Mental Health

Your Mental Health is Important!

Feeling stressed out and down sometimes is a normal part of life for most people. Looking after our mental health is really important to help us through those tough times.

During Mental Health Week in October 2004, Ms Marion Scrymgour MLA, in her dual capacity as Minister for Family and Community Services and Minister assisting the Chief Minister on Young Territorians, launched the Mind your Mind Kit: Promoting positive mental health amongst young people.

The kit is a set of fact sheets covering topical issues relevant to young Territorians, such as stress and coping, relationships, positive image, pressures and expectations from people and what to do if someone you know is having trouble coping.

The kit is one step Government is taking to encourage positive mental health amongst young people. The 12 fact sheets have been especially designed to educate young people on mental health issues and offer practical solutions to deal with stress and upsetting emotions. There is also information on where to get help if needed.

The fact sheets have been developed by the Office of Youth Affairs (Department of the Chief Minister) in partnership with Mental Health Services (Department of Health and Community Services).

Check them out!

Feeling Down?

Life is not always bright and sparkly. Sometimes it can be downright grey! Just remember that there is always someone that can help you. Have a look at these sites for starters.

• Mental Health Program - check this site out for information on programs and services provided by the NT Department of Health and Community Services.
• Kids Help – this site has tips on how to beat the blues, on-line counselling as well as fun links and games to help cheer you up.
• Peer Skills Program – this program is a creation of the Kids Help Line and is designed to provide and enhance young people listening, problem solving and protective skills to enable them to assist their peers when problems arise. Peer Skills aims to create a core of Peer Helpers within schools and communities.
• Reach Out – a funky and easy to read site which can help you figure out why you're feeling down and what you can do about it.
• Depression Net – depressioNet provides a comprehensive resource for Australians with depression and their families and friends to come for information, help & support. The dNet team are Australians from a variety of backgrounds who have had personal experiences with depression.
• Beyond Blue – the beyondblue website aims to provide information on depression, including common symptoms, causes and treatments, give examples of genuine treatment experiences, provide feedback to professions, link to other information services and support groups, describe the progress of ‘beyondblue’ and communicate hope and stories of recovery.
• Ybblue - is a youth program of Beyond Blue. This website contains information on depression and anxiety, checklists, youth specific fact sheets, e-cards, stories from young people about their experiences and much more.
• Mind Matters – this is a national resource provided by the Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing to promote wellbeing for all Australian schools with secondary enrolments. The program focuses on curriculum-teaching and learning, the school ethos and partnerships.
• Sane Australia - this program is based on four characters that tell their stories through online diaries as they meet at a group for young people with families affected by mental illness.
• It's all Right - this website will give you lots of mental health information for young people.
• Multicultural Mental Health Australia - Multicultural mental health information.