Youth mental health
Most teenagers in Kapiti and Horowhenua do very well with their education and managing the social pressures of growing up. Nearly every week in the local papers I read about young people doing well, like young superbike rider Sam Croft or students taking part in “Shave for a Cure” week to raise money for leukaemia which is fantastic.
But there are many kids who find the transition from childhood to adulthood tough going, and struggle with mental health problems like depression and anxiety.
Around one in five teenagers will experience some form of mental health problem during this crucial time in their lives.
This is why Prime Minister John Key has announced an ambitious ‘Youth Mental Health Project’ to improve the help we give to young people.
We will be better equipping schools to identify students with mental health issues sooner, and providing $18.6 million for more nurses and social workers into lower decile schools. Programmes to tackle bullying and raise self-esteem will also be expanded.
Young people today are very tech-savvy and communicate using social media like texting and Facebook. Government services will be modernised to make sure they reflect this, which will include money to develop an online therapy service.
Parents, families, and friends have a big role to play identifying mental health issues in young people, but they need more information. We will fund non-government organisations to help get that information out to people.
An extra $11.3 million is going into mental health services, with targets in place to reduce wait times and referrals. Government-funded alcohol and drug education programmes for young people will be reviewed to make sure they're having a positive effect.
We are very fortunate to have a social sector trial operating out of Levin's 'Life to the Max', which is a high-trust model sponsored by this Government. It helps to bring Government departments together and focus on families with specific drug, alcohol and social problems.
In Kapiti we have Kapiti Youth Support service that allows teenagers to drop in at the Paraparaumu site and have their social issues dealt with in a high degree of confidence.
I'm sure both these organisations and parents will be pleased to hear that Prime Minister John Key is focussed on addressing these tough social issues.
You can find more information about these important initiatives at: http://www.national.org.nz/youthmentalhealth.aspx