Be Well Y Talk
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- B Well Y Talk
Be Well Y Talk Community Mental Health Conversations
The ‘Be Well Y Talk’ program originated from a need recognised by young people and the STARTTS Youth Team for more discussions about mental health. This program was written and compiled by youth workers, child and adolescent counsellors (C&AC) and young people.
‘Be Well’ focuses on giving young people space to explore concerns and opinions on mental health, coping, communication, stigma, self-care, community connections, peer support and options of further support (e.g. counselling). It also highlights what tools and supports young people can use to navigate issues that can have a negative effect on their mental health.
‘Be Well Y Talk’ engages specifically young people. Having said that, the program is best partnered with ‘Be Well A Talk’, which focuses on facilitating conversations with parents about the challenges that affect the family – the young person’s support network.
What do we talk about in Be Well?
- Mental Health vs. Mental Illness
- Communication about health and stress
- Discussions around stigma in society
- Forms of self-care
- Finding community connections
- Providing peer support and accidental counselling
Why do we run Be Well sessions? To...
- Strengthen community knowledge and connection
- Develop peer understanding and support
- Generate skills in accidental counselling
- Break the stigma around mental illness and distress
- Learn methods of self-care
Other Details
Target Group: High school students, alongside corresponding programs with parents, caregivers, community leaders and religious leaders
Program Delivery:
5 weekly sessions, 80-120 minutes each
Requirement:
A classroom + external outing (optional)
Designed by:
STARTTS Youth Team and young people
Maximum no. of participants:
15 per group
Inside scoop
What have young people said about Be Well?
“Do you think Be Well is important for young people resettling in Australia?”
I knew about mental health, but I learned how to deal with it when I joined the program.
Yes, I know that mental problems don’t have age and sometimes it comes from family, friends, country, school. That if we feel stressed or angry, we can control all if we have mentally tired, I can talk to someone.
Yes, there was I understood how to help people.
Yes, I don't suffer in silence anymore.
Yes, because it will help them understand more about mental health.
Yes, because they help us to be better and how we have to be good inside before outside.
Yes, I didn't know many things about mental health, so I was thinking they're crazy.
What's the scoop?!
What have other teachers and school staff said about the Be Well Program?
One of the most important things that the program and the facilitators did was to give them those strategies that would help them bounce back. Build resilience. You know, we talked about how it’s okay to feel low. Life has its ups and down. We all have our days. But then these strategies were introduced to them in a way that gave them the ability to bounce back. What I liked was how the importance was given to normalise those lows but also indicating the importance of building resilience.
The program was essential because it’s not in the curriculum. Topics like mental health and stigma are so important and helping them understand that it’s not a bad thing to ask for help. One of the facilitators gave them a small card sort of thing with contact information of different resources. I loved that. It’s good for them to have that. And telling them that men can cry and teaching them about self-care. So many important lessons. “Like telling them that it’s okay to not be okay. It’s okay to feel stress but, we need to do something to address it and take care of ourselves. And having those conversations and activities around exploring those topics more in depth. That’s why this program is important.
First off, the program was so different to the normal school routine. The facilitators were external. They were not teachers from the school. I think the kids responded to that better. I don’t know why exactly but the program is special you know. It’s not something ordinary. The topics covered were not really taught in school and the facilitators organised these interesting interactive activities that got them engaging in a different way.