Mental health issues affect so many young people, and they can find it hard to be heard. We spoke to Maddy Forde, one of our Youth Advisory Group members, about what she has heard from young people about their mental health, and what trends she has noticed.

As well as being a young person herself, Maddy works with school-age young people every day. We are thankful to Maddy for sharing her thoughts and observations with us.Tell us about yourself, and how you came to be involved with Sir David Martin Foundation?

“My name is Maddy and I reside on Kaurna country in Adelaide.

I nominated myself to be a part of the Youth Advisory Group because I am a young person with an invisible disability or a chronic illness. As a young person experiencing that and understanding the invisibility of battling every single day with something, I felt really drawn to the work that Sir David Martin Foundation is doing. 

I come as a young person understanding how isolating the journey can be, carrying the invisibility and the hardness and the challenge whilst also trying to navigate your daily life and fighting for compassion and understanding. That’s why I’m here as part of the Youth Advisory Group.

In my day-to-day role, I work in education. It is truly about students’ and young people’s voices. We create opportunities and experiences and programmes and policies which all centre around the young person.”

What do you believe are the biggest factors that are affecting young people’s mental health at the moment? 

“The biggest one from the conversations I’m having with young people I work with is the uncertainty about our future. For a lot of young people, they’re consuming the world at a rate that we’ve never seen before, and they’re seeing the devastation and the sadness and the hard parts of our world. Previously I don’t think we’ve had that in real-time. 

Also, even though we are an online generation young people are identifying the negative impacts of social media. That’s becoming really, really clear in the research and the evidence that when we’re chronically online and we’re consuming this all the time, we don’t get the opportunity to have a break.”

What other trends have you noticed with the young people you’re talking to?

“The trends that I’m observing or what young people are saying to me, alongside that negative impact of that social media influence, is the pressure and the stress that they’re feeling. Sometimes the pressure and the expectations are set for them as young people to be mature, but also to be kids, and to have fun, and particularly in school, they’re really struggling to live in both those worlds and be able to hold both those concepts together. 

What I have been most surprised at is how young people are observing how the cost of living is impacting them and their families. I know for me at 28, I’m having those conversations with my family and my partner and my friends, like: will we ever get a house? Is that reasonable for us? Are we going to set ourselves up for a lifetime of stress and debt? I’m witnessing, young people in Year 7 and year 8, having these same conversations. 

Our young people have a lot of freedom in their creativity and in their self-identity and their expression, and I think there’s a lot more freedom in that as well. And yes, there are still the struggles of trying to fit in and figuring out who you are. But I think we have more tools and access to resources which help us do that.”

Are there obstacles that prevent young people from reaching out for help when they’re facing these pressures? 

“One of the most resounding things that I’ve heard in going out and speaking to these young people is how they feel like they’re not being listened to. That can be in so many ways. It can be in their education, it can be in their family lives, in their friendships. But I think if we have a lot of young people identifying that they really don’t feel listened to, should be a point of reflection.”

What advice would you have for young people who might be going through a hard time at the moment? 

“It’s a really big question because I know that each individual young person is encountering something different. 

I think the most important thing for our young people, is that your most authentic self as you are – not who you aspire to be, who you think you need to be – is the person that is loved and is the person that has value and worth.”

Is there anything else that you’d like to add?  

“I think the most important thing, and this is what I’ve learned through being involved in the Youth Advisory Group for Sir David Martin Foundation, is we can’t help if we are not including the voices of young people on the voices of people that have that experience.

Sir David Martin Foundation is doing an incredible job, and it’s been a privilege to be involved in that.”

If you need mental health support, call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800. More mental health for young people is available here. 

Sir David Martin Foundation today announced the creation of a National Youth Network of Aftercare workers, to help break the cycle of addiction and connect more young people with community, education and employment pathways.

In partnership with Mission Australia and based on an evidence-based model of care at Triple Care Farm, in NSW Southern Highlands, Aftercare programs will be expanded to another four youth residential rehabilitation sites across the country (Perth, Coffs Habour, Dubbo and Batemans Bay)

Drug and Alcohol Youth Services (DAYS) in Perth is the first location thanks to the support of the Minderoo Foundation, McCusker Foundation and the Neilson Foundation.

Aftercare is recommended as an effective wraparound program and is fundamental to vulnerable young people’s ongoing health and wellness. The program is designed to empower and build independence to transition young people back into the community post rehabilitation. When a young person is in Residential Rehabilitation they set their goals and meet their Aftercare worker. By the time they finish the program three months later, they have a trusted support network to allow them to re-enter society reducing the threat of relapse

By having access to a youth worker to support their connection with family, community, re-engagement with education and preparation for employment, they are set up for a better future.

“The DAYS program is the only youth-specific residential rehabilitation program in Western Australia and Aftercare will help address the current crisis that exists for young people with drug and alcohol addiction, many as young as 12 years” said Helen Connealy, General Manager of Sir David Martin Foundation.

“Our collaborative network aims to create a systemic change, breaking the cycle of addiction and setting young people up for success.”

The Foundation invests $50,000 to help a young person get well through residential Withdrawal and Rehabilitation programs. It only costs another $4,000 to provide six months of Aftercare to the young person to avoid the cycle of addiction. This keeps them safe and allows them to reach their goals of stable housing and pathways to education and employment.

An independent evaluator will work across the five sites to assess the impact and efficacy of the network over three years and a report on the Youth Network expansion will be published in 2024.Sir David Martin Foundation is a family Foundation helping young people in crisis. Our annual report 2021-2022 is available here. For more information please contact [email protected]

Sir David Martin Foundation’s 2021-22 Annual Report is now available online.

The report details the impact of our Foundation’s support for young people in crisis, as the major funder of Mission Australia’s Triple Care Farm.

In 2021- 2022, despite the enormous challenges of the pandemic, Triple Care Farm continued to deliver life-saving care for vulnerable young people in a COVID-19-safe way.

Highlights include:

Impact on young people in 2021

• Zero lives lost
• 83% in safe housing
• 83% engaged in education and employment or actively seeking
• 87% reduction in chronic drug and alcohol use

To find out more about how you can get involved with Sir David Martin Foundation and support our lifesaving work visit our Get Involved page or Donate Now

Recently, Sir David Martin Foundation’s Marketing Intern, Ashton Diggs, 20, attended a tour of Triple Care Farm, along with Foundation donors and special guests. Amongst the peace and tranquillity, Ashton discovered a place of healing that is having enormous impact on young lives.

From the moment I set foot on the grounds of Mission Australia’s Triple Care Farm one of the first words that came to mind was peace. The beautiful grounds, full of trees and light and clear mountain air, lend themselves to the centre’s purpose: healing. Amidst this surrounding, it is clear that the program’s work is all about empowering young people to find balance in their lives.

During our tour, I overheard one of the other visitors say, “Seeing it changes everything,” and I couldn’t have imagined a better way to describe the experience.

With your feet on the grounds of Triple Care Farm, you can see the impact of the generosity of our donors and supporters.  Their generosity  is not just changing lives, but empowering young people to change their own.

As we explored the 110 acre property, nestled in the heart of the NSW Southern Highlands, I felt nothing less than complete and utter awe at what has been created here.

Triple Care Farm facilities

In the Withdrawal Program at David Martin Place the house feels like a home, complete with a reading nook (pictured) and individual bedrooms for each resident. The windows look out onto the beautiful farmland and one feels as if they are a part of the land itself. As one embarks on a journey towards overcoming substance use, this will be the place they have the safety and support to do so, with kind and welcoming staff to aid them in these first steps.If a young person chooses to then go on to the Residential Rehabilitation program, they will be able to stay on the grounds in communal housing, where they will not only have the time and space to relearn who they are, but they can also learn from others who are embarking on similar journeys.

This approach, in the comfortable atmosphere of the Triple Care Farm cottages, is yet another way the program works to provide holistic care that helps young people create lasting change in their own lives.

Kyle’s Story, One of Triple Care Farm’s many remarkable students

The day we visit, a young man Kyle** aged 24 is preparing to leave Triple Care Farm after 3 months.

Having secured accommodation and work, with the support of the Aftercare Program he is ready to step out into the world again. Staff have arranged the purchase a push bike so he can get to and from work, and will support him in these crucial next stages. Kyle is living proof of the change that is possible.

However, after witnessing the safety and serenity of the program’s picturesque location, I can only imagine that leaving must seem daunting after 3 months of 24/7 care and support. That’s where the Aftercare program, which offers individual wrapround care back in the community, proves invaluable. Kyle will have a trusted youth worker supporting him for 6 months as he gets re-established. This becomes a virtual lifeline – offering some much needed kindness and practical assistance on the days when life gets a bit tough.As the major funder of Triple Care Farm, Sir David Martin Foundation has been supporting the programs for over 30 years, giving over 3000 young people access to lifesaving care in that time.

Although the Foundation and its donors have had limited access to the Triple Care site over the past two years due to the restrictions of the COVID 19 pandemic, the important work done at Triple Care Farm has continued and maintained its impact despite the ongoing challenges.

While the world has become an even more uncertain place for many young people, Triple Care Farm continues to provide more than just a safe haven. The peace and best practice treatment they deliver offers young people hope and opportunity, whilst empowering them to grow and develop into whoever they want to be.

Applying to Triple Care Farm

If you are aged 16 to 24 years old and are experiencing problematic substance use, you can apply for the Triple Care Farm Withdrawal Program and Rehabilitation Program. Learn more here

Find support

Donate today and help young, vulnerable Australians break the cycle of addiction and have hope for a brighter future.

Sir David Martin Foundation today announced an expansion of its Youth Advisory Group (YAG), bringing together youth advocates from across Australia to contribute to discussions around youth health and wellbeing.

From June 2022, founding member Lucy Stronach, (pictured) the 2020/21 Australian Youth Representative to the United Nations, University Lecturer and Youth Programs Officer from Perth, WA (Whadjuk Noongar land) will chair the group.

Sir David Martin Foundation General Manager, Helen Connealy  said the group plays an important role in deepening and broadening the Foundation’s understanding of the current challenges facing young people.

“We are first and foremost a youth foundation, and the health and wellbeing of young people is at the heart of everything we do.”

“Through our partnership with Mission Australia, we have been helping young people in crisis for over 30 years, raising over $70 million to enable best practice youth drug and alcohol treatment programs. Our newly expanded Youth Advisory Group ensures a youth focus is front and centre in our Foundation’s work.

“We are so excited to learn from their experiences and viewpoints on a wide range of issues affecting young people. Their contribution will help inform our direction and activities in a very meaningful way.”

The Youth Advisory Group launched in April 2021 with four founding members, Lucy Stronach, Corey Tutt OAM, Jasper Garay and Youth Ambassador and Triple Care Farm graduate, Elli Reinhard. To date they have contributed to the inaugural ‘Don’t Judge Me’ destigmatisation campaign and participated in Foundation and sector events, bringing valuable expertise and fresh perspectives to the Foundation’s work.

The addition of seven new members ensures a greater diversity across age, geographic location, culture, gender, sexuality and lived experience with mental illness and disability. Meet our new YAG members here

“Through our long association with Triple Care Farm and other youth drug and alcohol services, we know that youth addiction never occurs in isolation.”

“Mental illness, trauma, disadvantage, stigma, discrimination, homelessness, school pressures and family breakdown are just some of the factors young people are struggling with, alongside problematic substance use. The enormous strain of COVID-19 and rising cost of living have only exacerbated these struggles.

“In expanding the group, we wanted to bring together a diverse group of young people who through their own experiences, relationships and areas of interest felt they had something to contribute on these issues.”

“I am absolutely thrilled to be working alongside these incredible young people, and grateful they will join our Foundation in bringing safety, hope and opportunity to more young Australians in crisis.”

Representatives of the YAG will attend youth conferences and forums and report back to the Foundation.  One of the first priorities of the group will be working on the next stage of the Foundation’s destigmatisation awareness campaign, due to launch this September as part of Youth Recovery Month.

Download the Media Release as a PDF herehttps://martinyouth.org.au/download/4053/

Gender diverse young people, those living in Victoria and NSW, and students have reported higher proportions of negative impacts from COVID-19 on various aspects of their lives including mental health, according to a new report from Orygen and our major partners, Mission Australia.

The majority of young people reported the top three areas of their life most negatively impacted by the pandemic were participation in activities, education and mental health.

Of the more than 3,000 young people who rated their mental health and wellbeing as poor, over three quarters (76.5%) indicated the pandemic had a negative impact on their mental health.

The report – Clusters of COVID-19 Impact: Identifying the impact of COVID-19 on Young Australians in 2021 – reveals the alarming impact of the once-in-a-hundred-year pandemic with data analysed from Mission Australia’s 2021 Youth Survey – an annual Australia wide survey of more than 20,000 young people aged 15-19 years.

Download the full report here

If this content raises any uncomfortable issues for you or a loved one, please reach out for help. Sir David Martin Foundation has compiled a list of available resources here

• New global report released: 82% of people around the world think the political system needs drastic reform to be fit for the future and nearly 70% feel that young people should have more say*
• The Office of the United Nations Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth and The Body Shop join forces to launch highly ambitious advocacy effort
• The Be Seen Be Heard campaign seeks to raise the voice of millions of young people in over 75 countries across six continents

United Nations, New York, 11 May 2022: Millions of young people are missing from public life. With the climate crisis, global conflict and generational inequalities running rampant, the inputs, perspectives and representation of youth are needed more than ever.

Almost half the world’s population is under 30. Yet, they make up only 2.6% of parliamentarians around the world**. The average age of a world leader is currently 62***. Of all the parliaments in the world, 37% do not have a single Member of Parliament (MP) under age 30** and less than 1% of these young MPs are women.

Young people have the right to be included in political decisions that affect them, however, numerous barriers prevent their participation. The Office of the United Nations Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth and The Body Shop are collaborating to change this through the global Be Seen Be Heard campaign to amplify youth voices in public life.

The campaign seeks to create long-term structural changes to decision-making to be more inclusive of young people. It is launched today with the release of a joint report, ‘Be Seen Be Heard: Understanding young people’s political participation’. The report is a snapshot at a critical moment to understand preconceptions and structural barriers preventing young people from participating in public life, along with recommendations to address these challenges for the benefit of societies around the world. The report includes findings from the largest-ever survey carried out by The Body Shop in December 2021, covering 26 countries with 27,043 respondents in total, over half of which were under age 30.

The research found that 82% of people surveyed agree that political systems need drastic reform to be fit for the future. Across the board, 84% of people described politicians as ‘self-interested’ and 75% of people surveyed think politicians are corrupt. Three quarters of people under age 30 felt that politicians and business leaders have ‘messed things up’ for people and the planet.

The majority, two in three people, also agree that the age balance in politics is wrong, with 8 in 10 people of all ages believing the ideal voting age (the age when someone can first vote) is 16 to 18, despite that in most countries around the world the voting age is 18 or over. A third of those under age 30 surveyed would consider running for office versus only a fifth of those over age 30. People across all age groups agree that more opportunities for younger people to have a say in policy development and/or change would make political systems better.

Jayathma Wickramanayake, the United Nations Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth says, “The intergenerational gap in power, influence and trust constitutes one of the biggest challenges of our time. As young people have made abundantly clear through their activism on the streets, in civil society and on social media, they care deeply about the transformational change needed to create more equal, just and sustainable societies. Participation is a right, and a lack of youth representation where decisions are made contributes to a growing mistrust towards political institutions and a sense of alienation from elected leaders, caused by policies that do not reflect the priorities of youth, mirror their concerns or speak their language. This campaign is an opportunity to change that.”

David Boynton, CEO of The Body Shop says, “Our position is clear. The world’s problems cannot be solved by the same people making the same choices. Our research indicates young people are the most positive about the future, and we need to hear their views and ideas inside the halls of power. We will use our global reach to galvanise awareness and support, as we have in the past. Since Anita Roddick founded The Body Shop in 1976, we have campaigned on issues of social and environmental justice, because we believe that global businesses have a responsibility towards the communities in which they operate. Our last activism campaign of this scale, Stop Sex Trafficking of Young People, changed 24 laws in 24 countries. Be Seen Be Heard is rooted in creating a fairer world with and for young people, and together with the Office of the United Nations Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth – we are on a mission to do exactly that.”

The United Nations Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth and The Body Shop push for transformational change  

The report supports the fact that there is a chronic lack of faith in political systems but a clear appetite for more youth representation from all age groups. Learnings such as these will inform grassroots campaign actions around the world. These actions, outlined in the report, include a wide range of structural changes in political systems. Among other actions, young people’s participation in public decision-making could be improved long-term by:

• lowering voting ages
• increasing formal youth representation through youth councils, parliaments, or committees
• removing barriers for young people to participate in public decision-making
• simplifying registration for first-time voters
• improving young people’s leadership skills

Campaigning in 2,600 stores, in over 75 countries, across six continents

The collaboration between The Body Shop and the Office of the United Nations Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth will mean that young people and other stakeholders will be able to engage with the campaign through many routes. Local campaign activations will include partnerships with specific youth-led or youth-focused non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and/or opportunities to support through petitions and other activations.

The campaign is launching globally in May 2022 and will run until mid-2025.

Notes

*The Be Seen Be Heard Global Youth Survey was conducted in December 2021 by Dynata.

This large-scale qualitative and quantitative research surveyed 27,043 people across multiple age ranges, including 14,160 between the ages of 15 and 30, across 26 countries. To ensure high confidence levels and representativeness of findings, participant samples included quotas on age, gender, region and income. The survey additionally ensured a good spread of global geography, with 59% of the world population covered in the sample.

Our Connect for Youth crowdfunding event, powered by The Funding Network Australia, was a great success with $202,100 pledged in support of Triple Care Farm’s Withdrawal, Rehabilitation and Aftercare programs.

It was an incredible night – we laughed, we cried and the generosity flowed – both in the room and online! We are so grateful for everyone’s support.

You can watch the full event replay online here.

Sincere congratulations and thanks to our presenters Sara, Helen and Clare whose heartfelt and inspiring pitches moved us all. Thanks also to our MC, ABC Breakfast Radio announcer, James Valentine.

Thank you also to our major partners Investa and ICAP along with our generous suppliers ASX, StrangeLove, Heaps Normal, Chentannos and Lindt.

There’s still time to make a pledge. Simply click the button below or visit Your event pledge – Sir David Martin Foundation.

If you would like alternate payment options or have any questions please contact [email protected]

Registrations have now closed for our Connect for Youth crowdfunding event – but there’s still time to join our virtual audience on Thursday 7 April from 6.15 PM. Simply log in via this Crowdcast link

Experience the magic of collective giving at Connect for Youth – Sir David Martin Foundation’s annual crowdfunding event on Thursday 7th April, powered by The Funding Network Australia. 

We are thrilled to announce that last year’s brilliant MC, ABC Broadcaster James Valentine, will be joining us again  – bringing all his warmth, wit and compassion to this exciting event.

About James

James Valentine presents Breakfast on ABC Radio Sydney every weekday. He also presents a weekly jazz program Upbeat on Sunday mornings for ABC Jazz.

James has worked for thirty years in all aspects of Australian media. For ABC TV he has presented and produced the arts show The Mix, a reality show for amateur musicians called Exhumed and in the 1980s he was the kid’s TV presenter on the Afternoon Show.

Attend Connect for Youth & make a difference!