15 Jun 2017
On Tuesday the 6th of June, 12 Year 9 students travelled to Wagga Wagga to attend the 2017 Youth Mental Health Forum. The students who attended are members of the Year 9 leadership team.
The forum was run by a young, and enthusiastic team from Headspace and Burnbright. Headspace is the National Youth Mental Health Foundation providing early intervention mental health services to 12-25 year olds, along with assistance in promoting young people's' wellbeing. This covers four core areas: mental health, physical health, work and study support and alcohol and other drug services.
The day started with a variety of upbeat and fun ice-breaking activities. This enabled the students from West Wyalong High School to meet many of the students from the other schools also attending the forum. During the day students could ask any questions concerning mental health to a panel of experts on the stage from clinical psychiatrists to a police liaison officer. Everyone learnt something new about the ways that the community as a whole can support youths in need. They discussed the simple strategies like eating healthy, exercise and good music to assist in your everyday mood.
In the last session, students brainstormed in their school groups about a project that will raise awareness about youth mental health. The students had to present the project to the whole forum and had only 30 seconds to communicate their idea. The West Wyalong High School student's project was based around the Dramatic minds festival held later on in the year at Temora. They plan to write and perform a skit to demonstrate how negative peer pressure can lead to low self esteem and then social anxiety. They will include how this can be solved, and prevented, through strategies at the individual and community levels. All of the students involved are looking forward to helping people build positive relationships and improve self-esteem.