This year for World Teachers\u2019 Day, VDC is focusing on Wellness Awareness, so save the date, 27 October, registrations opening soon.<\/p>\n
Mental health problems don\u2019t discriminate, in fact, 44% (2 in 5) of Australians ages 16-85 are estimated to have experienced some kind of mental health disorder in their life. 14% (1 in 7) of children and adolescents aged 4-17 are estimated to have experienced a mental illness in the previous 12 months. This information is available here<\/a>, on the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare website.<\/p>\n Mental health in Australia is a much talked about topic, but this is quite a recent development. R U OK? started as a campaign in 2009. It then became a public health promotion charity in 2010. Since then, \u201cR U OK?\u201d has been a phrase seen all over schools, workplaces, and public areas year after year. You can check out exactly how individuals and organisations can get behind R U OK? Day here: https:\/\/www.ruok.org.au\/join-r-u-ok-day<\/a>.<\/p>\n A research report<\/a> from 2012, written by Annie Venville and Annette Street, detailed how mental illness was impacting the VET sector\u2019s students, and more specifically, how students with mental illnesses are less likely to complete their training, and even less likely to actually disclose their mental illness in order to gain support.<\/p>\n As noted in the report,<\/p>\n \u201cStudents usually do not disclose their illness at the outset for the following reasons: they want to be self-reliant and to protect their sense of self as a coping person; they fear stigma, prejudice and rejection; and they don\u2019t consider an episode of psychosis or depression as a \u2018disability\u2019. But the risk is then that students are often too ill and too vulnerable to seek help when they need it the most. If, out of desperation they do disclose, support is not necessarily forthcoming or useful.\u201d<\/p>\n But, it\u2019s not just students who are hesitant to talk about their struggles.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen asked if they would disclose their own mental illness or encourage a colleague to do so, all staff indicated they would \u2018probably not\u2019. What appeared to be trust in the organisational response to students with a mental illness was in reality a trust in their own response.\u201d<\/p>\n So what does this study then reflect? Granted, it is from over ten years ago now, so new research would be required to see how things may have changed. Everyone needs support for their mental health, teachers and students in the VET sector are no exception.<\/p>\n VDC have a range of sessions that could be of assistance, as teachers and trainers are often the first to notice potential mental health problems in their students.<\/p>\n Unpack your own unconscious bias with Helen Storr<\/a>, and see how you can make your classroom a more open space.<\/p>\n Learn how psychological safety impacts learning outcomes<\/a> with Chem\u00e8ne Sinson.<\/p>\n Join Karen Dymke to discuss how 10-20% of people worldwide have dyslexia<\/a>. How many could be in your classes?<\/p>\n VDC also have a range of Webinar Recordings and eLearns on VDC-Learn, to support teachers and trainers as well.<\/p>\n Webinar Recording: Teaching Strategies for Challenging Behaviours<\/a><\/p>\n
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