SUMMARY REPORT 2021
Being a young person today is hard, but so too is being the parent of one, especially in 2021. A recent international survey reported that some parents are struggling to keep their child’s mental health afloat. Young people are feeling like they don’t have much control over their lives. And although the physical impact of the pandemic has mostly spared our young people, researchers are now reporting that children and adolescents are paying a heavy emotional and developmental price, being affected by a range of psychological disorders. The emotional blowback of the pandemic unfortunately cannot be vaccinated away.
In a report published by the Productivity Commission in 2019, the cost of mental health and suicide in Australia was around $180 billion annually. However, due to the current environment, this figure is expected to rise with the full impact of the pandemic yet to be seen. Virtually all adult mental health issues and suicides are associated with issues which begin in adolescents aged between 15 and 29 years of age.
SchoolTV can be used as a proactive and reactive resource. Therefore, it is often viewed as a tool for prevention. If SchoolTV can just make a 1% impact on youth mental health through parent awareness and education, it has the potential to result in millions of dollars of economic savings, not to mention the saving of lives. Young people can’t choose what happens to them, but they can choose how they respond.
In this year’s Summary Report, we are sharing with you some of the data and alarming statistics that have been gathered as a result of ‘The Wellbeing Barometer’ Special Report. It has proven to be a useful tool in assisting schools wishing to provide further resourcing and support for those families who have been challenged by the effects of the pandemic. If you have not as yet promoted this special report to your community, we encourage you to do so in the new year. It will help enable your school to gauge the state of student wellbeing as a new era of the school year begins.
In addition, the Summary Report also includes the results of other surveys conducted throughout the year such as: A Conversation on Consent; Raising Girls; Friendship and Belonging.
HIGHLIGHTS OF 2021
Due to the events that occurred in 2021, SchoolTV quickly adapted and adjusted its publishing schedule to provide schools, parents and staff with up-to-date information and practical guidance. This resulted in SchoolTV publishings 2 new Editions and 10 Special Reports.
Editions included: Raising Girls; Friendship & Belonging.
Special Reports included: Starting Year 7; A Conversation on Consent; Vaping & E-Cigarettes; Celebrating Mother’s Day; COVID Fatigue & Youth Mental Health; Instilling Hope in Uncertain Times; The Wellbeing Barometer; Managing Overwhelm; Transitioning Back; Respectful Language.
SchoolTV’s flexibility and responsiveness was one of the unique features that captured the attention of Mental Health Foundation Australia (MHFA). In October of this year, SchoolTV was honoured by the industry and recognised for its commitment to supporting the mental health and wellbeing of young people and awarded ‘Mental Health Organisation for 2021’. This event was celebrated in a virtual awards ceremony attended by many leading industry experts and federal ministers who presented and showed their support of this great initiative.
In July of this year, SchoolTV also achieved the impressive milestone of reaching and supporting 1 million parents and carers across Australia, New Zealand and overseas. This number has since grown with more schools discovering the benefits that SchoolTV offers in supporting their communities. Every month, SchoolTV helps over 700 schools communicate, inform and strengthen the parent-school partnership.
SchoolTV has also been working closely with the Coalition of Australian Principals (CAP) to form a partnership which encompasses many of associations relating to Principals and Heads of Schools. Some of these associations include APPA, AGGPA, ASPA, CaSPA, IPSHA, AHISA and NATSIPA. This partnership has resulted in the launch of a new platform initiative called ‘Broadcast’ focussing on the wellbeing of School Leaders.
SchoolTV has also formed partnerships across several denominational and education association. These include several Catholic Dioceses such as Brisbane, Townsville, Armidale and Wagga Wagga; Lutheran Education (VIC, NSW & Tas); Australian Boarding Schools Association (ABSA);
