New research launched today by headspace National Youth Mental Health Foundation reveals the overwhelming majority of family members are worried about their young person’s mental wellbeing, with 8 in 10 having at least some level of concern about their young person’s mental health.
The findings come from the inaugural headspace National Family Mental Health Survey of 2,059 family members, including parents, carers, siblings, elders, close friends and stepfamily, who care for a young people aged 12-25.
The most concerned family members were those caring for an LGBTIQA+ young person (90 per cent) and those who belong to multicultural communities (85 per cent).
These survey findings, released on headspace day, also showed family members were acting on their concerns for their young people, with almost half of those surveyed discussing mental health and wellbeing with their young person at least weekly.
However, the more concerned families are, the less likely they are to have conversations about mental health with their young people – 28 per cent of concerned family members said conversations about mental health are difficult, compared to just 11 per cent of those who didn’t report concern.
Furthermore, one-fifth of participants who reported concern for their young person’s mental health also do not feel confident to ask a professional for support.
Size of challenge
Headspace CEO Jason Trethowan says the survey highlights the size of the challenge facing families, who are doing their best to respond to their young people’s mental health needs.
‘It’s not surprising that families are worried about their young people’s mental health, given some of the challenges we’re facing right now, including school refusal, cost of living pressures and impacts from extreme climate events,’ he said.
‘Just last month a landmark research paper in the Lancet, penned by 50 world-leading experts on youth mental health, recognised the unprecedented demand for youth mental health services. The same paper called out headspace as a world-leading model of care that can adapt to the changing needs of young people, and an organisation that centres family in a young person’s help-seeking journey.’
Mr Trethowan says the latest research shows that families are paying attention to the young people in their lives and that they understand it’s never been more difficult to navigate adolescence and early adulthood. ‘Many young people are having a tough time, and it is very normal for their loved ones to be concerned for them,’ he said.
‘Family members are the first group that young people will reach out to when they need support, so it’s important they stay engaged with their young person’s mental health and wellbeing by being aware of any changes in their behaviour, such as disengaging from social activities, difficulty focusing, or changes in sleep habits.
‘While these can be early signs of stress, they also present opportunities to check in, provide support and create a safe environment that encourages open communication and seeking help when needed.’
Okay to get things wrong
‘It’s important to remember that there’s no expectations for you to be an expert and it’s okay to get things wrong,’ said Mr Trethowan. ‘Just being there for your young person and showing that you care for them unconditionally is a good start.
‘There’s also still a portion of family members who don’t feel confident reaching out for support, perhaps due to stigma or because they don’t know what is available.
‘This headspace day, we want to put a spotlight on the services that help family members to feel more confident when supporting their young person’s mental health journey.’
Since inception in 2006, headspace has enjoyed bipartisan government support and will today welcome MPs to a headspace day event in Parliament House.
Normalise conversations
Geelong woman and headspace Family Reference Group member Kim Edgar will address attendees in Canberra. Kim’s 17-year-old son Daniel died by suicide six years ago.
‘It is so important for us to normalise conversations about mental health, and to start having these conversations before our young people begin experiencing mental health challenges,’ Ms Edgar said.
‘These conversations are not easy, and sometimes might not go as planned. It can be terrifying to hear something serious from our young person, but it’s that information that will prompt us to take the next step towards getting help.
‘There also needs to be support for the supporters. This means ensuring that families know when and where to look for support for their young person, and that they are included in the care their young person receives.’
Headspace encourages family members to:
- Start conversations early: Approach your young person with openness and empathy, creating a safe space to talk.
- Use available resources: Familiarise yourself with online tools and support services provided by headspace.
- Seek professional help when needed: Don’t hesitate to reach out to mental health professionals (such as headspace) if you’re unsure how to proceed.
- All connections are good connections: if your young person doesn’t feel in a place to share with you how they’re coping, then it’s OK for them to talk to another supportive adult in their lives. The most important thing is that they feel connected and supported.
- Practice self-care: Supporting a young person’s mental health is challenging. Take time to care for your own mental wellbeing as well.
With centres available across regional and metropolitan Australia, as well as online and phone counselling services, headspace is dedicated to supporting every facet of young people’s and their families’ mental health and wellbeing, ensuring they have comprehensive resources to navigate their journey.
We encourage any parent, carer, young person or family member in need of support to visit their local headspace centre. Support is also available via phone and online counselling service eheadspace seven days a week between 9am–1am (AEST). The number is 1800 650 890.
If you’re looking for someone to talk to immediately, Lifeline (13 11 14), Kids Helpline (1800 55 1800), and 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732) are available to talk 24/7.
