YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID

Over the last three weeks, we have had twenty-five teachers, education support officers, and administration staff complete their Youth Mental Health First Aid course. The course consisted of three hours of online modules and two 4 hour face to face sessions. Ally Matheson was our facilitator who we engaged through Mental Health First Aid Australia and delivered an engaging course. We will continue to offer our staff this training over the next few years which will help grow our culture of supporting one another and understanding what our young people can experience. Ally provided our participants with a list of useful phone apps that can support our understanding of youth mental health (attached).

More information on courses can be found on this website. https://mhfa.com.au/courses/public/types/youthedition4.

FREE HALF DAY SAFE TALK WORKSHOP

safeTALK is a half-day alertness workshop that prepares anyone, regardless of prior experience or training, to become a suicide-alert helper. The workshop features:

  • Presentations and guidance from a LivingWorks registered trainer
  • Access to support from a local community resource person
  • Powerful audiovisual learning aids
  • The simple yet effective TALK steps: Tell, Ask, Listen, and KeepSafe
  • Hands-on skills practice and development.

Families and school staff are welcome to attend. Please find more information on Safe Talk Information

KEY WELLBEING LEADERSHIP

As we approach Headstart our students all prepare for new subjects, new teachers, a new campus for Year 8s and 9s, new classrooms and new friendships and opportunities. Headstart also signals the start of new leadership and we have a few key changes that are taking place in the Wellbeing Leadership roles.

I would like to thank our current Head of Waterford Simon Piasente as he moves out of Wellbeing Leadership into the pivotal role as our College’s Daily Organiser. Simon has been ever reliable and has provided clear direction and strength in the roles he has had in his time at St Joseph’s. I congratulate Brendan Reed who will take over the Head of Waterford Wellbeing who has been working as a Year 7 and 8 Coordinator for the past five years.

I would like to thank Luke Parsons who has been the Acting Director of Westcourt this semester which he took on as a result of Mark Deverall leaving mid-year for an Assistant Principal position in Bacchus Marsh. Luke will remain the Assistant Director in 2022 as he supports Cassie Gleeson who will take over the Director of Westcourt role in 2022. Cassie has been on maternity leave this year and previously held the Head of Mt Sion Role since 2019.

I would like to thank Dan Hale who has been the Acting Head of Mt Sion since Term 2 this year. Dan has served the Wellbeing team incredibly well across a variety of roles in his time at SJC. Dan will spend 2022 taking on a full teaching load and being a homeroom teacher in Foley. Meleah Zanos will take over the Head of Mt Sion Wellbeing role in 2022 who has also been a member of our Wellbeing Leadership team for four years.

We also welcome our current Director of Identity Rachel Roche as a new Year 7 Year Level Coordinator to join Peter Malone in 2022. Nathanael Smith will be joined by Sam Querella as a new Year 8 Year Level Coordinator and Jackson Langhorne will take over the Jordan House Leadership role from Kate McLaren who leaves us at the end of 2021. We thank Kate for all she has done for the Jordan House.

The 2022 Wellbeing Leadership team and contact details are listed below.

Deputy Principal Wellbeing – Mark Kennedy ([email protected])

Wellbeing Assistant and PA – Natalie Welsh ([email protected])

Head of Waterford (7&8) Wellbeing – Brendan Reed ([email protected])

Year 7 YLC – Peter Malone ([email protected])

Year 7 YLC - Rachel Roche ([email protected])

Year 8 YLC – Nathanael Smith ([email protected])

Year 8 YLC - Sam Querella ([email protected])

Director of Westcourt (9) – Cassie Gleeson ([email protected])

Assistant – Luke Parsons

Head of Mt Sion Wellbeing (10-12) – Meleah Zanos ([email protected])

Jordan House Coordinator – Jackson Langhorne ([email protected])

Brophy House Coordinator – Matthew Walsh ([email protected])

Foley House Coordinator – Aaron Westgarth ([email protected])

Butler House Coordinator – Patrick Prendergast ([email protected])

Head of Education Support – Mark Turner ([email protected])

Head of Student Services – Kerry Drever ([email protected])

Youth Mental Heath First Aid Apps

Targets

APP

Support offered

Target group

Anxiety

SAM

Relaxation, CBT, anxiety tracker

youth/adult

Anxiety

ReachOut Breathe

control your breath and measures your heart rate in real-time using your phone camera

all

Anxiety

Reach Out Worrytime

Allocated worry time

youth/adult

Anxiety

Mindshift

ERP, CBT self-help, relaxation tools

youth/adult

Coping

Act companion

Act coping strategies- mindfulness, ERP, values

youth/adult

Coping

Niggle (kids helpline)

Mood monitor, coping strategies, resource suggestions (podcasts, videos)

Kids -young adult

Coping

Reach out Next Step

Check in and recommendations for articles, external supports, chatlines, forums

Depression/ anxiety

Moodkit

Mood improvement tools/ suggestions for activites, mood tracker

12+

Depression/ anxiety

Pacifica

deep breathing, behavioral exercises, excises and identifying cognitive distortions

12+

Depression/ anxiety

Mood mission (ReachOut)

CBT based mental health strategies

youth/adult

Depression/ anxiety

Whats up

CBT, relaxation, coping strategies

youth/adult

Gratitude

Bliss

Gratitude practices

youth/adult

Grief

Grief: support for young people

Psycho-ed, coping strategies, remembering person who passed

Rec. 11-25 years

Relaxation

Headspace

Relaxation, meditation, mindfulness

youth/adult

Relaxation

Smiling mind

Mindful meditation

all

Self-esteem/ body image

Body Beautiful

inspirational quotes, media articles, videos and tools

Targeted to females youth/adult

Suicidal ideation

Beyond now

Modifiable safety plan that can be shared with others

youth/adult

Self-harm/ NSSI

Calm Harm

Time assisted coping strategy suggestions

youth/adult

Wellbeing

Resilience Project App

Identify their emotions, record moments of gratitude and practice mindfulness

youth/adult

Worry about friends

wellbeing

The check in (youth beyond blue)

Helps come up with ways to safely approach friends you're worried about

Youth