Today is headspace day — a national day of support for the mental health and wellbeing of all young Australians. 

This year’s theme,‘Pause. Reflect. Reconnect.’, encourages young people to take a step back and take a moment to reconnect with things that bring them joy.

New research from a national survey conducted by headspace shows that family members are struggling to help with their young people's mental health needs. 

2,059 participants across parents, carers, siblings, elders, close friends and stepfamily who care for young people aged 12-25 completed the survey, which revealed that 8 in 10 family members show concern about their young person's mental health.

Those caring for a LGBTIQA+ young person (90 per cent) and those who belong to multicultural communities (85 per cent) as the most concerned.

One in five participants reported not feeling confident enough to ask for professional support for their young person. The findings also showed that the more concerned the families are, the less likely they are to have ‘difficult’ mental health conversations.

Headspace CEO Jason Trethowan says the survey highlights the size of the challenge facing families, who are doing their best to respond to their young people’s mental health needs. 

“It’s not surprising that families are worried about their young people’s mental health, given some of the challenges we’re facing right now, including school refusal, cost of living pressures and impacts from extreme climate events.

“Family members are the first group that young people will reach out to when they need support, so it’s important they stay engaged with their young person’s mental health and wellbeing by being aware of any changes in their behaviour, such as disengaging from social activities, difficulty focusing, or changes in sleep habits.

While these can be early signs of stress, they also present opportunities to check in, provide support and create a safe environment that encourages open communication and seeking help when needed.”

Trenthowan also sends a reminder that most of us are not mental health experts, and it's okay to ask for help and support. 

“It’s important to remember that there’s no expectation for you to be an expert and it’s okay to get things wrong. Just being there for your young person and showing that you care for them unconditionally is a good start. 

“There’s also still a portion of family members who don’t feel confident reaching out for support, perhaps due to stigma or because they don’t know what is available.

“This headspace day, we want to put a spotlight on the services that help family members to feel more confident when supporting their young person’s mental health journey.”

To help build the skills needed to seek professional support, headspace encourages family members to:

• Start conversations early: Approach your young person with openness and empathy, creating a safe space to talk.
• Use available resources: Familiarise yourself with online tools and support services provided by headspace.
• Seek professional help when needed: Don't hesitate to reach out to mental health professionals (such as headspace) if you’re unsure how to proceed.
• All connections are good connections: if your young person doesn’t feel in a place to share with you how they’re coping, then it’s OK for them to talk to another supportive adult in their lives. The most important thing is that they feel connected and supported.
• Practice self-care: Supporting a young person’s mental health is challenging. Take time to care for your own mental wellbeing as well.

Member for Kiama, Gareth Ward used headspace day as an opportunity to promote taking time for self-care among his constituents.  

“Whether it is spending time with your family and friends, pursuing a new hobby, or simply taking a break for reflection and relaxation, finding time for self-care is essential.

“I encourage local residents and community groups to visit the headspace website for information on how you can get involved, find great tips, and explore activities to support your wellbeing and the wellbeing of others.”

This Headspace Day, take a moment to pause and breathe deeply. Reflect on both the challenging and joyful times that shape you. Reach out to family and loved ones, and start conversations about mental health to help remove the stigma around it.

If you’re looking for someone to talk to immediately, Lifeline (13 11 14), Kids Helpline (1800 55 1800), and 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732) are available to talk 24/7.