How school mental health support can help Geelong students thrive

A local student has shared how his mental health challenges stopped him from socialising, but his school social worker helped him out of a dark place.

Bannockburn P-12 College social worker Greg Mays with students Chelsea Liddicoat, Briony Prossor and Christopher Stephenson. Picture: Brad Fleet

Specialised mental health support, including sailing, is helping Bannockburn P-12 College overcome their challenges.

Year 11 student Christopher said he had been supported by one of the school’s mental health practitioners, social worker Gregory Mays, since he was in year 8.

“When I first started I was at a real low in my life, I felt so misunderstood,” Christopher said.

“I thought I was the only one that understood myself … and I couldn’t socialise because of it.”

Christopher said he was struggling with friendships and school work, and not enjoying school at all.

“The first thing Greg helped me do was realise that I could deal with my emotions and I could find strategies to understand myself,” he said.

Christopher said after building trust, he felt more confident to open up.

He said as a result he felt understood, and began to enjoy school.

Mr Mays said he had worked as a mental health practitioner at Bannockburn P-12 College since 2021.

He has counselled more than 100 students there, in addition to running classes and group lunchtime sessions.

Bannockburn P-12 College social worker Greg Mays. Picture: Brad Fleet

Mr Mays said the most common presenting issue at the school was excessive worry and anxiety, followed by frustration.

Students also regularly presented with inappropriate challenging behaviour, self harm, suicidal thoughts, and concerns around family, emotional regulation, peer relations, sadness and self-esteem.

All of these issues, Mr Mays said, affected academic performance and life outcomes.

He said it always took time to build trust with students, and make sure they felt safe enough to work on the mental health challenges they faced.

“It’s a lot of time sitting over a hot chocolate and chatting about life,” he said.

Year 9 student Briony signed up for a class with the school’s mental health program. ‘Banny Project’, at the start of the year, and said she was learning to manage life’s emotional storms, and enjoying it.

“We go sailing at the Geelong waterfront,” she said.

“It helps me build my resilience and team work … we all have to work together to make sure it’s going to go where we need it to go.”

Briony said the experience helped her stay more engaged during other classes too.

“Steering the boat, I get to control where I’m going,” she said.

Mr Mays is one of the many mental health practitioners placed in Victorian high schools as part of the state government’s Mental Health in Schools Initiative.

Deputy Premier Ben Carroll said the program enabled about 9300 students to receive mental health support each year.

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Originally published as How school mental health support can help Geelong students thrive