Ku-ring-gai Council has teamed up with youth service provider KYDS to host a forum on combating anxiety in young people.
The forum will take place on Monday 23 June at the Council Chambers, Level 3, 818 Pacific Highway Gordon between 6.30pm and 8.30pm.
The Australian Bureau of Statistics reported that in 2007, over a quarter of young Australians aged between 16 and 25 suffered from an anxiety related disorder and more than 70% of those who suffer from mental illness in later life experience their first episode before the age of 25.
Mayor Jennifer Anderson said there was anecdotal evidence from the Council’s youth services team that an increasing number of young Ku-ring-gai residents were suffering from anxiety.
“Of course the approach of the HSC exams is always a stressful time for students, but we are hearing also that young people feel stressed by expectations they have of themselves or the expectations of their friends and parents.”
She said the parent forum would focus on strategies for dealing with exam anxiety, but also look at ways to avoid other problems such as peer pressure and issues concerning social media.
“The forum is open to parents, young people and members of the school community,” Mayor Anderson said.
KYDS is a not-for-profit organisation set up to provide counselling and other services for 15 to 25 year olds across northern Sydney.
Call the Council’s youth services team on 9424 0981 to book a place at the forum. To find out more about the forum on 23 June visit www.kyds.com.au or www.kmc.nsw.gov.au/Services_facilities/For/Youth/Youth_events_and_workshops/Parent_forums
