Supporting your child’s
Mental Wellness
A resource for parents
“Family and friends are the most common sources of help for teens”
- Australian Institute of Family Studies
Wellbeing comes from physical, mental and emotional health. For children and young people, there are many things that build positive wellbeing.
Wellbeing can come from:
- understanding and managing emotions
- having good relationships
- experiencing a sense of accomplishment
- using areas of strength
- taking part in healthy activities, getting lots of sleep and eating well.
DET have produced resources to help parents and carers support their child’s mental health and wellbeing:
- Looking after your child’s wellbeing - Having constructive conversations with your child
- Keeping your child active and eating healthy
- Looking after your child’s mental health
Building resilience
When teenagers are resilient, they cope better during or after difficult situations. They ‘bounce back’ when things go wrong. Your child needs resilience to navigate life’s ups and downs, so building resilience is an important part of his development.
The following websites have some helpful information about coping and building resilience:
Raising Children.net.au: https://raisingchildren.net.au/pre-teens/development/social-emotional-development
Reach Out.com: https://parents.au.reachout.com/skills-to-build/wellbeing/coping-skills-resilience-and-teenagers
Headspace have identified four main elements to boost mental health:
Get enough sleep; Eat well; Get in to life; Stay active; Connect
It is common throughout adolescence to struggle with life issues from time to time, which will affect how your child may think, feel and behave. The sooner you address these issues, the quicker your child’s life will get back on track.
Encouraging your child to talk with their GP about their concerns may be a good place to start. See ‘Finding a Health Professional’ section for more information.
Raising Children Network have developed some tips with having a conversation with your child: What can I say to start a conversation with my young person about their mental health?
Beyond Blue’s Child Mental Health Checklist - The checklist aims to measure a broad range of social, emotional or behavioural difficulties your child may be experiencing. It's suitable for kids aged four to 16. If your child is older than 16, they can take our quiz themselves over at Youth Beyond Blue or you could work through it together.
Teen depression goes beyond moodiness. It’s a serious health problem that impacts every aspect of a teen’s life. Fortunately, it’s treatable and parents can help. Your love, guidance, and support can go a long way toward helping your teen overcome depression and get their life back on track. Here is an article with more information Parent's Guide to Teen Depression
REACH OUT.com Offer different types of support, depending on what you and your teenager need and want. From information about common concerns, helping your child improve their self-esteem, self-help content and one-on-one support. https://parents.au.reachout.com/
Headspace – Resources for friends or family
Raising sensitive issues and working to resolve problems that arise along the way can be challenging. It can also be hard as a parent to know the difference between normal behaviour, such as moodiness, irritability and withdrawal, and an emerging mental health problem. This website is designed to help you. https://headspace.org.au/friends-and-family/mental-health/
Different health professionals offer different types of services and treatments for mental ill health. The directories on the beyondblue website (listed below) list a range of practitioners, grouped by their role and the services they provide. https://www.beyondblue.org.au/get-support/find-a-professional
What can your General Practitioner (GP) do?
Broadly speaking, GPs provide initial assessment, medical treatment, psychological or 'talking' therapies, and/or referral to mental health specialists. Psychologists, social workers and occupational therapists specialise in talking therapies, while psychiatrists specialise in medical treatment and talking therapies.
If you're unsure of what might work for you, speaking to your GP is a really good place to start. If you don't have a regular GP you can find a General Practitioner (GP) here:
https://www.healthshare.com.au/directory/doctors-gp-in-vic/
Your GP can refer you to services by psychologists, social workers and occupational therapists. Medicare rebates are available for up to 10 individual and 10 group therapy sessions for people who have been diagnosed with a mental disorder and have a mental health care plan. [i] During this period of COVID, the number of sessions available has increased.
What is a Mental health care plan?
Your doctor will probably ask you many questions to assess your situation. Your health care needs, goals, treatment and referrals will be recorded in your mental health care plan. If you are booking in for a Mental Health Care Plan with your GP, it is a good idea to book a double appointment.
Community Health Centres
[Include your local community health centre/s]
Find your local Community Health Centre:
Vic Rural Community Health Centres Directory
Community Health Centre Directory Loddon Mallee
Local services:
CatholicCare Sandhurst (CCS) provides counselling services and programs to individuals, couples, families and groups across the Victorian Loddon Mallee and Goulburn Murray regions. Ph: 03 54381300 https://ccds.org.au/
Child FIRST provides a central, community-based referral point to a range of Family support services designed to support children and families within Victoria. Anglicare Ph: 03 5440 1100 https://www.anglicarevic.org.au/contact-us/locations/
Online resources:
Parentline – an anonymous and confidential phone service for parents and carers of children from birth to 18 years old. https://www.education.vic.gov.au/parents/services-for-parents/Pages/parentline.aspx Ph: 13 22 89
Raising Children.Net – The Australian Parenting Website. Resources for parents available https://raisingchildren.net.au/for-professionals/mental-health-resources/parent-mental-health-and-wellbeing
Black Dog Institute - Mental health resources and support tools https://www.blackdoginstitute.org.au/resources-support/
Local services:
Headspace centres 78-80 Pall Mall Bendigo Ph: 5406 1400
headspace Centres act as a one-stop-shop for young people who need help with mental health, physical health (including sexual health), alcohol and other drugs or work and study support. headspace centre services are all free or low cost.
Victoria Legal Aid (Bendigo) Victoria Legal Aid (VLA) provides advice and assistance in relation to criminal law, family breakdown, family violence and civil law matters. 424 Hargreaves Street, Bendigo (03) 5448 2333 or 1800 254 500 (if calling from outside Bendigo) https://www.legalaid.vic.gov.au/
Victims of Crime - The official Victorian Government service offering free information and support for people affected by crime. https://www.victimsofcrime.vic.gov.au/ Ph: 1800 819 817
Anglicare Bendigo 10 Mundy Street Ph: 5440 1100
Centre Against Sexual Assault (CASA) - provides trauma informed counselling, advocacy and support for people who have experienced a recent or historical sexual assault. The service is also available for family and community members who have also felt impacted. https://casacv.org.au/ 71 Bridge St, Bendigo Vic 3350 (Mon to Fri, 9am-5pm) Ph: 03 5441 0430
Centre for Non-Violence -The Centre for Non-Violence is a not for profit organisation that provides a range of services and programs that respond to and work to prevent family violence and homelessness across the Loddon region. Bendigo Office 96-98 Pall Mall, Bendigo https://www.cnv.org.au/ Ph: 1800 884 292
Orange Door - A free service for adults, children and young people who are experiencing or have experienced family violence and families who need extra support with the care of children.
https://orangedoor.vic.gov.au/ Greater Bendigo Ph: 1800 260 338
Vic State -wide after hours support: https://orangedoor.vic.gov.au/after-hours-support
Child Protection - For children and young people whose safety is at risk (5pm to 9am Monday to Friday, 24 hours on weekends and public holidays) https://services.dhhs.vic.gov.au/child-protection
Ph: 13 12 78
Online resources:
Lifeline - 24-hour crisis support and suicide prevention strategies. https://www.lifeline.org.au/ Text and Chat options available. Ph: 13 11 14
Beyond Blue – confidential one on one counselling and tools and resources to look after your mental health. Online chat and email options available. https://www.beyondblue.org.au/ Ph: 1300 22 4636
RUOK? - inspire and empower everyone to meaningfully connect with the people around them and start a conversation with anyone who may be struggling with life. Resources and event support.
MensLine Australia - is a telephone and online counselling service for men with family and relationship concerns (24 hours a day, 7 days a week) https://mensline.org.au/ Ph: 1300 78 99 78
Sexual Assault Crisis Line - for victims of sexual assault (24 hours a day, 7 days a week) https://www.sacl.com.au/ Ph: 1800 806 292
WithRespect - Resources, tips and advice for LGBTIQ+ people on having and maintaining healthy relationships. They also provide support for LGBTIQ+ people of all ages and their families experiencing difficulty in their relationships, including family violence. (5pm to 11pm each Wednesday and 10 am to 10pm on Saturday and Sunday) https://www.withrespect.org.au/ Ph: 1800 542 847
1800 Respect (1800 737 732) as a 24/7 service sexual assault, domestic and family violence
Police, Fire, Ambulance – Ph: 000
Bendigo Health’s Enhanced Crisis Assessment Team (CAT) - Ph: 1300 363 788
Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) – Ph: 5440 6506
[i] Health Direct https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/talking-to-your-doctor-gp-about-mental-health