You don’t have to tackle mental health challenges on your own. Talk to a trusted adult and find support through your school or community.
Your mental health and wellbeing
It’s great that you're taking the time to understand your own mental health and what you can do.
We all face challenges that test our mental health.
It's normal to feel sad, upset and angry at times. And some stress is a normal part of everyday life. Everyone's moods move up and down. We can start the day feeling great, and our mood might change by lunch.
But if you feel sad, angry or stressed most of the time, it's a sign you need help.
You might want to talk about:
- handling relationships
- how you feel about your body
- things happening at home
- your emotions
- things making you feel uncomfortable or unsafe
- the way you're managing stress or a tough time
- using drugs or alcohol.
Common mental health concerns for young people
Information on anxiety, depression, eating disorders, drug and alcohol use, feeling unsafe, discrimination, and bullying.
Signs you might need help with your mental health
You might need help if you're:
- losing interest in activities you normally enjoy
- withdrawing from friends and family
- feeling 'low', stressed or worried a lot of the time
- finding ordinary things, like getting schoolwork done or doing jobs at home, harder or overwhelming
- being easily irritated or getting angry over little things
- taking more risks
- having a lot of negative thoughts
- changes to sleeping patterns
- feeling like you're eating too much or not enough.
How to ask for help (and start a difficult conversation)
It can be hard to start a conversation about mental health. Just telling someone you need help is a great and brave first step. Or you might want to go straight to your school or an organisation that can help.
You might worry about how the other person will react. But family, teachers and mental health professionals are here to help. Even if they can't solve your issues, they can find experts who can help.
Finding someone you trust can also be hard. The main thing is that you feel safe with the person and trust them.
Read 6 steps to help you tackle difficult conversations.
Who you can talk to
Talk to anyone you trust or feel safe with...
At school:
- your teacher
- the wellbeing coordinator or counsellor
- the school nurse, GP or mental health professional
- a friend at school or outside school.
At home:
- a parent or carer
- an aunty, uncle, grandparent or other family member
- a family friend.
In your community:
- your local GP or other health professional
- your sports coach
- a friend's parent or carer.
Helping a friend
Mental health problems can happen to anyone any time, and it's nobody's fault.
Friends often turn to each other for help before seeking out an adult, an expert (like a psychologist) or a service (such as headspace).
What's the best way to keep a friend safe? When you think they need help, tell a trusted adult.
If you're worried about a friend's mental health, it's essential that you speak to a trusted adult. It's one of the best ways to look after them, even if you promised not to tell anyone. In serious situations, telling a trusted adult and getting help may be the only way for your friend to get better.
It can be hard reaching out to help a friend. You might worry they'll get angry at you or stop talking to you out of fear or embarrassment. They might say they don't need help. But the most important thing is that your friend gets better.
When to tell a trusted adult
Tell an adult if a friend:
- tells you they're self-harming, or if you think they are
- is unsafe at home, work or another activity, like sport
- has a plan to complete suicide or talked about completing suicide.
If you or anyone you know needs immediate help, call emergency services on 000.
Signs your friend might need support
A friend may need mental health support if they:
- don't seem like themselves
- are pushing friends away or don't want to hang out any more
- lost interest in doing things they used to enjoy
- seem low, stressed, or worried
- get easily irritated or angry
- take more risks (such as with drugs or alcohol, things they do, or gambling)
- have low self-esteem or put themselves down a lot
- talk about trouble sleeping or not getting enough sleep
- you're concerned about their changed habits and routines.
How you and your friends can support each other
- reach out, offer support, and let them know you care
- do things you enjoy together
- let your friend know there's help available
- share your own mental health challenges with them.
More guidance on how to support a friend:
- How to help a friend going through a tough time
- NIP it in the bud – the three-step process when you’re worried about a friend
- How to help a friend.
Apps to help you support a friend are The Check-in and Chats For Life.
Where to get help
A mental health concern is no different to a concern about physical health. It can be managed and treated.
Reaching out to someone you trust is a great first step. As well as getting support from your school, many organisations can help.
Supports at school
Staff at your school care about you and want to create a safe place for you and your friends.
If things are getting too much, or you're worried about a friend or someone in your family, talking to someone at your school is a good idea.
Your school might have a team of people or just a couple of wellbeing staff. There might be a counsellor, chaplain, Mental Health Practitioner or school-based GP.
In most schools, you can make an appointment to see someone by just dropping by or emailing.
If you're not sure who to talk to or how to approach the wellbeing team, ask another trusted adult in the school, like your favourite teacher or Year Level Coordinator.
How the wellbeing team can support you
The wellbeing team can help with things like:
- short term counselling
- information on things like mental health, substance misuse, sex, and relationships
- help you to make a plan to feel better and take the first steps
- connect you with community services or programs that can help
- let your teachers know you're going through a tough time and what would help you in class (if you want them to know)
- help you talk to your parents or carers
- refer you to more intensive support if you need it
- make sure you're safe.
Mental Health support during school holidays
Mental health support, resources and advice are available for students and families to access over the school holidays. Two fact sheets for students and families:
- support positive mental health and wellbeing of students
- identify signs students may need mental health support
- access available support.
These fact sheets are also available in 19 different languages.
To access the factsheets, including translated factsheets, visit: mental health supports for students over school holidays.
Support for VCE students
Exams can be stressful. You may feel pressure to do well in exams to get into a certain course or to please your family. Eating and sleeping well, taking time to exercise, and doing things you enjoy can help manage stress during exam periods.
Acute or chronic illness, personal circumstances, disability or impairment may mean you need special consideration during exams.
Read advice on:
Online and community supports
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