YOUTH FOCUS
Youth Focus Early Intervention – Prevention – Support
RECENTLY, CAM ALLEN, DIRECTOR OF SCRIBE MAGAZINE CAUGHT UP WITH MIKE FITZPATRICK, TRAINING MANAGER AT YOUTH FOCUS TO ASK ABOUT THEIR VITAL WORK UNDERTAKEN IN SUPPORTING THE MENTAL HEALTH OF VULNERABLE YOUNG PEOPLE WITHIN OUR COMMUNITIES – READ ON TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THIS INVALUABLE ORGANISATION…
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an you tell our SCRIBE readers what Youth Focus is all about and outline the objectives Youth Focus endeavours to achieve? Youth Focus is an independent non-profit organisation, unique in that it supports vulnerable young West Australians by offering a range of mental health services. We operate with a team of highly trained and skilled psychologists, social workers, occupational therapists and trainers to provide a range of early intervention and prevention services aimed at supporting young people and their families to overcome the issues associated with suicide, depression and self harm. Our mission is ensuring adolescents that need our help are fully supported in what can be a distressing and confusing stage of life. These objectives form the backbone of Youth Focus’ service to young people in Western Australia:
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Prevent suicide and self-harming behaviors in young people
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Provide a youth-friendly communitybased support service
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Offer early support and assistance to young people and their families
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Promote the development of coping, interpersonal and psychosocial competencies in young people through counselling and training
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Promote strong and caring relationships between young people, their families, peers and communities
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Work in a coordinated and collaborative manner with other agencies and organisations which may also be providing services to the young person and / or their family.
We aim to understand young people and their difficulties within the broader context of their lives which includes family, friends, school and their local community.
This understanding acknowledges the effect of past experiences, the significance of current issues and circumstances, and the nature of adolescence as a life stage. The words ‘mental health’ conjure up a vast array of conditions and symptoms. How does Youth Focus interpret ‘mental health’ with young people in mind and what constitutes actual mental illness?
The World Health Organisation describes mental health as the “state in which the individual realises their own abilities, can cope with normal stresses of life, can work productively, and is able to make a contribution to their community.” In a young person it relates to the balance between all aspects of their life – social, physical and emotional. It influences their ability to manage their surroundings and make decisions that affect their lives.
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SCRIBE Director Cam Allen and Training Manager Mike Fitzpatrick discussing the training programmes offered at Youth Focus in one of the counselling rooms.
As far as mental illness is concerned, it is a diagnosable illness which causes major changes in a person’s thinking, emotional state and behaviour, and disrupts the person’s ability to study or work and carry on their usual personal relationships. It is an illness not a weakness. Why is improved Mental Health literacy important?
People are suffering through mental illness, often undiagnosed, and the more people that have even a basic understanding of what a mental health illness is, then the more assistance can be provided to those people to seek the appropriate professional help. The following statistics make it clear just how important mental health literacy is: •
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One in five Australians will experience a mental illness within a 12-month period
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The World Health Organisation estimates depression will be the number one cause of disability in both the developed and developing worlds by 2030
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In 2007, almost half (45%) of all Australians had experienced a mental disorder at some point in their lifetime.
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With regard to young people, what do the latest statistics around mental health illness show?
The latest national survey in 2007 showed young adults aged 16-24 have the highest prevalence of mental disorders of any age group – 26.4% compared with the survey average of 20%. The survey also showed that 15.4% of 16-24-year-olds surveyed suffered an anxiety disorder in one year and 6.3% suffered from a depressive disorder in one year.
that the risk of suicide will be significantly reduced. In what areas is Youth Focus planning to provide training?
Our training and education programmes currently cater for the needs of the community, education and industry sectors and cover a wide range of topics designed to assist in the following areas: •
To help people to identify any potential issues, to address those issues and to develop the resilience to cope in the future; and
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To help parents, employers, friends, work mates and others in the community to identify and assist with issues people may be experiencing.
Why is suicide a subject that is talked about more these days? The latest figures released showed 2361 Australians completed suicide in 2010. There has been a cultural stigma around suicide and in the early days it was just not talked about. In some countries suicide was or still is illegal. The idea that we should not talk about it, is not supported by any evidence that it will lead to more suicides. Most people do not ask the straight question “are you thinking about suicide?” because they are scared that they will not know what to do if the person says that they are. Training can assist to provide those crucial skills. The reality is that if someone is contemplating suicide, and they are supported and encouraged to get appropriate professional and personal support, there is a very high probability
What specifically is Youth Focus planning for the education sector?
We are keen to provide mental health education across school communities which include parents and friends. We also have programmes that provide appropriate training for teachers and support staff to approach, assess and assist young people that they think may be suffering from a mental illness or are contemplating suicide. For example, one programme we have designed involves mental health training across all teachers and support staff that
provides a basic understanding of mental health issues and recognition of the symptoms. The second stage provides training for selected teachers and support staff in Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) which equips them with the skills to approach, assess and assist a young person who may be experiencing a mental illness or contemplating suicide. YMHFA is a nationally recognised programme delivered across Australia and internationally. The course is for adults living or working with young people aged 12-18 years and covers the signs and symptoms of the 5 most prevalent mental health issues within this age group, those being, crisis scenarios, referral processes, mental health information, statistics and suicide as well as non-suicide self-injury support. Mental health first aid is the help provided to a person developing a mental health problem or in a mental health crisis. The first aid is given until appropriate professional treatment is received or until the crisis resolves. What are the main benefits for people who undergo this training?
It is tremendously important that we have more people on the ground in communities who have a basic
understanding of mental health issues and what to do to assist.
background, I decided that I would get involved in suicide prevention.
Another important point to make is that we are not trying to broaden everyone’s shoulders and load them up with a degree qualification in order to save everyone with a mental illness.
Suicide notwithstanding, the effects of mental illness can be hugely debilitating to young people in particular. Helping in any way to relieve these circumstances is tremendously rewarding.
The simple question;“are you OK?”, along with the skills to support the person if they are not, should be as common as basic first aid is for a physical injury – and most people know the basics!
Another two areas that can also be seriously inhibited due to mental illness such as depression are career aspirations and relationships – the sad thing is that people are unaware help is actually available.
I undertook some ASIST training this year which is designed to train people to intervene when they think someone may be having suicidal thoughts. There were 50 people at the weekend course and on the Saturday night four of the participants undertook an assist with someone they knew who was having suicidal thoughts. That alone indicates to me the value of awareness and specific training. Tell us why/how you are involved?
Having worked all around Western Australia I have seen the results of mental illness and suicide in communities. I sadly lost a family member to suicide last year and having worked in training and development for a long period of time, together with my counselling
That is why through our training programmes we hope to raise awareness of the symptoms of mental illness to as many people as possible. By providing assistance to family, friends, neighbours and workmates if they see that someone is not travelling too well and having some problems – they will know where to go to get help. That help can be as simple in the first instance, as talking to someone you trust – something us blokes in particular should remember! Photography: Solace Design
Go to Page 71 for a more detailed selection of the Mental Health First Aid training course/s available at Youth Focus.
Youth Focus provides Mental Health Training that will help you to identify issues and provide assistance. Our school programs provide training for teachers and support staff to
be experiencing such as anxiety, depression, self harm and thoughts of
build mental health literacy in the education community and are tailored
suicide. Contact our Training Manager, Mike Fitzpatrick, on 6266 4333 or
to fit the needs of the school community. They are designed to provide
mike.fitzpatrick@youthfocus.com.au to
the necessary skills to identify and assist with issues young people may
discuss how we can assist your school.
*Based on an average Australian Year 12 classroom of 30 students. Inspire Foundation, 2012.
54 Goodwood Parade, Burswood, WA, 6100 Ph (08) 6266 4333 Fax (08) 6266 4300 Email youthfocus@youthfocus.com.au Internet www.youthfocus.com.au
Youth Focus is an independent charity committed to the prevention of suicide, depression and self harm in young people aged 12-25 years
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