Resources

Gratitude in Schools

In this article, discover easy and heartfelt ways to practice gratitude daily. Enhance your well-being with simple tips and techniques to foster a positive mindset.

Fundraising Toolkit

Your fundraising efforts for KYDS will make a big difference to young people who need mental health support. Here’s everything you need to know to get started!

Having better conversations with males around mental health

This article highlights the differences in communication styles between males and females and their implications for mental health support. It illustrates how men often prefer to open up during activities, like sports, rather than have direct conversations – a method that can lead to less confrontational and more effective emotional exchanges. The piece underscores the importance of adapting support strategies to individual preferences to foster meaningful connections and support mental well-being.

Teen Voices: Oversharing and Your Digital Footprint 

In a world where “oversharing” might seem normal, it’s important to think about our digital footprints – the things we leave behind online. In this video, you’ll hear what other teens have to say about sharing on social media, and you can think critically about the decisions you’re making any time you post something online.

Teen Voices: Sexting, Relationships, and Risks 

It’s easier than ever to share photos digitally, but the stakes have never been higher for young people. Most teens aren’t ready for the risks that come with sexting and self-disclosure in their relationships. In this video, you’ll hear real teenagers give honest opinions about their experiences with sexting, and viewers can think critically about how they might act, or react, in similar situations.

Tea and consent

This animation explores the topic of consent using a cup of tea – just to make it clear.

6 differences between healthy and unhealthy love

Love may drive us wild, taking us on highs and lows. Without being taught the “how” on how to navigate love, we can inadvertently act out dysfunctional patterns in our relationships. Even the truest kind of love can turn toxic if we’re not careful. Hear about the differences between healthy and unhealthy love in this video.

What happens when you stop smoking? 

Learn about the changes that happen within your body when you stop smoking.

Repair of early trauma

This video explains the bottom-up approach to therapy and the repair of early trauma by recovering and repairing each part of a child’s brain in a specific, phased and effective order.

Suicidal ideation and common signs to look for

If your child is having suicidal thoughts and is in immediate danger, call 000. In this video created by Mayo clinic, teens describe common signs to look for and suggestions on what to say to keep your child safe.

15 misconceptions of self-injury

Often myths and facts can be confused when it comes to self-harm. This 2-page overview by Cornell University dispenses the top 15 misconceptions of self-injury and recovery.

Cyberbullying and online drama 

This video provides the tools to support young people to have safe and respectful online relationships and what to do if things go wrong. It’s designed for parents and carers of young people aged 11 to 18 years old.

Digital technologies and mental health 

This video by the eSafetyCommissioner explains how to support a young person’s mental well-being when using social media and apps. It’s designed for parents and carers of young people aged 10 to 18 years old.

Unlocking the Adolescent Mind: Insights from Dr. Siegel

Gain a deeper understanding of the behaviours and motivations of young people and uncover valuable perspectives for navigating this pivotal stage of life.

Adolescent Brains: What’s Going on Up There? 

Maggie Dent describes what’s going on in the adolescent brain and why changes in the brain impact the journey from childhood to adulthood.

Alcoholism and drug abuse in teenagers

A young person talks about how drugs and alcohol influence teens and shares her own insight and experiences.

HSC stress management: 2 killer strategies for planning in advance

Struggle with HSC stress management? The worst thing you can do is leave your work for later! In this video, Rowan from Art of Smart explains 2 awesome strategies for planning ahead and reducing your HSC stress levels.

What being bullied actually does to you

This animation explores the effects of bullying.

Self-harm alternatives and coping techniques

Hear some useful coping techniques from a young person who self-harmed for around 7 years.

Why do we self-harm?

This talk explores the important issue of self-harm. Focusing on teens and the difficulties they endure both individually and when someone they love self-harms, this talk offers insights and support.

How to deal with anger and anger management tips

Being angry is normal and sometimes it can motivate you to do better. In other situations, it can be harmful. Steven ‘Bajo’ O’Donnell from ABC’s Good Game SP along with footballer Dan Jackson and other young men, talk about situations that make them angry, what the warning signs of anger look like and how it can affect our day-to-day lives.

How the brain works with anger

Anger is a natural emotional response to perceived threats, triggering a fight-or-flight reaction that prepares the body for action by increasing heart rate and releasing stress hormones. While essential for survival, unmanaged anger can impair decision-making and lead to destructive behaviours and conflicts. Learn about the science behind anger.

What is ADHD?

There are different types of ADHD: inattentive, hyperactive/impulsive, and combined. ADHD impacts kids, teenagers, and adults but is treatable with the help of professionals.

Coping with severe OCD as a teenager

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a mental disorder that often involves intrusive thoughts, anxiety, and ritualisation. While millions suffer from OCD, the disease is often misunderstood and misrepresented. 14-year-old Allison is an OCD sufferer who shares her personal struggles in hopes of destigmatising the illness and creating a support community for others affected by OCD.

Overcoming Anxiety

From Years 3 to 8, Jonas Kolker dealt with severe anxiety attacks that were triggered by his school environment. He had to learn techniques and strategies to help him manage and control his ideas as he progressed through school. Through his experiences, Jonas has learned about the workings of the brain, as well as the common fears we all have to deal with every day.

A to Z of coping strategies

Learn 26 ideas, strategies and techniques to help you to cope better if you are experiencing stresses and pressures that feel overwhelming.

Conversations save lives

It can be difficult to detect signs of your child’s declining mental health, so checking in often and asking how things are is important. Having regular conversations with your child can help them identify how they’re feeling and allow you to offer useful strategies to help them deal with stress and anxiety.

How the iPhone rewrote the teenage brain

This conversation covers how neurochemical reward pathways during adolescence are being rewritten to access dopamine. Social researcher, David Gillespie, talks about how software is engineered to be addictive, the causation of mental illness and life-long addictive behaviours from technology addiction, and provides some recommendations.

Helping someone at risk of suicide

If your child is having suicidal thoughts and is in immediate danger, call 000. Lifeline have put together a 4-page toolkit illustrating what to do if you know someone at risk of suicide.

What is anxiety?

While anxiety is a common reaction to certain situations, this video shares the symptoms and types of anxiety and how it can become a problem.

I had a black dog, his name was depression

Millions of people around the world live with depression. At its worst, it can be a frightening, debilitating condition. However, depression is largely preventable and treatable. Recognising depression and seeking help is the first and most critical step towards recovery. Learn more in this video.

How to minimise stress and anxiety during HSC assessments and exams

Art of Smart shares some tips and tricks to help minimise stress and anxiety, so you can ace your assessments and exams with ease.

Nine things you probably didn’t know about ADHD

In this article, KYDS employee Nick Kenny shares his insights as a person with lived experience of ADHD.

‘D.R.I.V.E’: How to build and maintain consistent motivation

Motivation is a reason, or reasons, why we do something. The ‘D.R.I.V.E’ framework reveals how you can build and maintain motivation in your life and the lives of those you are seeking to help.

Five ways to help students struggling with anxiety

Young people face a myriad of pressures that can contribute to anxiety. The good news is that school staff can play a role in helping young people who are struggling. Read on to find out more.

Mental Stealth

This article addresses the gap in mental health messaging for young people, noting that while the majority of mental health issues begin before age 25, few access professional help. It introduces “mental stealth,” a concept advocating for the incorporation of simple, beneficial habits into daily life to enhance well-being, especially for those reluctant to seek formal treatment. The piece emphasizes the importance of everyone in a community, from parents to educators, in promoting these practices to build a stronger foundation for youth mental health.