Free forum helps navigate teen depression
16 August 2010
How do you help someone who is struggling with depression – especially a young person?
This is one of the questions that will be asked and answered at a FREE community seminar planned for Singleton in August.
Navigating Teenage Depression will be delivered by the Black Dog Institute. It will canvass how to spot early warning signs, understanding risk factors and the role of personality, how to build resilience and what to do to help someone through. Staff from Hunter New England Health’s Youth Mental Health Project will also be in attendance to provide support and advice on where people might go to access help.
The forum will be held on Friday evening, 20 August 2010 from 6.15pm to 8pm at the Singleton Youth Venue, on the corner of Pitt and Bathurst streets Singleton.
Young people and their parents as well as interested community members are invited to attend.
The event is free but places are limited and people should register their attendance by 16 August by contacting Carey Duggan at the Singleton Youth Venue on 6571 4687 or at cduggan@singleton.nsw.gov.au .
Navigating Teenage Depression is an initiative of the Lower Hunter Community Forum on Health in collaboration with Hunter New England Health, Singleton Council and the Black Dog Institute.
Lower Hunter Community Forum on Health chairperson Dr Helen Belcher said mental health is a major issue that affects every community.
“It is estimated that one in five people will experience a mental illness of some kind during their lives, and young people are just as susceptible as adults, if not more so,” Dr Belcher said.
“We want to inform the community about depression but we also want to take it a few steps further and help young people, their parents and families build resilience and learn skills to cope with mental health problems such as depression.
“We also want to let them know that help is available and where and how they can find it. We will be providing everyone with information and contacts to take away.”
The Lower Hunter Community Forum on Health comprises community volunteers from Singleton, Maitland, Cessnock and Dungog who provide input to Hunter New England Health on health-related issues of concern in the community and also assist with service planning and development.
“One of our roles is to provide information on health issues to the community – and youth mental health is a very important health issue that we wanted to focus on,” Dr Belcher said.
NEED HELP?
Young people concerned about their own mental health or a friend should contact:
• Kids helpline – 1800 551 800
• Lifeline – 13 11 14
• Hunter New England 24-hour Mental Health Emergency Line 1800 655 085 (local call)
• Hunter Headspace (for non-emergencies Mon-Fri) 49311000 (local call)
DID YOU KNOW:
• Depression is the most common mental health problem among young Australians aged 12-25 years. Around 1 in 4 young people will have had a depressive disorder by the end of their adolescence
• Around 1 in 10 young Australians aged 18 to 25 will experience an anxiety disorder in any 12-month period. For young people aged 13 to 17, the figure is around 1 in 25.
Contact: Frances Holz
Phone: 4939 2216