Orygen

While rates are not formally measured in Australia, an article in The Age has shed some light on how quickly school refusal is escalating.

The article revealed secondary students are missing more school than ever in Victoria – an average of 5.6 weeks per year in state schools. It's not clear how much of that can be contributed to school refusal, but the article did highlight that the number of young people referred to Virtual School Victoria due to school refusal has increased by 178% since 2018.

Addressing school refusal takes a community approach.

With that in mind, Orygen teamed up with young people, families, researchers and clinicians to produce school refusal resources for schools and mental health professionals.

Access them for free here: https://bit.ly/3I7bE7B

Global leadership and youth-led solutions were at the forefront of the recent ASEAN-Australia Youth Mental Health Fellowship Forum, led by Orygen Global.

Sixteen ASEAN-Australia fellows gathered in Jakarta for the forum, which provided the opportunity to workshop and pitch mental health projects to ASEAN representatives.

There, the fellows were congratulated on their bold ideas, keen interest in advocacy, and passion for youth mental health 👏

Held annually since 2022, the forum creates an invaluable opportunity for ASEAN-Australia fellows to enhance their policy development, project implementation and public speaking skills.

Read on: https://bit.ly/4cH0nbM

In celebration of NAIDOC Week, our First Nations team has generously shared their reflections on its meaning and significance.

They've also compiled some suggested resources to support listening and learning this NAIDOC Week:
🔗 First Nations videos, SBS On Demand: https://bit.ly/3xHiZtj
🔗 Victorian Aboriginal languages map, Bunjilaka Aboriginal Cultural Centre: https://bit.ly/3LllsNc
🔗 River of Language virtual tour, Bunjilaka Aboriginal Cultural Centre: https://bit.ly/4eRAVSF
🔗 Waking up Woiwurrung, Clothing the Gaps: https://bit.ly/4cxtcHV

For more ways to get involved, visit the NAIDOC website: https://bit.ly/4cSV60E

The artwork in the background of this post is by Emrhan Tjapanangka Sultan, 2018.

"Improving those algorithms, improving community guidelines is, I think, the more important solution."

Orygen Youth Advisory Council member Amelia (pictured), and our Executive Director Prof. Pat McGorry, have contributed to a new Guardian Australia article on why blunt social media bans aren't the answer to the youth mental health crisis.

Full article: https://bit.ly/3Lg8ctb
📷: Ellen Smith/The Guardian

Just a couple of Australians of the Year teaming up for youth mental health 🙌

Our Executive Director Prof. Pat McGorry recently shared the stage with the incredible Grace Tame for an in-depth discussion hosted by RANZCP's president-elect and our own Director of Clinical Services, Astha Tomar (pictured right).

Their conversation and Pat's keynote, a highlight of the RANZCP conference dedicated to youth mental health, explored gaps in systems of care, and paths forward.

Read on: https://bit.ly/4eW6xq1

Orygen is committed to addressing youth mental ill-health by pioneering research and bridging this with advances in clinical care.

Youth mental health is still an emerging field and we have so much to uncover. As we continue to progress towards research discoveries, improved approaches and new treatments, every dollar counts.

That's why, this end of financial year, we're asking our community to consider giving a tax-deductible donation to enable this critical research.

If you're in a position to donate, please visit: https://bit.ly/3Xj6CxN

There's four days left to apply for Orygen's upcoming Cert IV in Mental Health Peer Work (Consumer) course.

Orygen is proud to be offering 30 scholarships to support students to undertake the course, which is designed for people with personal lived experience of mental-ill health to obtain a nationally recognised qualification in peer work.

Our upcoming intake follows on from the success of last year's inaugural course, which has been described by graduates as "adaptive", "accessible", and "really supportive".

Course and scholarship applications are open until 30 June. For more info and to apply: https://bit.ly/46QYFle

In exciting research news at Orygen, major grant funding will enable a project to integrate AI tools into youth mental health care.

The $3m grant, from the Medical Research Future Fund, will enable a team led by Dr Dominic Dwyer (pictured) to establish the translational infrastructure needed to deliver personalised mental health care using AI.

Read on: https://bit.ly/3RI2Ryj

The need for new discovery, prevention, and expert systems of care in youth mental health has never been greater.

With your support, Orygen can advance our ground-breaking research, helping to ensure a future where every young person has access to the support and high-quality care they deserve.

Every dollar enables us to invest in research that has the potential to fundamentally change how we support young people, their families and loved ones.

To make a tax-deductible donation towards this mission, please visit: https://bit.ly/3Xj6CxN

At times we all need a little extra support, and these needs look different for everyone.

It can be hard for young people experiencing sadness, depression, or negative thoughts to know where to start when it comes to asking for help.

Developed by Orygen Digital, MOST is a free digital mental health service for 12 to 25-year-olds. It's designed to give young people flexible, on-demand support alongside face-to-face care.

MOST have created a guide to help parents and carers support a young person who's feeling down, which includes a five-step plan for getting help:
https://bit.ly/4enlgKx

Statistics indicate that only 17 per cent of international students access a mental health service, compared to 55 per cent of domestic students.

This gap is exactly what an Orygen peer program was designed to address, and new findings show 9 in 10 participants felt their mental health improved.

Read more about how the program worked: https://bit.ly/4eoPcG8

Heading into the weekend inspired and optimistic after partnering with the Australian High Commission, Republic of Maldives, World Health Organization Maldives and UNICEF Maldives to deliver several days of intensive mental health training and policy development in the Maldives.

Funded through the Australia Awards, the project is part of Orygen Global's objective to support low- and middle-income communities to implement programs and supports that meet the mental health needs of young people at a local level.

Read on: https://bit.ly/4b1ttRQ

As the mental health of young Australians continues to decline, research and innovation has never been more critical.

In many cases, this research saves lives. However, a significant proportion of Orygen's work would not be possible without community support.

Every dollar helps enable and advance this vital research, ensuring more young people can grow into adulthood with optimal mental health.

If you're in a position to donate, please visit: https://bit.ly/3Xj6CxN

🎓 Exciting news! 🎓

Orygen is offering 30 scholarships to people with lived experience of mental ill-health, to undertake our Certificate IV in Mental Health Peer Work (Consumer Peer Work).

These scholarships aim to support a career pathway into mental health and to prepare students for peer support roles across the sector.

Applications are now open here: https://bit.ly/46QYFle

P.S: Know someone who might be interested? Please share this post with them!

And just like that, it's the last day of May! Here's some of what Orygen was up to across the month 👇

Social connection, increased financial support, more regulation of social media and a tax to support youth mental health.

These are among the new solutions that emerged from a Policy Lab hosted by the Orygen Institute, which mark a call-to-action for governments to tackle the decline in youth mental health.

See how these real-world solutions can make a difference: https://bit.ly/3KoDeyl

Building and upskilling the workforce is key to improving wellbeing outcomes for young people. Dedicated entirely to youth mental health, Orygen's graduate courses are focused on that goal.

Delivered with The University of Melbourne, part-time and 100% online, these courses are specifically designed to allow busy professionals to study anywhere, any time.⁠

If you're looking to embark on or advance your career in youth mental health, applications for mid-year entry are now open. Learn more: https://bit.ly/3WcQqLU

Today is National Sorry Day.

It's a day to reflect and acknowledge the grief, suffering and injustice experienced by the Stolen Generations, and the strength of the survivors.

Jessy Renouf is a proud Gubbi Gubbi woman and a member of our Youth Advisory Council.

To mark this important day, Jessy has generously taken the time to share her reflections on its impact and meaning. Read on: https://bit.ly/3yyf81y

It's World Schizophrenia Awareness Day.

Much of Orygen's work on early psychosis, which can develop into schizophrenia after 6+ months of symptoms, focuses on improving care for young people experiencing or at risk of psychosis.

This includes our role convening the Australian Early Psychosis Collaborative Consortium (AEPCC), alongside The University of Melbourne, headspace, Monash University and Deakin University, with funding from the Wellcome Trust.

It's about working towards a future where, like Lived Experience Advocate Hamish describes, psychosis and schizophrenia can be talked about openly.

If you’d like to learn more about AEPCC’s work or get involved, you can visit their website: https://bit.ly/3KcX7Iy

For further reading, Orygen's fact sheets on psychosis are free to download here: https://bit.ly/3ygw1h9

We're excited to be partnering with Museums Victoria for a series of Climate Cafes, with the next event happening in June.

The Climate Cafe is a safe space where young people aged 16 to 26 are invited to share their concerns and questions related to the climate crisis, guided by mental health experts and Museums Victoria science experts.

Through interactive and visual learning experiences, along with inclusive small group discussions, participants will explore ways to navigate the complexities of climate change while fostering a sense of community and empowerment.

📍 Our next event, inspired by World Environmental Day, will take place on Thursday 6 June at Melbourne Museum.
🔗 Spaces are limited. Registrations are open via Museums Victoria's website: https://bit.ly/46jg2dy
📸 Eugene Hyland

Science hasn’t yet been able to completely explain how psychosis develops.

More importantly however, what we know for sure is there's no single cause of psychosis, which can develop into schizophrenia after 6+ months of symptoms.

The individual triggers of psychosis vary from person to person, and can include:
👉 Hormonal changes during young adulthood;
👉 Trauma and periods of severe stress;
👉 Pregnancy (postnatal psychosis);
👉 Drug use (cannabis, hallucinogens, stimulants and some medications); or
👉 Acute intoxication, alcohol withdrawal, and chronic alcoholism.

"I would like the community to know that not every person with schizophrenia gets it from taking drugs." - Hamish Drummond, Lived Experience Advocate

We're unpacking a range of topics like this in the lead-up to on 24 May.

Check out our previous post or read more via Orygen's psychosis fact sheets, free to download here: https://bit.ly/3ygw1h9

Around 65,000 Australians live with schizophrenia, yet it's among the less understood areas of mental health.

In the lead-up to World Schizophrenia Awareness Day on 24 May, we're exploring common questions about schizophrenia, including its symptoms and diagnosis.

Did you know?
👉 Schizophrenia develops from early psychosis. Psychosis causes changes in mood or ideas, including confused thinking, delusions or false beliefs, hallucinations, changed feelings, and changed behaviour.
👉 To diagnose schizophrenia, the symptoms of psychosis need to be present for six months or more. The earlier these symptoms are recognised and help sought, the better for recovery.

"Three in 100 people will experience psychosis in their lifetime and each will have their own unique needs. The right treatment means everything." - Prof. Andrew Thompson, Head of Psychosis Research at Orygen

For further reading, Orygen's fact sheets on psychosis are free to download here: https://bit.ly/3ygw1h9

Orygen will lead research into cutting-edge technologies for youth mental health, via $2.2 million in National Health and Medical Research Council - NHMRC funding.

The two projects, one led by Dr Dominic Dwyer and the other by Dr Cassandra Wannan (pictured below), will further research on new ways to achieve more personalised diagnoses and treatments for young people.

Read more about the two new grants here 👉 https://bit.ly/3WIkkdt

We're very excited to be collaborating with Museums Victoria and headspace, to bring young people a series of Climate Cafes at Melbourne Museum!

Starting in June, these sessions will provide a safe space for those aged 16 to 26 affected by climate-related concerns to engage in open conversations with science and mental health professionals about the environment crisis.

The Climate Cafes will offer support, tools, education and information on ways young people can contribute.

Find out more and register: https://bit.ly/3xU26em

Photo: Eugene Hyland. Source: Museums Victoria.

Can you believe it's almost May?! Here's some snaps from Orygen's April 👇