Latest news with #mentalhealthsupport
ABC News
01-07-2025
- General
- ABC News
University study hubs help keep students in regional Australia
Tertiary education has largely remained a challenge for people who don't want to leave their regional communities for a city. However, four regional towns in Western Australia have seen the benefit of the Lumen Wheatbelt Regional University Study Hub program. The program gives students enrolled in university or TAFE access to facilities and support rather than completing their education all online. It has been a staged rollout for the hubs since 2022 in the small towns of Merredin, Wongan Hills, Narrogin and York. Former English teacher Natalie Warnock is completing a Master of Education in Merredin, 260 kilometres east of Perth. She said when she started her course, she felt disconnected from the classroom and her peers. "There were no systems or physical supports in place for people living remotely, so it was just me trying to find time to study in between teaching," she said. "I was pretty excited when the study hub came to town. "Because as someone who has been diagnosed with ADHD and is neurodivergent, if I'm left to my own devices nothing tends to get done and it is a last-minute rush. "Now after work I go to the study hub to do my work, I don't have distractions and have a designated space to connect with other like-minded students and staff to answer any questions I may have." York-based musician and former TAFE lecturer Christian Gibbs decided to complete a Diploma of Counselling after noticing a need for mental health support among musicians. For Mr Gibbs, knowing he could access the facilities at his local study hub in York, 100km east of Perth, was a relief. "It was a really big relief to be in a different environment and get out of my head to reframe the learning experience and formalise it a little bit," he said. As a former educator, Mr Gibbs said he had seen first-hand what happened when students did not have access to education support in regional areas. "We need to make sure that the younger generations coming through from long-standing families, and new families coming to towns like York, know that they have options so that they can stay in the town that they love, with the people that they love," Mr Gibbs said. "If we have to travel to get our tertiary education, it's easy to think we have to look for a job and relocate to major cities where these institutions are based. "If we can keep people in their home towns maybe we can get them to see that the jobs they are studying for can have a meaningful application in the town they come from." Wongan Hills business owner Mandy Walker utilises her local study hub to complete her Masters in Economic and Regional Development. For Ms Walker, access to the Wongan Hills hub, 175km north-east of Perth, eliminates the need to commute. "Primarily I needed a space to do my exams, having exclusive access to a room but also having that contact with people again," she said. "It means I don't have to travel to Perth. I can do my day job and have access to the university study hub." Ms Walker said there was a misconception about the availability of career growth in regional areas. "You have the opportunity to step up and into roles that you might not have access to in the city because in the regions there aren't always the people to fill those positions," she said. Program director Elise Woods said regional students often had tough decisions to make before taking up higher education studies. "Many of our students have barriers around their ability to relocate to where you can access a campus, which has financial stress and sometimes emotional stress involved in having to leave home," she said. "A lot of our students are also mature-aged students who already have well-established lives, families and jobs in the regions who aren't in a position to move hours away to complete studies. "We want to see people who live in the regions, study here and go on to work in the regions." Ms Woods said the growth in online learning during the COVID pandemic helped pave the way for the regional hubs. "It was a big wake-up call to universities on what is possible, and to students that they could access education from their homes," she said. "As a WA network we are constantly giving feedback to universities about how they can deliver courses better for regional students." Flinders University emeritus professor John Halsey said the ability to stay in place allowed communities to thrive. "If you have a large outflow of people leaving regional towns to pursue further studies, you are taking rich resources out of the community," Dr Halsey said. "Where university study hubs exist, you're bringing expertise into the town, which stimulates economic activity, and while economic activity is not the be all and end all, it is absolutely critical to the vibrancy of towns." Dr Halsey said attitudinal change towards the contributions made by those living in the regions would help aid the divide in access to education in regional and metropolitan areas.
BBC News
30-06-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Weekly support hubs launched across Surrey
A new network of community hubs has been launched across Surrey in an effort to connect residents with a range of support can access mental health support, financial support and perinatal support at the five are based in Chertsey, Woking, Englefield Green, Godalming and Guildford once a week.A spokesperson for the project said: "These hubs will help individuals navigate local services and foster connections with the community." At each hub, the health support will be run by Catalyst Support, the financial support by Citizens Advice and the perinatal support by service will be available at:Guildford: Guildford Family Centre, Hazel Avenue, on Mondays from 12:30 to 14:30 BSTEnglefield Green: The Village Centre, Victoria Street, on Tuesdays from 10:00 to 12:00Chertsey: Revive Coffee Shop, in Guildford Street, on Wednesdays from 10:00 to 12:00Woking: St Andrew's Church, Goldsworth Park, on Thursdays from 10:00 to 12:00Godalming: Ockford & Aarons Hill Hub, Ock Way, on Fridays from 09:30 to 11:30Lisa Littlewood, service manager at Catalyst Support, said: "We're excited to launch these hubs as safe, accessible spaces where anyone can walk in and get the support they need."Whether it's a one-off conversation or ongoing help, the hubs are here to listen, guide and connect."The hubs are free to attend and no booking or referral required.
Malay Mail
22-06-2025
- Health
- Malay Mail
More Malaysians are reaching out — this counselling NGO is making sure someone's there
KUALA LUMPUR, June 23 — In recent years, more Malaysians have been seeking mental health support, and counselling helplines are among the services seeing this rising demand. According to its 2024 annual report, local NGO Life Line Association Malaysia (LLAM) received 3,923 calls through its helplines — nearly double the 2,017 calls it recorded in 2020. Most of those seeking help over the past five years have been in the prime working age group, between 29 and 49 years old. While the growing number of people in distress is concerning, the increasing use of counselling services among working adults also signals better awareness and greater acceptance of mental health care. Who are they? Founded in April 1993, LLAM is a non-profit, non-religious organisation offering various support services, including helplines, face-to-face counselling, and email-based counselling. (Its online service is currently suspended.) The group also provides play therapy and runs public awareness campaigns in schools, communities, and through fundraising events. Its demographic includes people of all ages, from children to the elderly, with many help seekers coming from Chinese-speaking communities across Malaysia. To date, LLAM has supported over 44,000 individuals. In 2024 alone, the NGO provided counselling to 4,655 people — its highest annual figure yet, compared to 2,584 in 2020. Despite extending its helpline hours and introducing a more memorable number, LLAM is still working toward operating 24/7. It is also developing a digital integrated system to improve service quality and expand its reach. Adapting with the times Speaking to Malay Mail, LLAM president Choon Lee Meng said the group currently comprises 146 local volunteers and 46 senior voluntary counsellors who supervise and coordinate support efforts daily. Choon explained that LLAM has steadily expanded its operations — from just three hours a day, five days a week in 1993, to 16 hours a day, six days a week since February this year. Their original goal of operating 24/7 by 2025 was disrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic, which led to a drop in volunteer numbers. Still, the organisation remains committed to reaching that goal, while continuously optimising its services. Life Line Association Malaysia president Choon Lee Meng (right) and deputy president Chua Chee Heng (left) at the organisation's operations centre in Setiawangsa. — Picture by Arif Zikri In August 2022, LLAM opened its Counselling Education Development and Training Centre (CETC) in Puchong to train volunteers and provide outreach and certified courses. As an HRDCorp-certified training provider, LLAM has conducted 14 courses involving 387 participants. In May this year, the NGO launched a new national helpline — 15995 — a number chosen for its memorability and its meaning: 'love me, save me.' This initiative aligns with LLAM's mission to promote the '95 spirit', which encourages both self-help and help-seeking behaviours, with the long-term vision of reducing suicide rates to zero. Choon said LLAM is also implementing a digital system called SmartCounsel, designed to: Decentralise operations to support night shifts and a nationwide helpline network Improve crisis management efficiency and reduce manpower reliance Enable personalised data management for clients Analyse big data for more targeted prevention According to Choon, SmartCounsel has already helped streamline operations, including addressing issues related to frequent callers. Navigating help seekers LLAM deputy president and certified counsellor Chua Chee Heng explained that help seekers typically fall into three categories: regular callers, high-risk callers, and frequent callers. This is where the role of the supervisor becomes vital — advising volunteers on how to handle each type of case. 'For example, people who are currently trying to commit suicide or people who are planning to — those we consider high-risk, and we need someone who is able to tackle and plan the situation carefully,' Chua said. 'Occasionally, we also have frequent callers — some are lonely and don't have friends, others are just bored and want someone to talk to. 'Some of them are cheeky — they know our volunteers change shifts every three hours, so they'll call after the shift exchange.' A Life Line Association Malaysia volunteer at one of the phone-answering booths in the Setiawangsa centre. — Picture by Arif Zikri Chua noted that frequent callers have contributed to the number of dropped calls — those that go unanswered when lines are busy — something the SmartCounsel system helps to manage. Typically, calls last between 45 and 60 minutes, but the duration varies depending on the situation. For high-risk callers, volunteers stay on the line until the person is no longer in immediate danger. 'We once had a caller who phoned us while sitting on top of a building. They stayed on the line with us for over five hours. 'Our objective is to keep talking until the person is exhausted — we switched between three volunteers during that call, which the caller agreed to. 'Eventually, after the third volunteer, the caller calmed down and climbed down from the building,' Chua shared. He added that supervisors always debrief volunteers at the end of their shifts to ensure they, too, receive the support they need, as the work can be emotionally taxing. What's ahead for LLAM? This year, Life Line Association Malaysia will host the 18th Asia Pacific Telephone Counselling Conference (APTCC 2025) from September 5 to 7, alongside its 95 Life Awareness Month campaign. This marks the first time Malaysia will host the international event. APTCC 2025 will bring together experts from the region to discuss innovation and future developments in helpline services. Speakers include: Dr John Draper, president of research, development and government solutions at Behavioral Health Link Thilini Perera, CEO of LifeLine International Elliot Taylor, founder of New Zealand tech startup ThroughLine For more information on LLAM or APTCC 2025, click here * If you are lonely, distressed, or having negative thoughts, Befrienders offers free and confidential support 24 hours a day. A full list of Befrienders contact numbers and state operating hours is available here: There are also free hotlines for young people: Talian Kasih at 15999 (24/7); Talian BuddyBear at 1800-18-2327(BEAR)(daily 12pm-12am); Mental Health Psychosocial Support Service (03-2935 9935 or 014-322 3392); Life Line Association Malaysia helpline at 15995 and Jakim's Family, Social and Community Care Centre (WhatsApp 0111-959 8214).
Washington Post
20-06-2025
- Health
- Washington Post
How should D.C. schools fix its chronic absenteeism problem?
The June 10 front-page article 'Empty desks,' which focused on chronic student absenteeism in D.C., reflected problems experienced by school districts and communities around the country, especially in disadvantaged and underserved communities. As demonstrated in the article, teachers, school districts and policymakers have tried to get students back into the classroom by investing in mental health support, offering engaging afterschool activities and using referral programs to provide more comprehensive social support. However, with systemic barriers such as limited budgets, as well as overworked and underpaid school staff, the problem of chronic absences has become too big for educators or schools to solve alone. Schools need a new way of thinking to meet the unique needs of students and help mitigate root causes of chronic absences with evidence-based solutions. A new framework developed by public health and education leaders from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Kaiser Permanente and Attendance Works offers a new path forward. The framework outlines three guiding principles: calling for using integrated data to identify and address root causes; building cross-sector partnerships, including with health-care providers, community organizations and city agencies; and focus on strengths-based policies that promote prevention rather than punishment. Some pediatricians already partner with D.C. Public Schools to receive secure reports about students who are at risk of chronic absence. They can then intervene early, identify root causes and connect families with the appropriate resources. States such as Ohio also have examples of health and education partners working together to improve outcomes for kids. We can no longer afford to wait to solve this problem. We need to think bigger, use data, build capacity within the community, and implement evidence-based solutions and recommendations to address chronic absence. Our kids deserve it. Catherine Falconer, Baltimore The writer is U.K. Harkness Fellow in Health Care Policy and Practice at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. The June 10 front-page article about chronic absenteeism in D.C. was a troubling read. One statement was particularly startling to me: 'For more than a decade, District leaders have linked school attendance to youth crime, saying tackling one will curb the other.' It is sad enough that school leaders saw the connection between truancy and youth crime without success in tackling it for 10 years. But this connection was identified more than 30 years ago in Byron M. Roth's 1994 book, 'Prescription for Failure: Race Relations in the Age of Social Science.' Roth, who was a professor emeritus of psychology at Dowling College, saw the combination of truancy, youth crime and teen pregnancy as the prescription for failure of those involved. For decades, our country has been preaching against truancy, youth crime and teen pregnancy. Why has it taken the D.C. school system so long to put serious efforts into keeping teens in school and out of trouble? Edward Stern, Bethesda The June 10 front-page article about chronic absenteeism surfaced a critical connection between middle school truancy and crime — as well as many systemic failures in D.C. Thank you for naming afterschool programs as part of the solution. Afterschool programs that offer mentoring, specifically, are proven to boost student attendance and engagement. We've seen that in action at Higher Achievement, where scholars in our program are 52 percent less likely to be chronically absent than their peers in D.C. public schools. Notably, we operate in several of the D.C. middle schools named in the article: Brookland, Ida B. Wells and Kelly Miller. Our staff and mentors have supported the friends and families of the children who were tragically killed in recent years with deep empathy. There is a growing body of research demonstrating that well-trained, lasting mentoring relationships can help combat loneliness, depression and anxiety. The consistent presence of one caring adult outside the family is an antidote to a range of adverse childhood experiences. Further, as was mentioned in the article, the presence of consistent mentors can mitigate some effects of the shortage of counselors and social workers in middle schools. Mentoring doesn't only improve school attendance, it also boosts academic performance. In fact, in two randomized controlled trials by MDRC, Higher Achievement demonstrated statistically significant results on test scores and report card grades. And it makes sense to focus on middle schools. It's a critical time in a child's development. In fact, early adolescence is second only to infancy in neurological development. Lastly, in middle school, families and schools tend to give students more independence, and students begin to take bigger risks. This is normal and necessary for growing up — but they need support. With a mentor by their side, middle school students can take positive risks rather than dangerous ones. To solve the truancy-driven crime challenge, every adult can play a part. To sign up to volunteer as a mentor, visit the DC Tutoring & Mentoring Initiative's website. Lynsey Wood Jeffries, Washington The writer is CEO of Higher Achievement, an academic enrichment and mentoring program that works in D.C., Prince George's County, Baltimore and Richmond. Regarding the June 3 online Style article 'Trump asks Congress to defund PBS and NPR': Proposed funding cuts to the Public Broadcasting Service threaten more than just access to local news — they also jeopardize a vibrant arts community across Virginia, Maryland and D.C. WETA is a cornerstone of the Washington metropolitan area. Many local residents are familiar with the station through WETA Classical 90.9 FM (WETA Classical), which brings classical music to thousands across the region every day. WETA Classical is a source of joy for classical music enthusiasts, amateurs and professionals. Hearing Mozart's stately Symphony No. 38 or Mendelssohn's lyrical Violin Concerto in E Minor, Op. 64 on WETA Classical is always a true delight. Beyond entertainment, it serves as a cultural and educational institution, connecting musicians and fostering a sense of identity through programming such as 'From the Top,' which spotlights talented teen musicians. I played violin in my middle and high school orchestras when I attended Fairfax County Public Schools. Classical music brings people together, and it should be easily accessible to everyone. Let's preserve funding for our public broadcasting so we can continue to enjoy art that makes our days a little brighter. Alexander Weisman, Fairfax The June 12 Metro article 'Singing the blue crab blues' must serve as a five-alarm fire for all who care about the largest estuary in the United States and its most iconic inhabitant, the blue crab. As the article noted, the latest annual report from Maryland and Virginia experts who monitor the species estimated the quantity of crabs at 238 million, the second-lowest cohort since they began yearly crustacean surveys during the 1990s. The article also noted that the drop-off touched adult male and female crabs as well as juvenile crabs, although the major concern was the decline in juveniles. The Maryland and Virginia legislatures and agencies, which are charged with protecting crabs, must redouble efforts to save the crustaceans. The article noted that the population decrease's precise causes remain unclear, but they could include habitat alterations, particularly underwater grasses' loss, which are critical to young crabs; the increase in the presence of predators such as red drum and blue catfish; pollution runoff; and dramatic changes in current, wind and storm patterns. This situation is likely to be exacerbated because the blue crab's population decline is occurring just as the Trump administration dismantles programs for improving water quality and restoring underwater habitat essential to the creatures. Maryland and Virginia's legislators must swiftly prevail upon Senate and House members to reverse President Donald Trump's misguided decision to eviscerate measures that are crucial to restoring the population of the beloved species. Carl Tobias, Richmond The writer is Williams Chair at the University of Richmond School of Law. The Post's June 7 editorial, 'D.C.'s jail is a disgrace. Still.' astonished me. It recounted the alarming conditions in the D.C. city jail reported by the D.C. auditor, and then appeared to support the upside-down approach to financing a new jail promoted by the mayor: private financing. This, while she pushes a plan to use $1 billion of public money to assist with building a new football stadium. It seems to me logical that housing prisoners should entirely be a public financial and management responsibility. And it seems illogical to provide significant public financial backing to a highly successful business to build a new stadium for a football team. The mayor has got this all backward. The stadium investment should be borne by the individuals and companies that have been profiting immensely from that business for decades and have the capital to spare. Bringing the Commanders back to D.C., with a new stadium where the old RFK Stadium stood, might or might not be a good idea, but asking the public to pay a significant chunk of its cost — while seeking an equivalent private investment for a new prison — is assuredly not. Lee Epstein, Silver Spring
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
National nonprofit sending safety patrols, offering reward following South Side mass shooting
The Brief National nonprofit Uvalde Foundation For Kids is deploying specially trained citizen patrol teams to help the community. Over a dozen members will survey the southeastern part of the 6th district on a regular rotation throughout the summer. The foundation also said they are offering a reward of up to $5,000 for any information leading to arrests of suspects involved with the shooting. CHICAGO - Following the shooting on Chicago's South Side that injured seven teenagers, national nonprofit Uvalde Foundation For Kids is deploying specially trained citizen patrol teams to help the community. What we know The foundation stated that initial patrols, which will include over a dozen members, will survey the southeastern part of the 6th district on a regular rotation throughout the summer, with more volunteers being added and trained as needed. Patrol members are trained to recognize and deescalate potential crisis situations, alert law enforcement of potential threats, engage community members in reducing youth violence, and provide crisis mental health support. The foundation also said they are offering a reward of up to $5,000 for any information leading to arrests of suspects involved with the shooting. The foundation has ongoing patrol groups throughout the country at schools of recent student-related shootings, including Morgan State University, Michigan State University, and Choctaw High School. The backstory Seven teenagers were shot and injured near St. Sabina Church overnight Friday. The shooting happened as police were trying to disperse a large gathering of people in the 1200 block of West 78th Street in Auburn Gresham, according to the Chicago Police Department. No one was in custody in connection with the shooting. Area detectives are investigating. The Source Details for this story were provided by the Uvalde Foundation For Kids/One In Five Foundation for Kids and previous Fox 32 reporting,
