MAKINGtheLINK is a curriculum-based program for schools to promote helpseeking for cannabis use and mental health problems, based on evidence-based research and developed in collaboration with teachers and students.
By seeking help early, young people are less likely to develop long-term consequences as a result of mental health and substance use issues. However, research indicates young people are reluctant to seek professional help and tend to keep their problems to themselves or turn to their friends, parents or teachers for support – people who often don’t know what to do.
It is not uncommon for young people to believe that they should be able to sort out their problems on their own, or be too embarrassed to talk about them. They are also worried about the confidentiality of information they give a professional. Existing school resources do not teach students how to overcome these barriers to helpseeking nor focus on improving helpseeking skills for substance use and mental health.
MAKINGtheLINK aims to increase staff and students’ confidence and intention to facilitate professional helpseeking for young people and reduce barriers to professional helpseeking for cannabis and mental health problems.
MAKINGtheLINK was successfully piloted in a Victorian high school. The evaluation report is available upon request by clicking here.
MAKINGtheLINK has four program components:
Implementation Guide
Staff Professional Development Information Session
Parent Information Session
Student Helpseeking Program for senior secondary students which has four resources:
Teacher manual
Classroom activities
Mates Help Mates DVD
Information flyer and program poster
“The students were engaged and interested. They enjoyed talking about the scenarios presented to them and learnt a lot from each other. The lessons were structured very well, students had opportunities to talk to each other, work in groups, move around… all very enjoyable.”
– Year 10 teacher from pilot school.
MAKINGtheLINK was developed by Orygen Youth Health, Centre for Youth Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, in collaboration with the National Cannabis Prevention and Information Centre, University of New South Wales.
