Wellbeing

Understanding Anxiety 

Anxiety is a normal part of life and something most young people will experience at some stage. A little anxiety before a test or sporting event can even be helpful, sharpening focus and boosting performance. However, when anxiety becomes frequent or overwhelming, it can seriously affect a young person’s mental health and overall wellbeing. 

It’s important for parents and carers to recognise the signs of unhealthy or prolonged anxiety. Early support can make a big difference. This edition of SchoolTV explores the difference between helpful and harmful anxiety and offers practical strategies for parents to help their children manage it more effectively. 

We encourage you to take a moment to watch and reflect on the insights shared. As always, we value your feedback. If you have any concerns about your child’s wellbeing, please don’t hesitate to contact our wellbeing team or seek advice from a healthcare professional. 

For a comprehensive understanding of youth anxiety and practical tips on how to address it, please visit the full resource here: 

👉Youth Anxiety – Vermont Secondary College SchoolTV Edition 

In next fortnight’s newsletter we will include some information about different therapeutic approaches and some links to accessible online programs that parents can access for their adolescents. 

Supporting Student Mental Health at Vermont Secondary College 

At Vermont Secondary College, we are deeply committed to supporting our students’ mental health and wellbeing. As part of this commitment, we are delivering whole-cohort workshops on topics that both staff and students have identified as especially relevant to their particular stages of life. 

This week, we welcomed an organisation called Toolbox to run workshops with all our Year 7 and Year 8 students. The sessions focused on anxiety, worry thoughts, and the unhelpful stories our minds sometimes tell us; stories that can often be inaccurate or untrue. 

Through these interactive workshops, students learned practical strategies for managing anxious thoughts, along with tools to stay grounded and present. They were also provided with clear guidance on when and where to seek support if they need it. 

By hosting these workshops at school, we hope to encourage open conversations around mental health, help students recognise and understand their own experiences, and remind them that support is always available, and that they are not alone. We are dedicated to helping students build strong minds that can face challenges with confidence, resilience, and self-awareness. 

Keep the conversation going at home: Here are a few questions parents can ask their child to help reflect on the workshop and support ongoing dialogue: 

• "What was something interesting you learned in the workshop?" 

• "Did any of the strategies for managing anxiety or worry thoughts stand out to you?" 

• "Have you ever noticed your brain telling you a story that might not be completely true?" 

• "What’s one thing you can do next time you feel overwhelmed or anxious?" 

• "Who can you talk to if you need help or support at school?" 

These questions can support your child in reflecting on what they've learned and help normalize open conversations about mental health as an important part of everyday life.