Attempted suicide rates among Victorian teenagers have skyrocketed by 184 per cent in the past six months. New data from Kids Helpline revealed the shocking statistic after Victoria was plunged into its fourth Covid-19 lockdown. Teenagers aged 13-18 were most ...
More »New play tackles youth suicide prevention
During Mental Health Month it’s important to remember that suicide is still the leading cause of death for Australians aged 15–44. One way of raising more awareness about this issue in a non-threatening way is through art and drama. This ...
More »How to embed RUOK Day’s message into the classroom, permanently
As a culture, we have made great strides when it comes to our understanding and acceptance of mental health. Even just a few decades ago, mental health was rarely mentioned during a student’s time at school, let alone dealt with ...
More »Guide to help young people #chatsafe online about suicide
Young people often turn to social media to talk about suicide-related thoughts and behaviours but have had limited access to guidance on how to do so safely. Now, they – along with teachers and parents – have access to a set of guidelines focused ...
More »New medical guidelines for transgender kids
They may constitute only approximately 1.2 per cent of the population, but until recently, transgender individuals have been excluded from society. In a 2015 speech, former Human Rights Commissioner Tim Wilson said that of LGBTQI people, "the lingering and most extensive discrimination ...
More »About that suicide-school grades link
It's the fatal phenomenon with silent symptoms. Now, there's a clue that might help detect suicidal tendencies. A large, longitudinal Swedish study found that those who performed poorly at school were five times more likely to kill themselves later in life, and ...
More »Mental health drive tackles youth
A new mental health program for schools encourages students to connect with each other and ask about their wellbeing with the slogan
More »