Youth Board Member of mental health service ReachOut, Tiara de Silva, is available for comment today in response to AFP Commissioner Reece Kershaw’s comments about the generational divide. Tiara can speak to:
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Her personal insights into the generational differences between Gen Z, Millennials and Baby Boomers
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Decoding emojis
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Why she thinks positive praise is just one simple tool that can help support the wellbeing of a generation of young people disproportionately impacted by mental health issues.
Quote that can be attributed to Tiara: “When we look across the generations it’s really interesting to see the differences between us. I know that emojis can be difficult to decode! But I think what Commissioner Kershaw’s comments highlight are not only the importance of communication between different generations and learning from each other, but also the proactive measures that are needed to support the next generation. We know that 40 per cent of young people are experiencing mental health difficulties and so we need to ensure that we are creating safe spaces, including workplaces, where young people can thrive.”
ReachOut’s Clinical Lead, Linda Williams is also available for comment. Linda is a Senior Psychologist with more than 10 years experience working across telephone and digital mental health services. Linda’s areas of expertise include youth mental health and she is knowledgeable across a wide range of concerns. Linda can speak to:
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Key insights across the generations relating to mental health - for example increased knowledge about mental health and how to create psychologically safe spaces
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Suggestions on how generations can bridge the divide between them - for example by opening up conversations
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How older generations can support young people in the workforce and more generally
Quote that can be attributed to Linda: “There’s no doubt that we are witnessing a large generational divide at the moment and that decoding the language of young people can be difficult. Positive praise is a really interesting device that can be used to remind the people in our lives of how valued they are - be they employees, friends or family members. It can also be powerful for the person giving the praise because gratitude is something that we know is good for our wellbeing and mental health. I think we should all embrace ways to make our workplaces and our society more safe from a psychological perspective and positive praise is just one way to do that. Small steps like this can create bigger movements which could ultimately impact the data we are seeing about high rates of mental health difficulties in young people.”
For information and support visit ReachOut.com
ENDS
About us:
About ReachOut
ReachOut is the leading online mental health service in Australia supporting young people during tough times.
ReachOut helps young people feel better about today and the future, no matter what challenge they’re facing. They provide a safe place where young people can openly express themselves, explore what’s happening in their lives, connect with people who understand their situation, and find the resources to help them manage their challenges now and in the future.
Anonymous, free and 100% online, ReachOut has been designed specifically for – and with – young people. From one-to-one support from experienced peer workers, to online forums, as well as tips, stories and resources, ReachOut offers a wide range of support options that allow young people to engage in the ways they want to, when they want to, and has been doing so for more than 20 years.
And, ReachOut Parents and ReachOut Schools provide valuable information, resources and advice to help parents, carers and educators to better understand the young people in their lives and to play an active role in their wellbeing.
Safe Reporting
ReachOut encourages safe reporting about mental ill-health and suicide and encourages media to report according to the Mindframe guidelines.
Contact details:
Tiara and Linda can be contacted via Tessa Anderssen, Senior Media Manager at ReachOut. [email protected] / 0411 708 587
