Deputy Principal

Mental Health and Wellbeing

It was distressing to hear of the passing of Paul Green late last week. A middle-aged man who had conquered his chosen sport as both a player and a coach. A husband and father of two beautiful children. I am sure there are not many in our community that do not know someone who has struggled with mental health. Mental health issues amongst society are growing day by day and indeed were exacerbated by COVID-19 and lockdowns where people including our young men were isolated. As a community it is important that we keep checking in on each other. We must encourage our young men to express their feelings and give them licence to express those feelings. I hope the days of telling our young men to toughen up or not to cry are long gone. Our boys need to be able to express their feelings openly and honestly and know that as parents/carers you support them. While this can be confronting for some men/dads to know how to handle their sons crying or showing emotion, because as older males we may have been taught not to express our feelings, I think we need to confront those feelings and move outside our comfort zones for the sake of our children. We have young men in our community who put on a mask every day to fit in or not show weakness. We need to ensure as a community we break down those barriers. At school, we are trying to encourage them to speak openly and honestly with trusted teachers, counsellors, and other staff. That must follow through to our homes. We need to ensure that no one falls through the cracks. Little things like asking your son “R U OK?” can make all the difference. 

We keep all of those who have suffered the loss of loved ones to mental health illness in our thoughts and prayers.

Adrian Byrne

Deputy Principal