Youth Mental Health: A Critical Concern
Youth mental health has become a pressing issue in Australia, with alarming rates of anxiety, depression, and self-harm among young people. Counsellors are responding to this crisis by adapting their approaches to better engage with younger clients and address their unique challenges.
Techniques such as play therapy, creative arts, and digital tools are being utilised to make counselling more accessible and relatable for young people. These methods help create a safe and supportive environment where clients feel comfortable expressing themselves and exploring their emotions.
In addition to individual counselling, community initiatives are playing a vital role in addressing youth mental health. Programs such as Headspace and school-based mental health counsellors provide early intervention and support, ensuring that young people have access to the resources they need. Counsellors are also working closely with families and educators to create a network of support around young clients.
A big shift in the education industry is the inclusion of counsellors instead of psychologists as in-house therapists in schools. Victoria is now employing more counsellors than psychologist. In NSW more private schools are employing counsellors than psychologists. It’s a trend that is spreading though out Australia, so watch this space.
The focus on youth mental health underscores the importance of early intervention and prevention. By addressing mental health issues at a young age, counsellors can help set the foundation for a healthier and more resilient future generation.
Useful Links
This is an article from Australian Insititute of Family Studies Young Minds Matter: Use of services by young people with mental disorders | Australian Institute of Family Studies
The ACA have guidelines for working with youth in groups Working with Young People in Groups – Australian Counselling Association
The ACA have also put out a toolkit for working with children and youth ACA-Children-and-Youth-Counsellor-Toolkit-2024.pdf