By LACHLAN MOORHEAD
STAFF from Hampton Park Primary School have committed the school to a three-year program that will focus on the mental health and wellbeing of its students.
The Kids Matter initiative, which is supported by the Department of Health and Beyondblue, is a mental health and wellbeing framework for primary schools which encompasses four major components and aims to make a positive difference in children’s lives while bringing together the staff and parent communities.
Last Friday Hampton Park Primary School officially launched its involvement in the Kids Matter initiative at an entire school assembly.
The school’s commitment to the mental health campaign comes as Beyondblue released statistics last month that revealed suicide to be the leading cause of death for Australians aged between 15 and 44 in 2012.
And mental health difficulties affect approximately one in seven Australian children, according to statistics released by Kids Matter.
Hampton Park Primary student wellbeing co-ordinator Averil Mitchell said it was imperative to address the importance of mental health with primary school aged children.
“It needs to be instilled in kids from a young age and we work very much in partnership with the parents,” she said.
“We maximise the protective factors and minimise the risk factors.
“It’s something we’re quite passionate about, too often anxiety and depression aren’t talked about enough.”
The Kids Matter campaign involves four components which Ms Mitchell said would take three years to fully implement.
These are to develop a positive school community, social and emotional learning for students, parenting support and education, and early intervention for students who are experiencing mental health difficulties.
A Hampton Park Primary School staff action team has already organised several events including a cultural infusion night as part of the focus on the first component.
Ms Mitchell, who is also the action team leader, said she was first made aware of the Kids Matter campaign at a wellbeing conference in 2011 and the initiative had resonated with her.
“A lot of time mental health brings a negative connotation,” she said.
“People don’t think about mental health until kids are teenagers and adults but in actual fact we need to give kids the necessary tools they need at a primary school level so we’re up skilling them.
“We don’t all have great days every day of the week.”
Those who need immediate assistance or to talk to someone they can trust can visit beyondblue.org.au, call Suicide Helpline Victoria on 1300 651 257 or Lifeline on 131 119.
