headspace campaign to empower Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people to Take a Step for their mental health

A new campaign from headspace encourages Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people to recognise the signs that something isn’t right, and provides practical steps toward feeling better.

The ‘Take a Step’ resources were created in partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community members throughout Australia, including a reference group of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people with lived experience of mental ill-health.

headspace Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural Practice and Engagement Coordinator, William Oui said, “Often the best first step is having a yarn with mob: our mates, mums and dads, aunties and uncles, nans and pops and our Elders.

Take a Step provides information to encourage strength in key areas of social and emotional wellbeing: strong spirit, strong culture, strong identity, strong mind, strong place, strong purpose, strong body and strong relationships. 

The resources include an interactive tool that assists Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people to work through each of these areas and identify steps they can take to build strength.

There are also resources to help family and friends to recognise when young people are having a hard time and what can be done to support them.