• Posted on 3 Aug 2020
  • 3-minute read

A new resource, aimed at helping students regain the motivation, energy and optimism lost during the COVID-19 pandemic, has been developed by Kidman Centre UTS psychologists.

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Descriptive transcript

Hello, I'm Kylie Gillies from Channel 7.

As a parent of a Year 12 student, Gus, I'm acutely aware that this is not the Year 12 journey that our family had hoped for him. Gus and his friends are not alone. The entire Year 12 community has been affected by the pandemic. The challenges and disruption to students' lives has been extraordinary.

Now, even before COVID-19, teenagers were the highest risk group for developing mental health problems. The latest research shows depression and anxiety have skyrocketed, and many students are pessimistic about the future—a future that is now uncertain with higher unemployment levels and changes to travel and looming university studies.

Many Year 12s are struggling with motivation, disengagement and a lack of direction, as well as a constant pressure to achieve uni entrance scores.

2020 school leavers are grieving the loss of those Year 12 rites of passage—the fun stuff. We're talking school formals, end-of-year trips and celebrations that they've been looking forward to. And as parents, let me tell you that we share that disappointment.

I'm here today to tell you about a new mental health program specifically designed for Year 12 students called Coming Back Stronger. It aims to address these concerns and support students through the remainder of Year 12.

Clinical psychologists from the Kidman Centre, University of Technology Sydney, have been working alongside Year 12 students for over a decade now. They've developed a one-hour program relying on evidence-based strategies that will help to build motivation and keep students on track for achieving their goals.

There's also a seminar there for parents. We need to let our Year 12 kids know they're not alone. This is a free resource and can be accessed via this link.

Please take a look. Let us help our amazing Year 12 kids get through what has been a really tough year.

The stresses and strains that come with finishing school or starting university are supposed to be a normal part of life.  Then there are the enjoyable milestones and rites of passage of turning 18, high school formals and OWeek celebrations.

But what happens when all the fun aspects - the socialising, Gap Year planning and freedom - are suddenly stripped away and the whole world seemed to be in isolation and lockdown?

This is the reality facing HSC and first year tertiary students.  Research suggests many are not coping, prompting clinical psychologists from the Kidman Centre UTS to develop a new resource aimed at helping an especially vulnerable group get urgent support.

Kidman Centre Director Dr Rachael Murrihy said young people in Australia were already experiencing high rates of mental illness, and that COVID-19 has “dramatically accelerated this trend”.

“Depression and anxiety [among young people] has increased four fold.

“The message we’re getting from students is concerning. We’re hearing comments such as ‘It’s all pointless’, ‘I feel ripped off’, ‘I can’t concentrate’, ‘I’m struggling with motivation’,” Dr Murrihy said.

Dr Murrihy said these were signs that  investment in this group is needed now to avoid even higher rates of mental illness in young people.

“We are facing down high suicide rates, especially if unemployment increases and a second pandemic wave leads to further lockdowns, isolation and disruption," she said.

Continue reading at UTS Newsroom:Program helps students come back stronger

 

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