MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH: Australia, Let's Talk (October 2023)

[ArraDreaming]

@tyme
@Ilovepenguins

i agree
Do you know that at least where I live in Victoria there is dedicated mental health/social literacy teachers in primary schools? like it’s a class for the students like English, maths is etc

[ArraDreaming]

i think it’s new

[tyme]

You mean the primary kids too? @ArraDreaming 

Schools around where I am in Vic teach Respectful Relationships which includes Mental Health etc. I wonder if it is the same?

I've seen some schools have the Resilience Project program which is also really good for kids. And yes, it's a subject.

[ArraDreaming]

I meant this https://www2.education.vic.gov.au/pal/mental-health-schools/guidance

I don’t know if they run classes at all schools cause I couldn’t see anything about it but at least my sons school these leaders run classes too he is learning heaps @tyme

But what you’ve posted about sounds interesting nrcdf heard of respectful relationships

[Meowmy]

@tyme hey tyme, this is a very interesting discussion topic. I learnt so much through my mental illness. I wonder if I learnt lessons of moderation, being sensible, acknowledge my emotions, learnt to forgive myself, self compassion, more rational on decision making,  That may be the impact of mental.illness wouldn't be so devastating

[Ilovepenguins]

@tyme @ArraDreaming 

I actually had the most amazing counsellor in high school, I just wish now that I had embraced her more than fighting her! 

In my experience, having my own children in primary and high school is that there still isn't much improvement in emotional support in mainstream schools in general although I can't speak for all schools! One of the school's my children attended was amazing but was an early education concept that only went to grade 2. Mainstream onwards has been met with little access or no access to school counsellors 😳

The take from that and this discussion thread though, is that what I wish I could tell my younger self, is now what I can teach my kids as they grow 😁 

[ArraDreaming]

Interesting that our experiences are so different in that sense, could not be happier with the support at my child’s school @Ilovepenguins so there you go, it really differs

[Ilovepenguins]

@ArraDreaming  Wow, that sounds really awesome, I'm glad your son is learning heaps from the program 💚 I hope they roll something like that out nationally. We're going through the NSW rural system, which unfortunately has a huge staff and school counsellor shortage. I've had to write a letter of permission so my child can call the Kid's Helpline if need be just because there's no access to a counsellor 🤦🏼‍♀️

Teaching kids this stuff in school is so important, especially if like in my case of generational emotional neglect , the parents aren't in a position to be able to teach their own kids the appropriate emotional building blocks. 

[tyme]

Oh @ArraDreaming ,

Yes I've hear of that initiative. What happens is that the government funds a school to have a teacher who is trained to work in mental health. This leader then implements any chosen programs out of the mental health toolkit that is shown to have results.

What's great about this program is that they train up a teacher. What has happened in the past is that allied health specialists come into schools from outside, but don't really know how schools run. In other words, the programs they implement may not be as effective.

Hence, having a teacher to be then trained in mental health is such a great initiative. 

It's so good that your son is learning a lot from it. Even if it is to recognise and name emotions - that's a start.

I'm so glad schools have these programs beyond reading, writing and maths.

@Ilovepenguins - It's so great you can take your learning and share them with your kids. It's not easy for kids growing up these days....

@Meowmy  - self-care and self-compassion is what keeps us going. It's not easy sometimes. I'm hearing you.

[Former-Member]

With reference to your final statement, Sometimes there are no other options. Sometimes you have to make a call based on what you know to be the only way.