A MENTAL health project that has been trialed at Cleveland District State High School could become part of the curriculum from next year.
Year 10 students did the Teen Mental Health First Aid Course this year as part of an initiative to make mental illness less of a taboo subject and ensure students know where to go for help.
Physical education teacher and co-ordinator of the project at the school Tim McKennariey said the school was committed to making the course a compulsory part of the year 10 curriculum from next year.
The school teamed up with mental health and suicide prevention charity Livin to co-ordinate and run the course.
Sam Webb, Casey Lyons and Kieron Douglass attended a special year 10 assembly at the school to acknowledge the students who had completed the course.
Mr McKennariey said an evaluation of the course showed a positive shift in student’s level of understanding regarding mental illness.
“This data would indicate that the course is crucial for students at school to complete,” he said.
Staff from Headspace Capalaba also talked to students regularly during the year.
This interaction aimed to de-stigmatise the services provided by organisations such as Headspace and help ensure students know where to go for help for themselves or friends.
Anyone who needs assistance with issues raised here can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or via www.lifeline.org.au or Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800 or via www.kidshelp.com.au
