Young children often slip through gaps in mental health services in country areas, an expert in the field says.
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Queensland child safety officer and health and wellbeing practitioner, Lauren King, formerly of the Border, said mental health problems were generally not treated until children and young adults had hit crises points.
“There are mental health plans available to children and adults once they seem to have already hit the crises point and are experiencing problematic behaviours, thoughts and feelings,” Ms King said.
“There are services such as headspace to support these children and adolescents in seeking and receiving the help they need.
“However there is little available, or education provided, to children and their families about mental health prevention before they even have to get to this crises point – even less so, for small country towns like my hometown Albury.”
Ms King, who is employed as a child safety practitioner for the Queensland government and is also a Life and Wellness Coach at her own practice Life Above Zero, will host four workshops in Albury on April 22-23 for parents and their children aged 7-13.
Ms King has used knowledge from her psychology degree and experience in the Child Protection System and her coaching practice to create the Let’s Talk About Our Feelings workshop.
The workshop aimed to help children understand and talk about emotions; how to help them healthily self-regulate; and the relationship between people’s brains, today's social media and the increasing rates of depression and anxiety.
The World Health Organisation estimates that depression is the fourth most costly and most debilitating disease in the world and it will rank second by 2020.
Albury mother-of-three Chelsea Frazer, who organised the workshops, said she was inspired to reach out to other families once she connected with Ms King.
“Lauren has put together a very interactive, informative and fun workshop for parents and children (7-13 years),” Ms Frazer said.
The workshops will be held at The Space, Level 1, 445 Dean Street, Albury on Friday, April 22, at 2pm and 5pm and Saturday, April 23, at 9am and noon.
For inquiries and bookings contact Chelsea Frazer on 0400 402 466 at chelseafrazer72@dodo.com.au.
