To ensure that the voice, views, and the experience of young people led the development of new topics for headspace’s national Mental Health Education Program, the design methodology followed a collaborative co-design process with headspace’s Youth National Reference Group (hY NRG). During this workshop participants will get to see the outcome from the co-designed process by experiencing a snapshot of the interactive activities. headspace recognises that young people and their family and friends are experts in their own lives and have the right to be actively engaged in developing solutions to the issues that impact them. The new session topic Connection and Loneliness was chosen by hY NRG and co-designed over a 6-month period. In addition to each new student facing topic, accompanying educator and parent and carer sessions have been developed via a secondary collaborative design process with reference groups such as headspace’s National Family Reference Group and educators. The additional educator, parent and carers sessions provided a wholistic wrap around support to student learning and help seeking. hY NRG chose the topic of connection and loneliness due to the increasing concern around how loneliness and social isolation has continued to be a concerning risk factor for young people post pandemic. Loneliness has been described as one of the most pressing public health priorities in Australia and has been linked to premature death, poor physical and mental health, greater psychological distress and general dissatisfaction with life. The topic unpacks what loneliness looks like and who it impacts, the role that connection holds for our wellbeing and provides students with an opportunity to respond with solutions and to ‘think big’ and address how loneliness can be reduced in their own communities. The presentation will incorporate interactive activities and facilitator led group discussion.

Three Key Learnings:
1. Young people and their family and friends are experts in their own lives and when they are actively engaged in developing solutions that impact them the solution is more meaningful.

2. Incorporating a youth led ‘call to action’ embedded in student mental health topics results in greater program impact.

3. Activating place-based strategies led by young people improves mental health literacy and reduces stigma.

To ensure that the voice, views, and the experience of young people led the development of new topics for headspace’s national Mental Health Education Program, the design methodology followed a collaborative co-design process with headspace’s Youth National Reference Group (hY NRG). During this workshop participants will get to see the outcome from the co-designed process by experiencing a snapshot of the interactive activities. headspace recognises that young people and their family and friends are experts in their own lives and have the right to be actively engaged in developing solutions to the issues that impact them. The new session topic Connection and Loneliness was chosen by hY NRG and co-designed over a 6-month period. In addition to each new student facing topic, accompanying educator and parent and carer sessions have been developed via a secondary collaborative design process with reference groups such as headspace’s National Family Reference Group and educators. The additional educator, parent and carers sessions provided a wholistic wrap around support to student learning and help seeking. hY NRG chose the topic of connection and loneliness due to the increasing concern around how loneliness and social isolation has continued to be a concerning risk factor for young people post pandemic. Loneliness has been described as one of the most pressing public health priorities in Australia and has been linked to premature death, poor physical and mental health, greater psychological distress and general dissatisfaction with life. The topic unpacks what loneliness looks like and who it impacts, the role that connection holds for our wellbeing and provides students with an opportunity to respond with solutions and to ‘think big’ and address how loneliness can be reduced in their own communities. The presentation will incorporate interactive activities and facilitator led group discussion.

Three Key Learnings:
1. Young people and their family and friends are experts in their own lives and when they are actively engaged in developing solutions that impact them the solution is more meaningful.

2. Incorporating a youth led ‘call to action’ embedded in student mental health topics results in greater program impact.

3. Activating place-based strategies led by young people improves mental health literacy and reduces stigma.

To ensure that the voice, views, and the experience of young people led the development of new topics for headspace’s national Mental Health Education Program, the design methodology followed a collaborative co-design process with headspace’s Youth National Reference Group (hY NRG). During this workshop participants will get to see the outcome from the co-designed process by experiencing a snapshot of the interactive activities. headspace recognises that young people and their family and friends are experts in their own lives and have the right to be actively engaged in developing solutions to the issues that impact them. The new session topic Connection and Loneliness was chosen by hY NRG and co-designed over a 6-month period. In addition to each new student facing topic, accompanying educator and parent and carer sessions have been developed via a secondary collaborative design process with reference groups such as headspace’s National Family Reference Group and educators. The additional educator, parent and carers sessions provided a wholistic wrap around support to student learning and help seeking. hY NRG chose the topic of connection and loneliness due to the increasing concern around how loneliness and social isolation has continued to be a concerning risk factor for young people post pandemic. Loneliness has been described as one of the most pressing public health priorities in Australia and has been linked to premature death, poor physical and mental health, greater psychological distress and general dissatisfaction with life. The topic unpacks what loneliness looks like and who it impacts, the role that connection holds for our wellbeing and provides students with an opportunity to respond with solutions and to ‘think big’ and address how loneliness can be reduced in their own communities. The presentation will incorporate interactive activities and facilitator led group discussion.

Three Key Learnings:
1. Young people and their family and friends are experts in their own lives and when they are actively engaged in developing solutions that impact them the solution is more meaningful.

2. Incorporating a youth led ‘call to action’ embedded in student mental health topics results in greater program impact.

3. Activating place-based strategies led by young people improves mental health literacy and reduces stigma.