Wellbeing

We are excited about commencing two Social Emotional Learning (SEL) programs next term at Bunbury Senior High School. Explicit teaching of SEL facilitates development of the personal and social capabilities that young people need to build resilience and manage their emotions, behaviour and relationships with others.

Our Year 7 cohort will participate in AUSSIE Optimism - Optimistic Thinking Skills:

Aussie Optimism develops and promotes positive mental health in children, adolescents, and school communities.

The program aims to prevent the onset of anxiety and depression in young people by teaching students the practical skills and strategies that promote social and emotional wellbeing, problem-solving, and resilience.

Our Year 8 cohort will participate in Healthy Minds:

Healthy Minds is a psychological skills program aimed at preventing the onset of anxiety and depression while also reducing risk for eating disorders and body image problems. It teaches the specific skills associated with emotional wellness and resilience by addressing unhelpful perfectionism and promoting realistic thinking and self-compassion.

In addition to our SEL programs, our Year 10 cohort will participate in Teen Mental Health First Aid (TMHFS) training next term. This course equips secondary school students with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to recognise, understand and respond to a friend or classmate experiencing a mental health problem or mental health crisis. The course also promotes self-awareness around mental health topics, to encourage self-care and help seeking. This is essential for the prevention and early intervention of mental health problems.

Many young people are reluctant to seek formal support for their mental health problems. Stigma, fear, and misconceptions can negatively impact help seeking, and prevent already vulnerable young people from getting the support they need. This makes Social Emotional Learning programs and peer-to-peer support an essential part in any school-based prevention and early intervention approach. For it to be effective, we need to educate young people and give them the tools to understand and manage their own wellbeing and to recognise and respond to mental health problems in the real world.