NT Schools Mental Health Management: Beyond Blue’s Be You Initiative
Beyond Blue’s Be You initiative is being implemented in schools across Australia with the aim of enhancing the mental health of both teachers and students. This program offers online training and mental health consultants to schools, assisting them in developing their own wellbeing frameworks.
The Northern Territory (NT) government has made a commitment to introduce this program in all of its schools within a four-year timeframe.
At Ludmilla Primary School in Darwin, students begin their day by expressing their emotions to their classmates. Whether they feel angry, frustrated, confused, nervous, or happy and relaxed, they openly share the reasons behind their emotions. This practice is intended to normalize discussions about emotions.
At this school, the curriculum goes beyond traditional subjects like English and math. Students are taught important life skills such as being a good friend, standing up against bullies, and seeking help when they are not feeling well.
Principal Carol Putica emphasizes the significant benefits of teaching these specific skills to students. She believes that explicitly addressing these topics in schools greatly contributes to the positive wellbeing of students.
Carol Putica is dedicated to enhancing the emotional intelligence of her students, in addition to their academic knowledge. This commitment to nurturing the overall well-being of her students is evident in her approach to mental health management in NT schools. (ABC News: Hamish Harty)
NT to implement Be You program in all schools
Ludmilla Primary School has joined the national Be You program, a mental health education framework funded by the Commonwealth and delivered by Beyond Blue, Headspace, and Early Childhood Australia. This initiative aims to enhance the well-being of teachers and students.
In 2018, Ludmilla Primary became one of the pioneering schools in the Northern Territory to adopt the Be You program. The positive outcomes observed from this implementation have prompted the NT government to commit to rolling out the program to all schools starting next year. Currently, 72% of schools nationwide have already signed up for the program.
Liz Grylls, a parent, chose Ludmilla Primary for her children, Lucy and Felix, due to the school’s comprehensive wellness framework. She has witnessed the extensive benefits of the program, including emotional resilience, physical health, mental health, enhanced self-esteem, social skills, and improved academic performance.
NT schools mental health management
Liz Grylls’s two children, Lucy and Felix, are enrolled at Ludmilla Primary School. According to the family, the school’s wellness program has numerous benefits. (ABC News: Hamish Harty)
Collaboration between Ludmilla and Bagot community to address mental health in NT schools
According to Geri Sumpter, the head of delivery at Beyond Blue, it is concerning that half of all mental health conditions begin by the age of 14, with anxiety and depression being the most prevalent. However, recent research has shown that factors such as natural disasters, the lingering effects of the pandemic, and increasing rates of loneliness also contribute to these conditions.
Schools in the Northern Territory face unique challenges and have specific needs. These include low school attendance rates, family disharmony, and difficulties in delivering services to remote locations.
To address these issues, a tailored initiative has been implemented to support the mental health needs of each school and service in the Northern Territory. This initiative aims to provide the necessary resources and assistance to effectively manage mental health in NT schools.
Each school in the Northern Territory (NT) has the opportunity to customize the mental health management program according to its specific needs and the needs of its students. This flexibility allows for a tailored approach that takes into account the unique circumstances of each school.
At Ludmilla School, many of the students live in the nearby Aboriginal community of Bagot. To ensure the success of the program, the school collaborated with local community leaders. Together, they implemented strategies such as a walking school bus from the community. This initiative not only promotes physical activity but also creates an environment where students feel culturally safe and comfortable discussing their mental health.
Natalie Howard, the program manager at Bagot, emphasizes the importance of cultural safety in schools. She explains that the students have developed strong relationships with their teachers and community workers, which encourages them to openly address any problems they may be facing.
The Be You framework, which focuses on supporting the mental health of both students and teachers, plays a crucial role in this holistic approach. It complements the work of school counselors and aims to create a school-wide culture of mental health promotion. By equipping teachers with the necessary skills to support their students and themselves, the framework addresses the issue of teacher burnout and improves staff retention.
Ludmilla Primary School has achieved a significant milestone by retaining 100% of its staff this year. Ms. Putica, the school’s representative, attributes this success to the emphasis placed on staff wellbeing. She believes that programs like Be You have a vital role to play in schools, as they address the wellbeing of teachers, which is often a factor in their decision to leave the profession.
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