Programs
Drumbeat
Drumbeat program was developed to combine the benefits of the group drumming process with cognitive behavioural therapy so that young people can transfer the lessons from the drum circle to their everyday lives.
Activities are used to create awareness of the links between the social skills developed as part of the music group and those required to form healthy and supportive relationships with others.
Through the program we look at social issues such as peer pressure, bullying, dealing with emotions, tolerating diversity, identity and social connection and responsibility.
SenseAbility
SenseAbility is designed to help enhance and maintain resilience and psychological wellbeing in young people (ages 12–18) by building their social and emotional skills. Young people who possess sound social and emotional skills are generally better able to cope with the stressors of daily life. They also tend to have better relationships with parents, teachers and peers, and perform better academically. Very importantly, having these skills makes it less likely that a young person will experience significant mental health problems in the future.
SenseAbility uses a strength-based approach that asks students to concentrate less on things that they think might be ‘wrong’ with themselves or their world, and focus more on the things in themselves and their world that are good (or even just okay), and which they can capitalise on. For example, a student might not have the body he or she thinks is ideal, but that body still allows them to move and talk and eat and feel. A student might not be the most popular person in class, but he or she might still possess valued qualities like loyalty and the ability to share a joke, and perhaps takes good care of siblings after school. In short, if students take their focus away from ‘faults’ and ‘defects’ and build instead on their inherent qualities and things that they are okay or good at, they open themselves to being more satisfied in life.
Teen Mental Health First Aid
Teen MHFA is an education course that teaches teenagers about the different types of mental health problems and mental health crisis situations in young people. The course teaches participants how to recognise changes in a friends’ thinking, feelings or behaviour that may indicate the presence of a mental health problem, how to offer initial mental first aid support and how to connect them with a trusted adult.
Topics covered include depression, anxiety, eating disorders, bullying and abuse, intoxication, non-suicidal self-injury and suicidal thoughts and behaviours.
Teen MHFA focuses on improving the mental health literacy of a whole cohort, to reduce the stigmatising behaviours and attitudes that often prevent teens from getting the help and support they need.
At Australind SHS, Teen MHFA is delivered to all Year 10 classes.
Wraparound
Wraparound is an evidence-based, early intervention program to engage with students who may be experiencing issues related to alcohol or other drug (AOD) use. The program raises awareness of the effects of AOD on the brain and how AOD can affect mood and behaviour. The program also helps students to understand what might be contributing to their drug use behaviour and supports them to address these issues. It also builds students skills and abilities in decision-making and self-efficacy and how to respond assertively if pressured to use AOD. The program also links students to external agencies that may be able to offer further support if required.