Counselling, Health & Wellbeing

for parents and students


Initiatives at the college:

AFFIRM: 
The Australian Foundation for Mental Health Research was launched in 2003 at Parliament House in Canberra by her Excellency, Professor Marie Bashir.  St Edmund's College is part of the Youth ambassadors program, providing our senior students with the opportunity to be leaders in youth mental health. The St Edmund’s AFFIRM Youth Ambassadors  are given the opportunity to meet with representatives from other secondary schools in Canberra who are also passionate about making change in youth mental health.  Currently there are 58 AFFIRM Youth Ambassadors from 26 Canberra secondary schools in 2011.  The main role of these ambassadors is to:

  • Raise awareness about mental illness and the need to seek help early in their peers
  • Establish a positive culture around mental health by reducing stigma

Health and Wellbeing Committee:

Our Health and Wellbeing committee’s focus is on primary prevention and intervention to reduce the incidence of mental health problems in our students . We aim to empower our students to enable a sense of connectedness, meaning, accomplishment  and zest for life. We seek to help build confidence, self-esteem and resilience in order for our students to approach future life experiences, opportunities and challenges with self-assurance and energy. In 2013 we are implementing Beyond Blues Secondary program for years 8 to 10 within the curriculum.  The program aims to buffer the effects of adverse life events by building protective factors within the individual, through the teaching of life skills. The committee is currently reviewing other areas that the principles of wellbeing can be taught to the students within the school environment.

Please take note: ……
If you are concerned that you or someone you know has depression or an anxiety disorder talking to a General Practitioner is a good place to start.  A GP can discuss treatment options and can do a medical assessment to rule out whether other conditions may be responsible for a person’s symptoms.

Help is available and it’s important to seek help early- the sooner the better.

Some useful links for parents and students

Seeking immediate help? Contact... Lifeline: 13 11 14 or Kids Helpline: 1800 551 800
 

Kids Helpline
Tel: 1800 55 1800 (24 hour service)
Web: www.kidshelp.com.au
Provides specialised help for young people aged 5 to 25 years, and is staffed by professional counsellors. Daily web-counselling available (see website for current times) and email counselling (not for crisis)

Lifeline
Tel: 13 11 14 (24 hour service)
Web: www.lifeline.org.au
Volunteers with professional support, trained in responding to callers concerned about suicide. Provides general counselling and referrals to services in caller's local community. Calls to Lifeline from a landline are usually the cost of a local call, and calls from mobile phones are free of charge.

Youth Beyond Blue

 
Beyondblue is a national, independent, not-for-profit organisation working to address issues associated with depression, anxiety and related disorders in Australia.

http://www.youthbeyondblue.com


Parentline ACT

Tel: 02 6287 3833
Web: http://parentlineact.org.au
Provides support to any person involved in the care of children and for any family issues. Initial phone contact is with professional counsellors. Can provide phone counselling and referral and arrange follow-up within their service including some face to face counselling and phone support through trained volunteers. Some after hours appointments are available. 
 



Headspace ACT
Tel: 02 6201 5343
Email: headspaceACT@canberra.edu.au
Web: www.headspace.org.au/act
Provides information and assistance for young people experiencing mental health and/or substance issues and their families.

headspaceACT information seminars or contact ed-space @ headspaceACT



The Black Dog Institute maintains a list of organisations that run or coordinate mental health support groups in NSW, available at: http://www.blackdoginstitute.org.au/index.cfm

Relationships Australia is a leading provider of relationship support services for individuals, families and communities. We aim to support all people in Australia to achieve positive and respectful relationships

http://www.relationships.org.au/

Ph:1300 364 277

Parenting is often shared by grandparents, relatives, friends and those who care for children. To shape and influence a child’s life is one of the most important things one can do. ParentLink aims to provide information based on the latest research and promote the importance of effective parenting practices.
http://www.parentlink.act.gov.au/

HELPFUL ONLINE PROGRAMS:

Web: www.moodgym.anu.edu.au

An interactive, evidence-based program for depression which incorporates cognitive behavioural therapy. Research has found MoodGYM to be helpful in reducing symptoms of depression in users (See Online Prevention). MoodGYM is developed and delivered by the ANU Centre for Mental Health Research.

Web: www.ecouch.anu.edu.au

An interactive, evidence-based, self help program that includes modules for depression, social anxiety and generalised anxiety, divorce and relationship breakdown, and bereavement and loss. It provides self help interventions drawn from cognitive, behavioural and interpersonal therapies as well as relaxation and physical activity. e-couch is developed and delivered by the ANU Centre for Mental Health Research.

Constable Kenny teaches children about:
 • Road safety
• Community care
• Protective behaviours
• Cyber safety
• Decision making and consequences.
http://www.constablekenny.org.au/
 

Bullying

St Edmund's has a Safe School Policy which aims to protect all our students from bullying. Parents should be informed about this issue and these websites will provide important information. Please contact the college immediately if you have concerns that your child may be a victim or perpetrator of bullying.

http://http://www.bullyingnoway.com.au Contains comprehensive resources on the topic, and provides ways to address the issue of bullying.

http://http://www.education.unisa.edu.au/bullying/ Dr Ken Rigby's site on bullying

http://www.dest.gov.au/sectors/school_education/publications_resources/profiles/
bullying_information_for_parents.htm
This brochure (available in many languages) is designed to help parents in all Australian schools see the signs of bullying and give them some idea of what to do if their child is bullied at school.

http://www.dfes.gov.uk/bullying/index.shtml/ A UK site called "Bullying: Don't suffer in silence"

CONTACT

College Counsellor
Ms Linda James - 02 6239 0606
lijames@stedmunds.act.edu.au

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