School Launches Resilience Project

When Northern Territory teenager Dolly Everett tragically took her own life in January after being mercilessly bullied online, the nation was rocked to its core.

Dolly’s death may have provided more questions than answers, but it became a topic of public discussion.

A 2016 report by mental health organisation Orygen found that suicide rates among young Australians were at their highest peak in 10 years.

Some of the statistics were sobering: a third of all deaths of young men were due to suicide; 41000 young people aged 12 to 17 made a suicide attempt; and twice as many 15 to 19-year-old women died by suicide than in 2005.

Cobram Anglican Grammar School is aiming to make a difference.

On Thursday the school officially introduced the Resilience Project, which aims to inspire school communities to practice the evidence-based strategies that build resilience and improve mental health.

School principal Steve Gale said the program was a vital step in combating the dangers of mental health problems among students.

‘‘We’re not alone in this space — all schools are facing these issues and we are just doing the best we can to help students cope with life, I suppose,’’ Mr Gale said.

– Patrick Tansey

Image by Morgan Basham from Unsplash