It Takes a Village: Supporting Young People

Rachel and Lisa are delighted to sit down with Dr. Gordon Lau (or as we call him, 'Gordo') and discuss all things anxiety - what it is, why it's on the rise, what we can do about it and where we can find support. Dr. Gordon Lau is both a medical doctor as well as a physiotherapist, with over two decades working in the health sector. He entered general practice because he loves the variety and the ability to care for the whole patient. He has a special interest in youth mental health and in his spare time, he enjoys spending time in nature (especially at the beach) and stays connected with friends and family. Looking for extra resources on anxiety? Check out some of the links mentioned below: Raising Children Network - a parenting guide for all ages and stages, providing ad-free videos, articles and apps across multiple parenting topicsheadspace on Anxiety - a headspace page with fact sheets, information and strategies on anxiety and its impacts on young peopleKids Helpline - a free online and phone counselling service for young people and kids (ages 5-25), as well as parents and support networksReachOut - a free and confidential website offering tips and resources, parent coaching for families and peer chats for young people (1-on-1 peer support)SANE - an online hub of resources for people with recurring, persistent or complex mental health issues and trauma, and for their families, friends and communitiesBeyond Blue - 24/7 support for anxiety, depression and suicide preventionBlack Dog Institute - free and confidential mental health supports and resourcesDr. Lau discusses the role of Anxiety and the excellent lessons we can learn about its place in the lives of young people in the Pixar film, Inside Out 2. You can watch the trailer here, and check out your favourite streaming service for availability and rental options. If you want to speak with someone in person, you can reach out to your local headspace centre to talk with someone about your mental and physical health. On the Central Coast, you can find our centres in Gosford, Lake Haven and Wyong.

Today's episode includes discussions about self-harm that some people may find challenging to listen to. If you have little ears around or if now isn't a time that works for you to listen to that type of discussion, that's ok. Just give this one a skip for now and it will be here waiting for you whenever you're ready. In today's episode, Lisa and Rachel have the privilege of sitting down with headspace's very own Aoife Searles. Aoife is a social worker and has been practicing for 19 years. She has worked for Health for 13 years and her work is focused on supporting young people and their families. Her passion is youth mental health and she is currently a Clinical Lead at headspace, where she has worked for the last four years. If you are a parent or carer and need extra resources for self-harm behaviours, you can check out the resources below: Urge Surfing - a resource for managing unwanted behavioursEmotion Surfing - a resource for allowing difficult emotions to ride their wave and trusting that they will pass, provided by the Centre for Clinical InterventionsMythbuster: Sorting fact from fiction on self-harm - a mythbusting resource from headspaceCalm Harm - a free app that helps you manage or resist the urge to self-harmWhat you need to know about self-harm - a page from headspace with information on understanding self-harm, strategies that can help, aftercare information and when to get supportKids Helpline - facts and resources about self-harm and how to help support your young personLifeline - resources and information about self-harm Parent Line - a free telephone counselling and support service for parents and carers with children, aged 0-18 years, who live in NSW (9am-9pm on week days and 4-9pm on weekends)If you are an educator, you may find the following links helpful: SAFEMinds Facilitated Travel - equips school staff to become 'champions' in the use of the 'NIP it in the bud!' early intervention approach, the SAFEMinds Toolkit and SAFEMinds online materials. SAFEMinds School Resources - tip sheets, mapping tools, individual plans, brief intervention kits and supportive resources within the 'NIP it in the bud!' toolkitBe You Webinars - webinars and trainings that explore mental health and wellbeing themes, designed for educators, leaders, support staff and allied health workersReachOut for Schools - resources and information on self-harm for educatorsKids Helpline (for schools) - offers sessions for primary schools on various topicsIf you are a clinician, you can check out the following additional resource: Orygen on Self-Harm - a resource for supporting clinicians to work with parents of young people who self-harmIf this episode brought up anything for you requiring additional care, please call any of the services below for support: Lifeline: 13 11 14Kids Helpline: 1800 55 1800Beyond Blue: 1300 22 463613 YARN: 13 92 76Mental Health Line: 1800 011 511

In this episode of 'It Takes a Village: Supporting Young People', Rachel and Lisa interview headspace's very own Lorraine Campbell. Lorraine is a midwife, educator, smoking cessation nurse and Youth Access Team Senior Clinician at headspace Gosford, Lake Haven and Wyong. Lorraine has worked in Health for almost 30 years and has been helping to support those who smoke and vape since 2012. She worked as a Clinical Project Lead for the Ministry of Health Project 'Quit for New Life', working closely with Quitline, St Vincents Hospital Team and the Brain and Mind Institute at Sydney University Addiction Services. She now works at headspace, supporting young people with vaping addiction. Need extra supports? Check out the resources discussed in the podcast below: ICanQuit.com.au - a website with personalized quit plans, progress tracking, tips and activities to keep you motivated, support systems and more. The Pave app - Pave is designed by young people, for young people, and combines real experiences from young people with expert advice from NSW Health to help you stay vape free. Quitline - Quitline is a free service designed to help people quit vaping and smoking. Their trained counselors support young people ages 14 and older (and parents of young people aged under 14 years) offering guidance, tips and encouragement to help you take control. Click the Quitline link for more info or call 137 848. My QuitBuddy app - has more ways to help you get and stay, smoke-free and vape-free. Designed to support you on your journey, it provides you with helpful tips to overcome cravings, tracking systems to chart your progress and motivates you to give up for good. Cancer Institute of NSW - this page shares facts and real stories on the harms of vaping, quit vaping supports and real stories of those who have quit vaping. Want to check if a local tobacco retailer is licensed to sell tobacco? Check out the link here for more info. Need to report illegal tobacco or vape sales? You can do that here or by calling Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.Expressions of interest are open for the 'Which Way?' program. 'Which Way?' offers a range of programs to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in their journey to quit smoking and vaping. Their programs are created by and for Aboriginal communities, weaving together Indigenous knowledge and evidence-based cessation techniques.

In today's episode, Lisa and Rachel interview teacher and registered psychologist, Leanne Brooke. Leanne is a Senior Psychologist with the NSW Department of Education and occasionally works at the Heart and Mind Collective in North Gosford, NSW. In 2025, she was the recipient of the NSW Premier's Teachers Scholarship. Her research investigated ways that schools could support young people with school avoidance behaviours to reengage with learning. She is passionate about ensuring schools are safe and welcoming places for all young people and hopes that her research might bring hope to the many families who are struggling with school attendance issues. Need extra supports? If you're a parent or educator, you can check out: School Can't Australia - this is a place for parents, caregivers and professionals supporting young people struggling with school attendance. Amaze - more resources for parents, carers and teachers about 'school can't' behaviours and strategiesNeed extra resources? If you're a clinician, you can use: Reconnect to School Kit - this is a tool to help school staff and clinicians build a comprehensive case formulation for students experiencing school refusal. Free for anyone to use, but not searchable at this time, (so please use the link above to access). INSA Network - International Network for School AttendanceAERO Literature Review - 'Barriers to School Attendance and Reasons for Absence'AERO Literature Review - 'Interventions to promote school attendance and address student absence'Brought to you in partnership by headspace Gosford, Lake Haven and Wyong, the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Servic (CAMHS) and Skill Engineer. headspace Gosford, Lake Haven and Wyong are operated by Central Coast Local Health District. All headspace services are funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care. Administration of funding is carried out by the headspace centre's local Primary Health Network, in this case, Hunter New England and Central Coast (HNECC PHN).

Do you want to learn how to better support a young person in your life with their physical health, mental health and well-being goals? Welcome to ‘It Takes a Village: Supporting Young People’! Join us each fortnight for a new interview with a subject matter specialist in the mental health space. We know it does take a village to support a young person, and you’re not alone. We’re bringing the village to you. Brought to you by our teams across headspace Gosford, Lake Haven and Wyong, the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) and The Skill Engineer. headspace Gosford, Lake Haven and Wyong are operated by Central Coast local health District. All headspace services are funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care. Administration of funding is carried out by the headspace centre’s local Primary Health Network, in this case, Hunter New England and Central Coast (HNECC PHN).