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MIEACT helping everyone affected by bullying through their innovative program

December 6, 2018

During the WayAhead AGM in late November, Mental Illness Education ACT (MIEACT Program Manager Megan Mills presented on the findings of their new anti-bullying education program No Labels.

MIEACT has been working directly with its youth population when designing No Labels. 65% of the students they spoke to during the research and design phase said the current education on bullying was not representative and therefore not helpful for their experience.

Taking a behaviour-centred approach, focusing on three areas: participating, experiencing and witnessing, MIEACT found that mixing discussion with awareness building, and anonymous reporting and assessment created a very honest platform where participants could self-analyse their behaviour and disclose participation in bullying behaviour without fear of judgement or “labels” from their peers. With content and discussion driven directly by participants, 63% of the pilot group stated that the No Labels program represented their experience with bulling.

Since No Labels’ launch in early August, MIEACT has seen positive outcomes, measured by the use of formative assessment tool, Plickers, allowing our facilitators to capture responses and measure the content’s efficacy Live!

Some of the data captured to date reflects:

  • There is a high need for support and strategies around bulling to be provided in Schools – 85.5% of students in No Labels sessions across the ACT are concerned about the occurrence of bullying on some level.
  • The majority of participants have a great understanding about motivations for bullying, but are initially unable to articulate strategies for responding to or coping with bullying behaviour.
  • Self-reported participation in bullying behaviour increased to 75% – an increase of self-awareness sitting at approximately 25% – and an overall average of 75% of participants in each session identifying as having participated in bullying behaviour.
  • It has been pleasing to see the impact of honest conversations around bullying behaviour, and strategies to address this behaviour among all behaviour streams: participating, witnessing or experiencing with 84% of students indicating holding an increased confidence in implementing strategies to address bullying as a result of the session.

 

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Filed Under: December2018, Mental Health Matters, WayAhead Programs Tagged With: Bullying

MIEACT – Better learning comes from sharing real life stories

April 12, 2018

MIEACT teaches mental health and well-being in ACT schools with a focus on volunteers with lived experience of mental illness telling their stories of hope and recovery.

 

“Mum, can you come to school and tell the kids and the teachers what it’s like to live in a family where someone has a mental illness? Now the kids have learnt my sister has schizophrenia, they won’t play with me. Their mums say it might be catching…”

Such were the words that triggered a school education program about living with mental illness, trialled in late 1987 under the auspices of the Association of Relatives and

Friends of the Mentally Ill (ARAFMI) and operating in Canberra as Mental Illness Education ACT (MIEACT) since 1993.

MIEACT is now a successful medium-sized Not For Profit organisation that has been promoting mental health and well-being in Canberra high schools and colleges through the lived experience of its volunteers for 25 years.

From its very inception MIEACT’s foundation program, the School Education Program (SEP), has attracted support at the highest level, with then ACT Chief Minister Kate Carnell sharing her story of anorexia to students in 1998.

MIEACT has grown its educational programs to include additional specific classroom training in stress management, positive body image for boys and girls, and is preparing to launch its latest program on bullying prevention later this year.

MIEACT also delivers mental health training for adults through workplaces and community groups.

“We share lived experience through all our programs,” Executive Officer Heidi Prowse said.

Heidi Prowse – MIEACT CEO

 
“There is research that shows having direct positive contact with someone living with a mental illness, or someone caring for a person who is mentally unwell, really does make an impact in the classroom,” she said.“For young people, listening to people’s stories is something they remember well beyond their graduation day. We make sure that our stories are really relevant and connecting with every person in the room.”

The Australian Research Alliance for Children and Youth (ARACY) report card 2018, published earlier this month, found rising levels of high or very high psychological distress among those aged 18-24 years and suicide rates among those aged 15-25. Of particular concern, 15.3 per cent of those aged 15-19 years were very or extremely concerned about bullying.

MIEACT’s Bullying Prevention Program aims to address some of these concerns by offering support and education to people practising bullying behaviour, victims and bystanders early.

How does your team prepare before a big game? Do you use stress to perform or does it become too overwhelming? Why not book a MIEACT Stress Better Program like South Canberra 15s Netball Squad, and develop your team’s skills on and off the field.

 
“Bullying is something that we are now recognising as a community that is very significant. We plan to launch in Term 2 this year because we know it is essential to be able to support our young people in understanding bullying behaviour.

“This means not just recognising instances of bullying and learning the tools to be able to manage bullying behaviour directed at you and others, but also teaching students and young people not to permanently label peers as “bullies”, and to see it as a temporary pattern of bullying behaviour; something that can be worked on and changed.”

MIEACT’s Stress Better program encourages students in Years 11-12 to learn the difference between worry, stress and anxiety and teaches children how to manage all three before they develop into significant mental illnesses.

MIEACT is currently taking bookings for SEP, delivered into Canberra schools for free and into surrounding NSW schools for a nominal fee. You can also book a Stress Better workshop or register your interest in the Bullying Prevention Program by calling (02) 6257 1195.

To learn more about MIEACT’s programs visit www.mieact.org.au

Kathy Brine,
Communications, Promotion and Design
Comms.team@mieact.org.au
(02) 6257 1195

 

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Filed Under: Mental Health Matters, News Tagged With: Bullying, Child, Education, MIEACT, School, Student, Teacher

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