Dr Karen Lombardi at the ECU Joondalup Open Day.
“Stigma”, “pressure of ATAR”, “stress” and “money” were some of the key issues identified when Embrace researchers asked students about their biggest mental health concerns at multiple university open days.
At the open days, held at Curtin, UWA, and ECU, Embrace ran an activity where students responded to mental health-related questions on sticky notes which went on display on a mental health poster. The activity encouraged discussions around mental health, including who to turn to for support and how to look after your mental health.
While there were important conversations around mental health concerns and signs things might not be going so well, there was also consideration given to the question of what mental health means to you.
Some of these answers included, “being able to open up your voice and thoughts,” “the psychological wellbeing of an individual which influences their ability to perform in an environment,” “emotional wellbeing,” and “taking a break whenever things get difficult”.
Embrace Senior Researcher Dr Karen Lombardi, who shared tips and support at the open days, said it was important to have discussions about mental health with young people.
“Going out to open days has been such a great opportunity to engage with young people and talk to them about their concerns around mental health,” she said.
It really helps us to think about our research going forward, and the young people and parents who signed up for our community group will be invaluable in supporting our work in the future.
The responses serve as a reminder of the importance of centring the voices of children, young people, and families within mental health work and research, a key focus of Embrace’s work.
Embrace is committed to developing its relationship with the community and to centring their voice in all activities. If you would like to be a part of our Community Group, sign up here.
Embrace is supported by principal partner, Rio Tinto.