Communicate with your young person

Communicate with your young person, urges Foundation

The Mental Health Foundation is encouraging family members to connect with their young person during Youth Week and beyond.

The theme for this year’s Youth Week, which runs from 22-30 May, is Rangatahi ora: Whanau ora, connecting young people and families. The Foundation is in full support of this theme and says that connecting with loved ones is essential for wellbeing.

There is good news regarding the mental heath of our young people, with Ministry of Health figures released in December showing that the youth suicide rate has declined by 46.6 percent since the peak in 1995. The Foundation says this is encouraging but there is no room for complacency, and more needs to be done to ensure the health and happiness of our young people.

According to New Zealand research, nine percent of male secondary students and 18.3 percent of female secondary students are reporting levels of depressive symptoms that are considered serious and in need of professional assistance.

For most young people, however, it is in their home and family environment that they seek out and want support and connection.

“Having a sense of connection and belonging is very important for all of us, regardless of age,” Hugh Norriss, Acting Chief Executive says. “Contrary to the popular belief that young people only want to spend time with their friends, the Youth 2007 survey of 10,000 secondary students found that what many young people want is to spend more time with their caregivers. We would encourage everyone to be involved in their young people’s lives and, even in, or especially in, the most difficult of times, to keep communicating with their rangatahi/youth.”

Events for Youth Week are taking place around the country. The Foundation is partnering with Hauora Hokianga in organising a youth photo voice exhibition in Rawene during the week, more information can be found on the Foundation’s website.

The Foundation’s Resource and Information Service also provides resources on various youth issues such as depression in young people, and bullying. One popular resource is How to get heard: Talking to your parents, which provides advice on speaking to caregivers about any issue that may be troubling a young person. This resource and others can also be found through the Foundation’s website www.mentalhealth.org.nz

Connect is one of the Winning Ways to Wellbeing promoted by the Foundation. Fun activity ideas for connecting with family/whanau can be found in the online toolkit from Mental Health Awareness Week 2009.

ENDS

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