Children, young people and mental health services

Growing up is not easy and at each stage of development, from pre-primary, right through to the teen years, there are challenges that will test a child’s emotional and mental health.

Promoting good mental health in children, teenagers and young people will help them build lasting relationships, communicate effectively, and adapt to change as they grow into adults. If your child is dealing with a mental health issue, it is important to know who you can talk to and where you can get help.

Pre-primary children and mental health

When talking about mental health in pre-primary children, the focus is not so much about looking for signs of mental illness, but rather about creating a secure environment for your child to develop at their own pace. By making sure your child feels safe and loved, you give them the best opportunity to develop the social skills they need to get through life.

As they grow and get ready for their school years they will learn how to:

• express and control their emotions
• communicate their needs and interests
• behave the right way in different situations
• form friendships and work together with others
• resolve conflicts.

Encourage good mental health in your child by actively listening to them, giving them lots of free play time, rewarding good behaviour, being affectionate and also sharing your own emotions.

Where to get help

All children develop at different rates and cope differently with the challenges of growing up. Some are more anxious or shy, while others may be irritable or misbehave more than children normally do. If you are concerned about the mental health of your child because of worrying behaviour, there are places you can turn to for help.

A good place to start is to speak to your doctor or maternal health nurse about your concerns. They will be able to talk through some of the developmental issues that might be contributing to bad behaviour and will also be able to suggest further mental health support services.

For more information, make use of Victoria’s various parenting helplines and websites, including:

• Triple P – provides online programs for parents and carers to support children’s mental health, wellbeing and development. Triple P Online is a program for parents of toddlers to 12-year-olds - providing tips and strategies to positively influence your child’s development, emotional regulation, and wellbeing.
• The Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne - Kids Information is dedicated to providing quality up-to-date health information. You can find information via fact sheets, videos and podcast episodes.
• The Raising Children Network– an online parenting resource with advice for children of all age groups.

Primary school children and mental health

Children between the ages of five and ten go through a lot of changes as they adjust to life at school and spending long periods of time away from their parents.

If you are concerned about how your child is coping with these changes, it is a good idea to talk to them about it and get help if you do not know what to do.

Your child may be struggling with shyness, separation anxiety, peer pressure, bullying, or even a behavioural disorder such as oppositional defiant disorder (ODD), conduct disorder (CD) or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Where to get help

Speak to your doctor and the school counsellor about any concerns you have. They can give you advice on other ways of communicating with your child and also refer you to mental health support services such as child psychologists or child psychiatrists if needed.

• The Kids Helpline is a great option for kids who do not feel comfortable talking about their feelings to you or other family members. They can call 1800 55 1800 for free counselling and advice.
• The Raising Children Network is also a great place to find information on children of primary school age, including fact sheets and downloadable toolkits on child development, behavioural problems and other health issues.
• Triple P Online is a program for parents of toddlers to 12-year-olds - providing tips and strategies to positively influence your child’s development, emotional regulation, and wellbeing. The Fear-Less Triple P Online program is designed to help parents and carers support children who are experiencing fear and anxiety caused by the pandemic. The program provides strategies and guidance on how to help children manage their stress and become more emotionally resilient.

Other places to find helpful advice and information include:

• The Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne - Kids Health Information
• ACD - advocating for children with disability – call (03) 9880 7000 (or 1800 654 013 for rural callers)
• Australian Psychological Society, APS Psychologist Referral Service – call (03) 8662 3300 or 1800 333 497.

Pre-teen children and mental health

As you move towards your teenage years and high school, you will have to deal with pressures that you might not have experienced before such as issues with your body image, social media experiences and sexual development. It can be hard to make sense of all the changes that are going on around you.

Where to get help

Sometimes you will want to talk to your family or friends about what you are going through, and other times you will want to talk to someone who isn’t close to you.

Talk to your school counsellor or local doctor if you need help. Your conversations with them are private and they will be able to direct you to further support if you need it.

If you need to talk to someone right away, contact The Kids Help Line on 1800 55 1800, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For online counselling and email support, visit the Kids Help Line website.

Parents will find useful information on how to help their child in the pre-teens’ section of The Raising Children Network website.

Triple P has online programs for parents and carers to support pre-teen children’s mental health, wellbeing and development.

Teenagers, youth and mental health

Some teenagers experience mental health issues and illness. Teenagers can experience bouts of depression and anxiety, have problems with bullying, peer pressure or drugs and alcohol. The most important thing is to have someone to turn to when you need help.

Where to get help

Start by talking to your family and friends about what you are feeling. If you would rather speak to someone you do not know, try talking to your school counsellor or local doctor. Your conversations with them are private and they will be able to direct you to further support, through mental health support services such as a psychologist or psychiatrist.

Headspace, which is run by the National Youth Mental Health Foundation, offers support, information and advice to young people between the ages of 12 to 25. Visit the Headspace website to find a centre near you

If you are living with, or caring for, a family member with a mental illness, contact Carers Victoria on 1800 514 845 or visit the website for information and support.

For crisis support, phone and web counselling, and mental health information, contact one of the mental health support services listed below:

• Lifeline – call 13 11 14 for this free Australia-wide crisis support and suicide prevention service.
• Suicide Call Back Service – call 1300 659 467 for this free service for people having suicidal thoughts, family or friends affected by suicide and healthcare professionals treating suicidal patients.
• Suicide Line – call 1300 651 251 for free and anonymous support, 24 hours a day, seven days a week across Victoria.
• Kids Help Line – call 1800 55 1800 for free counselling and advice for young people between the ages of five and 25.
• Headspace – Headspace is the National Youth Mental Health Foundation providing early intervention mental health services to 12-25 year olds.
• Reachout – visit their website for information, tools and support for young people with mental health issues.
• Beyond Blue – call 1300 22 4636 for free telephone counselling or visit their website for information, resources and support for young people with depression or anxiety.
• Alcohol and Drug Foundation – free health advice for young people on substance use and mental health.

Parents can access useful information about positively influencing a teenager’s development, resilience and emotional wellbeing with the Teen Triple P program.

Pop-up community mental health services are opening across Victoria, providing a first point of call for those looking for mental health counselling and wellbeing support. The Partners in Wellbeing helpline is currently supporting access to the pop-ups. If you, a friend, or a family member needs support, call 1300 375 330.

Where to get help

• Your GP (doctor)
• Your counsellor
• Psychologist
• Psychiatrist
• Telephone helplines
• Internet forums