Nikki Nobilo-Mental Health First Aid Instructor

Happy FriYay!

💕

Thank you!

Bear with me as this is not about me as a mother, but more broadly about how one important life milestone can affect our youth adversely.
The job market and recruitment process for it.

We need to look after youth mental health, and I don't think the current processes for getting first time job our supports good mental health.

My son is almost 16. He's a genuine, kind guy, and I am not just saying that as I am his mother.
He currently has a causal job and enjoys working. He was one of the staff who started from day 1 of opening at a place at Westfield so he was lucky he jumped on the chance to join the team before it opened. The experience of opening a store, getting a tax file number, learning about pay and pay slips as well as learning the actual job were great . He is happy there, but decided to start looking for a job that can offer more hours and possibly more money.
What followed has been heartbreaking to watch.
Having submitted a silly amount of CV’s online, he began to feel disappointed, as he wasn’t even getting any replies.
He was asked to do a wee video of himself answering some set questions then submit it online to an organisation. Which he did. And he dared to get excited. And never heard back.
He submitted and re-submitted a variety of CV's that were recommended by professionals for his age group.
He has tried going into multiple organisations to try and talk to someone about being in a customer service role, yet has been sent away to apply online.

I felt prompted to write this article because our youth are not being shown sufficient encouragement or kindness in the application process.
My point is that by organisations deciding to not reply to people during the recruitment process, they are basically telling our 'brand-new-to-the-job-scene' youth, that they don’t matter, and are not worthy, as they start their careers.

I would love to see more organisations at least have a kind automated response when resumes come in, or delegate an hour during an application process to respond personally to applications. To take time with our youth to give them brief feedback about their CV or interview.
I would love to see more guidance for young people through the processes of basic career skills like resume writing, interview techniques, and job applications. I would like to see more young people being respected for their time and effort during this process too.
Our youth deal with a lot.
School, friends, hormones and puberty, family dynamics, sports and extra curricular activities. When they show they want to get a job and earn cash and learn about being in the workforce for the very first time, it should be a good experience. They need support from school and home to build skills and organisations should be helpful and kind.

It did take some coaching and checking in through the long period of knock backs, but my son starts his new job in a week.

Happy FriYay!

Women's Health has been on my mind a lot over the last while, because the statistics are not great.
First I would like to say that by writing this article, I am not taking away from other mental health statistics.

I write this as there seems to be less advocacy for Women’s Mental Health right now. Women are living longer with mental health problems and illnesses that impact their personal and professional lives, and therefore society as a whole.

1 in 2 Women in Australia will live with a Mental health illness.
Women are twice as likely than men to experience mood disorders such as depression and
anxiety.
46% of women between the ages of 16-24 years have experienced a mental health condition in the
last year.
For eating disorders, females account for 95% of hospitalisation.
1 in 5 mothers will experience perinatal depression.
In any given night 600 women and children are sleeping in cars in NSW alone.
14% of women have PTSD compared to 8% of men.
1 in 3 women experience perimenopausal depression or anxiety.
Our female First Nations peoples and LGBTQIA+community members are more vulnerable to mental health illnesses.

The burden of disease refers to how long a person has it and how much it impacts their daily life and how severely. In Mental Health First Aid courses, I teach about the burden of diseases in terms of living with mental health illnesses, and comparing to statistics about physical health illnesses.
Mental health is now the 2nd leading cause of burden of disease in Australia, after cancer.
Women are over represented in burden of disease. Whilst men are statistically more likely to take their lives, women are living with illness more and long term. This has huge implications on women’s health, relationships, ability to work, and the health system.
The reasons for this are multifaceted and unique to each person, but the biggest right now include:
* Biological and hormonal - female specific birthing distress, post natal depression, perimenopause, endometriosis. I believe these issues are not addressed sufficiently in many women’s personal and professional lives.
* Financial stress - typically earning less than their male counterparts, and often spending time outside of the workforce to raise children.
* Societal and cultural pressures
* Trauma - PTSD rates for women are higher than they are for men. Trauma is often associated with domestic and sexual abuse.
* Social disadvantage and Isolation

There are so many barriers to women seeking help.
One thing we do know is that women tend to talk about their problems more, so reaching out for a conversation with women is likely to be met positively. Skilled conversations can help women to seek and receive help faster, and for it to be more effective.
We need to look after women of all ages and work to drive these statistics down.
Again this article is to not diminish other mental health statistics but to highlight women's mental health. Please check in with the women in your lives.

Lets Go!
Su***de prevention and mental health is a must for everyone this financial year.
Mental Health First Aid International
livingworksaus

I am full of gratitude right now for being able to deliver Mental Health First Aid courses across many organisations this financial year.
Thank you for choosing me!

Mental Health First Aid Internationalletstalk.mentalhealth
Mental Health Commission of NSW

Happy FriYay!

This is the last day of the Training for Teacher course through LivingWorks Australia Australia.

It’s not the best day outside, and I’ve checked out of my accom from the week, so I’ve come in early to practice in the window. Haha!

I’ve been timing myself as I took too long in my delivery yesterday. We all are learners right?

This saying rang true for many of us doing the course this week. ‘We got this’ though.

Looking forward to presenting and hearing other presenters, as well as hearing about where to from here with becoming a provisional trainer.

Then I’m off to meet my partner and have a few more days exploring Perth!

LivingWorks

Watch your internal critic! Nike nike

Good coffee and incredible sunsets have been my friend so far this week as I’m in Perth becoming a trainer in the ASIST course by LivingWorks Australia LivingWorks

Mental health aids are everywhere here. Check out the coffee cup. KNEAD

As I walked back to my accomodation, I looked back tonight to see this incredible sight. It was after dark and it had been a huge day. I saw the big building that has been a warm hub of learning and practicing alongside my amazing peers. The tall bright building hovering over the setting sun.

I felt warm fuzzies as I feel so supported in this hub by our trainers, the programme and my peers.

Tomorrow we start presenting as trainers.

As the sun set on our learning and practicing tonight, tomorrow we will put it all together to be the trainers.

and a tad nervous.