Starting Year 7, Responsible media reporting, social media and more!

A full house today, Jeremy (yr11) and Angus (yr7) and Andy Marselos - 2nd year Uni and representative for Headspace as well as other youth mental health support networks. Conversations travel around starting high school, study habits, addictive social media and youth mental health. They all offered great conversation and some pertinent insights across a diverse range of topics.

Top tips were flowing and I have included a few here...I also have an interview with Kym Carlson from KYDS talking about starting High School.

If you post it..they own it
Angus wisdom

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Responsible Reporting

We had a discussion about sensational headlines and how they try to provoke a reaction by cutting through logic and going straight for emotional responses. The headlines we spoke about today were to do with creating fear around the budget. We were lucky enough to have an interview with Nathan Bazley from BtN (Behind the News) he was amazing - as ever - and explained how BtN put their news stories together.

• We put it into a real world perspective
• Try to focus on the people helping in any situation
• Try to get kids to open a dialogue with parents or teachers. Talk about your feelings

BtN offer a big comment section on their website and you can share how you feel and send messages of support in relation to the big stories or harder stories to cover.

P.A.T.S Program at KYDS

Paying Attention To Self - is a program the Ku-ring-gai Youth Development Service run to support young carers who have a parent, carer or sibling with a mental illness. 

With guidance from KYDS specialist counsellors, the group explores mental illness and the ways that mental health issues can impact on family relationships and logistics. The group learn relaxation, how to stay safe and coping strategies, building a tool kit of resources and a strong support network, and has a few good laughs along the way.

For details of the next program check out this link to the KYDS website

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Check out the tour of the Beyond Blue Bus, I took up Andy's advice and went down to check it out. This bus has travelled round the country visiting some of the major cities but also some of areas not quite so obvious areas.

Resources

Other useful resources for young carers:

Young Carers - http://www.youngcarers.net.au/resources-and-link
COPMI - http://www.copmi.net.au

Be respectful of yourselves 
and 
Be respectful of others online
Andy Marselos' online wisdom

Interview with Kym Carlson from Ku-ring-gai Youth Development Service (KYDS). Kym sees a lot of young people around this time, so our interview offered some great tips for both the young high schoolers themselves and the parents about how to enjoy the first year. Kym has such a wonderfully supportive way about her that the tips she offers through the interview are very reassuring

Tips for students

• Take a step back and depersonalise the reactions 
• You son or daughter may be carrying things that have been happening during the day, perhaps ask if everything has been OK rather than react to the potential short temper that can materialise 2 minutes after walking through the door!
• Communicate with each other about how much space everyone needs
• Don't worry about getting lost in the high school - lots of people will be there to help you.
• Homework - create yourself an individual timetable and don't forget to add breaks to eat or have fun THEN do a little more.

• Remember, you know what school is like, this is just the next step
• Find a way to tell everyone, nicely, if you really don't want to talk
• There are lots of people in the same boat, the teachers will be used to being supportive

If you want to get in contact with the KYDS service and / or Kym Carlson then please check out their contact details under the resources section to the left.

Self-Care

How do we keep our glass full when we are doing so much for others? It comes back to self care. The team spoke about what their self care tips were:

• Take time to have time with friends relaxing
• Ride your bike, take some gentle exercise
• Look at your bedtime routine
• Take time to lay out or choose your clothes for the next day
• Tidy your room.

If you need more support Andy Marselos shared the benefits of some of the local support organisations:

Headspace - e-headspace

Beyond Blue & Youth Beyond Blue