support agencies and networks (list below). Led by Mr Paul Donaldson, the Health Education teachers, Mr Bryce McLean and Mr Brodie Sarre are well skilled in this area.
MHFA is an international organisation, driven by current research, which offers numerous courses for adults and adolescents with an aim to reduce stigma associated with beliefs about and language around mental health problems, and to increase and normalise help seeking. Indeed, in the ten years that GSG has been conducting teenMHFA training, the effectiveness of the course has been proven within our education space, as many more young people are seeking help, clarification and support, for others and themselves. Also, schools that deliver this training to their students need to have a large percentage of their staff trained in Youth MHFA, which is a 14-hour course; a very large proportion of GSG staff have completed this work. (See the list below.)
There are a few protocols that MHFA insists upon, which include this communication of information to homes and boarding, and our school invites you to make contact with me directly if you consider your child too vulnerable to participate in the training. One of the ground rules that we as a class establish is personal safety and the choice a student can take to leave the class for reasons of welfare (they would go to Secondary Administration, and I would follow up).
The Year Ten Health Education Classes will be trained during Semester One (Term One BM Weeks Three to Five; BS Weeks Seven to Nine and PD Weeks One to Four Term Two). Students will receive a Certificate of Completion, contingent upon their attendance at most sessions.
Information on “What Parents Need to Know” can be found here.
More information on Teen Mental Health First Aid can be found here.
All students receive a manual with lots of up-to-date data and many activities—more than we have time to do in class. So … this offers families a fantastic opportunity for mutual learning and chats about really vital, life-saving (yes—I don’t exaggerate) information.
The two documents below are stuck into the front of these manuals: the GSG staff trained in Youth MHFA and the Supportive Agencies and Websites relevant to adolescents and their families.
Current staff members trained in Youth MHFA:
Jordan Owenell, Karen Bradbury, Elinor Couper, Jill Bascombe,
Rachel Mordy, Renae O’Donnell, Grant Taylor,
Lisa Sounness, Alexis Stone, Neil Ferreira, Sonia Powell,
Paul Donaldson, Liz Cosh, Rebecca Davies, Ian Robson,
Bea Pritchard, Emma Franklin, Nyree Mackenzie,
Bryce McLean, Nathan Symonds, Loren O’Dwyer, Katie Gunning,
Julian Gugenheim, Georgie Mullins, Emma Poole,
Paul Osborne, Penni Berryman, Steve Berryman, Paul Delane,
Josh Pitman, Tim Basten, Amanda Stanborough, Gavin Riches
Liz Stewart, Gary Fullarton, Penny Simpson and Sheryl Moncur.
Supportive agencies, links and services
Headspace Albany 9842 9871 https://headspace.org.au/headspace-centres/albany/
info@headspacealbany.com.au (counselling, resources, fact sheets, doctor sessions, get-togethers, education, groups)
eheadspace https://headspace.org.au/eheadspace/
youthbeyondblue https://www.youthbeyondblue.com/
albany@palmerston.org.au for people affected by alcohol and drug use
Digital Cards - DARTA (student initiated resources – phone downloadable – to support your friends)
Factsheet-Vaping-and-Young-People_Youth-12-17-Jul2021.pdf (lungfoundation.com.au)
The Butterfly Foundation 1800 33 4673 (disordered eating and NSSI)
Alcohol and Drug Info 1800 198 024
www.brave-online.com (anxiety and depression)
Welcome to ReachOut.com | ReachOut Australia Tools and Apps | ReachOut Australia
Suicide Call Back Service 1300 659 467
kidshelpline 1300 55 1300 Kids Helpline | Phone Counselling Service | 1800 55 1800
Lifeline: 13 11 14
www.self-injury.org.au This Australian based website has useful info on SI and recovery
WA Rurallink 1800 552 002
GP – Pioneer Health bulk bills for <16 yo; GPs can give Mental Health Assessment and access Better Access mental health support 9842 2822
Medicare Card – can obtain online for 15 years and over (photo ID is really helpful too) https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/individuals/services/medicare/medicare-card
Albany Pride Home | Albany PrideSpectrum: social group for young people aged 12 – 25 who identify as diverse in gender and/or sexuality/ Natalie at headspace 9842 9871
Southern Aboriginal Corporation https://www.sacorp.com.au/
Albany Youth Support Association + Young House https://www.aysa.org.au/
As the ball is this Saturday, Digital Cards - DARTA it’s no mistake that I’m throwing radiant light on this resource.
Introducing the free DARTA Digital Cards app. Whether it’s helping a friend who’s had too much to drink or knowing what to do during a bad trip, these digital cards are designed to provide quick and easy-to-understand guidance.
With cards dealing with situations like looking after a drunk friend, greening out and vomiting, you’ll have vital information at your fingertips to help out when things go wrong.
Keep your mates safe and be prepared with DARTA Digital Cards. Download the app to your phone for free today.
These “looking after friends cards” can be downloaded on phones. Our adolescents have a natural tendency to look after each other and this resource was designed by youth for youth who worked with Paul Dillon (DARTA).
Latest Research Findings in Ongoing Longitudinal National Health Poll from Melbourne Royal Children's Hospital - SLEEP
See below a snapshot of the findings.
"This study has shown that problems with sleep patterns are common and widespread in Australian school-aged children, from younger children through to teens," the report said.
Almost half of Australian children have a problem with their sleeping pattern, a survey has found.
Key Points
- 45% of children aged five to twelve have sleeping pattern problems
- 44% of teens use screens before bedtime
- 21% of children do not get enough sleep
It found that 44 per cent of Australian teenagers use screens in bed in the hour before going to sleep and that 47 per cent of parents believe screen time before bed helps children to wind down.
Almost half of the parents surveyed mistakenly believe that too much sleep is bad for teenagers, the report said, and 40 per cent "mistakenly believe that teens need much less sleep than primary school-aged children".
"Half of parents think that sleeping in on weekends makes up for lack of sleep during the week for teens," it said.
Other points of note: sleep deprivation can occur due to lifestyle choices, work demands, and medical conditions. Lack of sleep can affect your physical and mental health, leading to issues like poor brain function, mood problems, and a weakened immune system. While many people have sleep deprivation now and then, if you regularly don't get enough sleep, it can lead to more serious chronic (long-term) health problems such as heart disease, stroke, and diabetes.
If any families would like to contact me regarding sleep routine – I would welcome your inquiries.
Yours in doing our best to cultivate healthy habits of mind…
Ms Sheryl Moncur | School Counsellor/Teacher