Although suicide rates have decreased by 56% over the past ten
years (ABS, 2008a), research indicates that presentations of
intentional self harm have increased (AIHW, 2008). The results of
the 2007 National Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing (ABS,
2008b) also indicate that we still have a way to go in making
support and help services relevant and accessible to young
people.
In any given year:
- 23% of males and 30% of females aged 16 to 24 experience a
mental health disorder
- only 13% of males and 31% of females in this age group seek
professional support. (ABS, 2008b)
Schools play a key role as a setting for promoting positive mental
health outcomes for young people. The Reach Out Teachers Network aims to provide
teachers with the knowledge, skills and resources to support their
students to improve their mental health and wellbeing.
The vision for
Inspire's work with the education sector is to transform
education so that learning the skills to be resilient are as
important to all players in the education sector as learning the
skills of the 3Rs (reading, writing and arithmetic). Resilience
needs to be seen as the 4th R in education.