Saturday, August 3, 2024

2:20 PM - 2:35 PM

Knowledge Centre

---

Overview

In the face of limited access to professional psychological help and the growing challenges in addressing child and teen mental health, providing teachers with training to combat student anxiety is crucial. Teachers play a vital role in recognizing and managing anxiety in students, allowing them to continue teaching while equipping students with essential coping skills. The Australian Productivity Commission's 2022 inquiry underscored the need for teacher training in identifying and handling student anxiety. While parents are primary influencers in anxiety regulation, teachers can serve as lay mental health coaches by setting high expectations, teaching stress management, and fostering effective conversations. Initiatives like The Anxiety Project and Resilience in Our Teens offer a holistic, evidence-based approach, addressing immediate needs and cultivating long-term resilience in students. Developed by psychologist and former teacher Michael Hawton, these programs integrate proven techniques, acknowledging teachers' time constraints for real-world impact in educational settings.

---

Speaker