Findon Primary School took part of the conversation around R U OK? Day earlier this month at an assembly.
R U OK? Day falls on the second Thursday of September, encouraging Australians to start conversations with friends, family, and colleagues who might be struggling with their mental health.
Sharing the conversation around mental health, the school heard from headspace Greensborough and Plenty Valley, who provides free and confidential counselling services and support to young people from age 12–25.
Clinical Lead Chris Jewell and Community Engagement Practitioner Joel Rainford went through the four steps to having a conversation with someone who might need support, including asking ‘R U OK?’, to listen, to encourage action, and to check in.
Mr Jewell and Ms Rainford both recognised the crucial role of connecting to young people and their families.
“It’s Grade 6s that have reached that age mark, but there’s also young people that we can reach who are potentially experiencing some mental health issues that might not be at the point for support yet, but by the time it gets there, they’ve gone ‘That’s right, headspace’,” Mr Jewell said.
“With primary schools, it’s good to reach the families because it’s the families that often are the ones that recognise that they need some help,” Ms Rainford said.
Principal Anita Osavkovska said having conversations was the beginning of support.
“From a school’s perspective, this is the first year we’ve [had] wellbeing ambassadors, and they’ve really taken on the role to show the link between learning and wellbeing,” she said.
“It’s been really great for them from a leadership perspective to be able to take on the organisation, and link with the community, and bring that awareness to other students.
“Sometimes awareness around mental health can look really big, but if you kind of break it down just to the simple act [of kindness], and [how] we’re connected to our school values, so show care, and compassion.”
Member for Mill Park Lily D’Ambrosio was also a special guest at the assembly, sharing her thoughts on the wellbeing day.
“Findon is a wonderful school in so many ways, and for them to have initiated having wellbeing ambassadors really does speak to the fact that the school is really alive to mental health for all students,” she said.
