Upper Hunter Nationals MP Dave Layzell is encouraging parents, carers and community members supporting young people to attend free online mental health workshops hosted by headspace in collaboration with local community stakeholders.
The 49 additional workshops will help parents and carers better understand the unique challenges young people are facing and show how to access appropriate support, particularly during COVID.
“It’s perfectly natural for parents and carers to worry about the mental health and wellbeing of the children and young people in their lives. Starting a conversation with them about what’s going on in their world can be really tough – especially if they are a teenager,” said Mr Layzell.
“These workshops will help parents and carers improve their mental health literacy, teaching them to recognise danger signs, learn shareable coping skills and understand what support is available locally.”
Parents, carers and community members can register their attendance for any of the sessions online at: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/o/headspace-nsw-parent-and-carer-sessions-34085927895
Session dates and times include:
• Tamworth – Tuesday, October 5 at noon
• Mid North Coast – Monday, October 11 at 6pm
• Hunter-New England – Wednesday, October 13 at noon & Wednesday, October 27 at 6pm
• Bathurst – Tuesday, November 2 at 6pm.
Nationals Minister for Mental Health Bronnie Taylor said the sessions will benefit the whole community and build on the more than 30 COVID-focused online sessions which have been available to communities since July with support from the NSW Nationals in the state government.
“These sessions are for any parent or carer who is worried about their child and isn’t sure how to approach a conversation about it with them,” said Mrs Taylor.
“We have had incredibly positive feedback from our initial workshops, with over 3,800 parents and carers registering. These workshops are all about addressing local challenges, pointing the way to local support services and allowing the community to ask questions about what they can do to help young people who are struggling.”
