Stephany Tadros
s00147606
tutor: Susan Dallas
Due Date: 19th August 2014
EDFD271 Assessment #1 Part 1 – Alternative Assessment:
Topic: Mental Health – Anxiety
Anxiety is a “serious condition that affects how you deal with people, school and work, and the
feeling can last for weeks, months or even longer.” (O’Sullivan, E. “When Anxiety Attacks” (2009) Dolly
Magazine. Issue 7, pg. 42-43) Anxiety is often misunderstood, According to Beyond Blue Australia, right
now approximately 3 million Australians are living with anxiety and depression, “Anxiety is when
these anxious feelings don't subside. Anxiety is when they are ongoing and exist without any
particular reason or cause. It’s a serious condition that makes it hard for a person to cope with daily
life. We all feel anxious from time to time, but for a person experiencing anxiety; these feelings
cannot be easily controlled.” (Beyond Blue Australia, “what is anxiety?”(2014) Retrieved from
www.beyondblue.org.au/the-facts/anxiety)
Anxiety is often “brushed off” or ignored, with constant fear and stress, it can cause panic attacks
and from ongoing serious stress and panic, and the cause of this can cause an Anxiety attack, to any
one and to any age. Anxiety is one of the most common mental health problems experienced by
adolescents, due to growth and hormonal changes of the person, this can be a cause. “In fact, one in
25 teenagers experience anxiety each year” (O’Sullivan, E)
“In Australia, anxiety disorders are estimated to affect about one in every 10 young people
aged 18-24 years, with the rates higher among young females (14%) compared to males
(8%). The most common anxiety disorders reported by young Australians are social anxiety
and post-traumatic stress disorder.” (1)
“Overall, about half of people with anxiety disorders experience their first symptoms by the
age of 11 years, which is significantly younger than for most other mental health problems”
(2)
(1)Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Young Australians: their health and wellbeing, 2007. Canberra:
AIHW
(2)Kessler, RC, Berglund, P, et al. Lifetime prevalence and age-of-onset distributions of dsm-iv disorders in the
national comorbidity survey replication. 2005 Arch Gen Psychiatry. (1 and 2 Retrieved from:
http://www.headspace.org.au/what-works/research-information/anxiety)
Anxiety is caused by a combination of life challenges and experiences, it can come from your
Family History of mental health problems, ongoing stress events such as job stress or job changes,
change in living arrangements, pregnancy and giving birth, family or relationship problems, major
emotional shock following a stressful or traumatic event, verbal, sexual, physical, emotional abuse or
trauma, death or loss of a loved one. Anxiety grows on fear and can also be caused by fear. (Beyond
Blue Australia, 2014) Anxiety is formed from a pathological event of ongoing stressful life events,
triggers of anxiety are related to interpersonal relationships, such as family conflicts, peers. (Castillo.
RJ. “Culture and Mental Illness: A client centered approach.” (1997) Brooks/Cole Cengage Learning.
Canada. Print). Anxiety is also developed from suffering constant panic attacks. Panic Attacks are
characterized by a discrete period of intense fear, emotional fear is central to panic attacks and the
development of Anxiety. Once a person has developed anxiety related to panic attacks various
symptoms and disorders develop as a result depending on the situation. (Castillo. RJ.)
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Stephany Tadros
s00147606
tutor: Susan Dallas
Due Date: 19th August 2014
“Continuing physical illness can also trigger anxiety or complicate the treatment of either the
anxiety or the physical illness itself. Heavy or long-term use of substances such as alcohol, cannabis,
amphetamines or sedatives can cause people to develop anxiety, particularly as the effects of the
substance wear off. People with anxiety may find themselves using more of the substance to cope
with withdrawal-related anxiety, which can lead to them feeling worse.” (Beyond Blue Australia “what
causes anxiety?” 2014. Retrieved from: http://www.beyondblue.org.au/the-facts/anxiety/what-causesanxiety)
There are agencies and support services that cater to individual psychological needs, to all ages
and there be some that support a specific age(s) group. One service that supports individuals with
mental health anxiety issues for children between 12-24, is Kids help line. They are completely
conducted through phone calls or online messaging. They don’t appear on landlines and all calls are
private and confidential. Another service that has two support services is Beyond Blue and Beyond
Blue Youth. Beyond Blue support all ages in assisting how to cope with mental health issues, beyond
blue youth are specifically catered to young adolescents’ needs. They are 100 per cent online and
can be contacted through telephone, mobile or email. ReachOut.com is another service that
available online and provides the same support for young adolescents under the age of 25 who are
struggling with daily life problems and mental health, especially anxiety and depression.
“Australia is home to the world’s oldest continuous cultures, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
cultures, as well as Australians who identify with more than 270 ancestries from across the world.
Beyond Blue recognises the complexities of identity and that people may identify with a number of
communities. Studies have highlighted the barriers people from diverse backgrounds encounter
when accessing mental health services and finding help.” (Multicultural People and Mental Health,
BeyondBlue.org.au, 2014) Beyond Blue is a partner of an organisation called Mental Health in
Multicultural Australia, that both work with key organisations, refugees and migrants to reduce the
impact of depression and Anxiety among culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. This
organisation is recommended to multicultural and both Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander peoples
who struggle with mental illness and/or anxiety and depression.
The issue for teachers and others in the education system, is that they sometimes don’t see that
some students may be suffering from Mental Anxiety issues, some teachers quickly notice the
change in a student’s behaviour or attitude towards school, and they can talk with the student about
how things are going with school or at home or relationships. The best way to get educators to
support all students whether they are suffering from anxiety or not, is to have an awareness day, or
celebrate a national mental health awareness week and make it more aware in schools, especially
among high school students. Making a notice in all class rooms, sending an email to all teachers
regarding the issue of anxiety and its threats towards students, what can also help is putting a notice
in the monthly school newsletter and school website and also raising the issue in a letter to parents
of the children. The school counsellor can also be of contribution and make a notice to all staff and
students about Mental Health Anxiety issues.
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Stephany Tadros
s00147606
tutor: Susan Dallas
Due Date: 19th August 2014
How to track down Mental Anxiety among students and young people.
Teacher and Multicultural persons guide.
Anxiety is not a funny thing to mock or criticize, in fact at least one in ten students out of all
the students you teach are experiencing Anxiety, from a non-extreme to the point of the
student having suicidal thoughts. Anxiety is one of the most common mental health
problems experienced by adolescents, due to growth and hormonal changes of the person,
this can be a cause. Anxiety is a serious thing that all teachers should tackle and prevent in
the school classroom.
What to do if you suspect a student with Anxiety/Depression:
Greet them and talk to them about what they did on the weekend, get to know them before
you start asking further questions. If they are passive about talking with you about any
subject, just remind the student that if they need any of assistance with school work or just
in general they are welcome to come forward and discus with you any issue whatsoever. To
do this you are giving the student the idea that there is help available and that they are not
alone.
Remember that any time is the right time to talk with a student if they seem upset or un
easy at school, regardless of what is happening, it’s good to talk with the students easily as
often as possible to get them used to you talking about whatever issue they are going
through. There is always the school counsellor to recommend to any student to see,
regardless of any type of issue they are going through.
From a Multicultural Background? Need Assistance? Read Below.
Multicultural people also experience Mental Anxiety, from all ages. Regardless of your race,
colour of skin, religious faith or cultural background, you are no different to be considered
as a person who needs assistance on how to manage anxiety.
For all students that come from culturally diverse backgrounds, assistance is provided
through the organisation called Mental Health in Multicultural Australia. Their website is
available through both computer internet and smartphone usage. Also visit your local school
counsellor if there are any difficulties in learning development, particularly with English and
literacy skills, anxiety/depression or even racism. Teachers are available to discuss with you
any issue regarding school work, home situations or anxiety issues that have been caused
from various issues. Do not hesitate to visit the Mental Health Multicultural Australia page
to see more information on how to sort and tackle any anxiety you may be experiencing.
http://www.beyondblue.org.au
http://www.mhima.org.au
For more information, visit the school counsellor for assistance if required.
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Stephany Tadros
s00147606
tutor: Susan Dallas
Due Date: 19th August 2014
References
O’Sullivan, E. Dolly Life coach: “When Anxiety Attacks”,
Dolly Magazine (2009) Issue 7, pg. 42-43
Beyond Blue Australia, “what is anxiety?” (2014)
Retrieved from: www.beyondblue.org.au/the-facts/anxiety
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, (2007).
Young Australians: their health and wellbeing. Canberra: AIHW
Retrieved from: http://www.headspace.org.au/what-works/research-information/anxiety
Kessler, RC, Berglund, P. Lifetime prevalence and age-of-onset distributions of dsm-iv disorders
in the national comorbidity survey replication. (2005) Arch Gen Psychiatry.
Retrieved from: http://www.headspace.org.au/what-works/research-information/anxiety
Beyond Blue Australia “what causes anxiety?” (2014) Retrieved from:
http://www.beyondblue.org.au/the-facts/anxiety/what-causes-anxiety
Castillo. RJ. “Culture and Mental Illness: A client centered approach.” (1997) Brooks/Cole Cengage
Learning. Canada. Print
Meadows, G. S.B, M.G. “Mental Health in Australia: Collaborative Community Practice” 2nd Ed.
(2001) Oxford University Press: Australia and New Zealand. Print.
Australian Government, Department of Health: National Mental Health program, (2011),
”Mental Health in Multicultural Australia (MHiMA)”. Web. Retrieved from
http://www.mhima.org.au/about-us/the-project
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