Helping teens stay mentally healthy

I AM writing to let parents know that Beyondblue has just released a new campaign aimed at teenagers.

It’s called ‘Brains can have a mind of their own’ and it’s designed specifically to cut through the crowded social media space and grab the attention of young people.

The message is that brains are weird. They can keep you awake at night, stop you going out, make it hard for you to concentrate and keep you on edge.

It’s a sad fact that despite the efforts of many organisations like Beyondblue, Headspace and Batyr, young people continue to take their lives.

In fact, latest figures show that 350 young people aged 15 to 24 died by suicide in 2013.

That is 350 too many. That means 350 devastated families, and countless bereaved friends and acquaintances.

For people who are concerned about the mental health of their teenage children, please have a look at the Beyondblue website at www.beyondblue.org.au, which has loads of free information for parents.

JEFF KENNETT,

Chairman, Beyondblue.