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Sophie_M How are you feeling about the social media restrictions in Australia for under 16s?
  • replies: 14

Hey everyone With the upcoming Australian social media restriction for under 16-year-olds coming up we want to know what this means for you and maybe even the young people in your life. This conversation is a place for all of us to share how we are f... View more

Hey everyone With the upcoming Australian social media restriction for under 16-year-olds coming up we want to know what this means for you and maybe even the young people in your life. This conversation is a place for all of us to share how we are feeling and what we think the challenges and benefits might be for you or the wonderful young people in our community. Have you thought about how to stay connected with friends you’ve met online? Are you focused mostly on the positives, or the negatives? What do your parents think, and what could they do to support you? Importantly the Beyond Blue Forums are not impacted by these restrictions, we're here for anyone under 16. In short, from December 10 Social Media companies will need to ensure that only people over 16 actively engage with their platforms. There is a lot of information out there which can make it tricky to know what to expect on when it comes into effect. To learn more we think these are a helpful place to start eSafety commissioner + Headspace FAQs. We know this change will impact some more than others, QLife provide anonymous and free LGBTIQ+ support and 13YARN are here for all Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander people. We want to hear your thoughts on how this might impact the mental health of under 16s in both a positive and negative way. The Beyond Blue Forums are a place for constructive and helpful conversation and the regular moderation rules apply which means we look forward to a kind and understanding discussion. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and feelings Sophie M

BeyondBlue New to this Forum? Please read this first!
  • replies: 0

Hey there! Welcome to the Young People section of the Beyond Blue Forums. The purpose of this section is to provide members aged 25 and under a space to discuss life issues, tricky situations and the difficult emotions and feelings that come with tho... View more

Hey there! Welcome to the Young People section of the Beyond Blue Forums. The purpose of this section is to provide members aged 25 and under a space to discuss life issues, tricky situations and the difficult emotions and feelings that come with those. If you are aged over 25, please be mindful that this is a space for younger people to connect and provide support for each other. These forums are moderated, so your posts may not appear straight away. Information on moderation on the Forums can be found here. Being familiar with our Community Guidelines can help ensure that your posts appear online as quickly as possible. If we have concerns about your wellbeing, one of our friendly moderators will check in with you privately to make sure you get the support you need. If you need more immediate support, we recommend reaching out to the following: Beyond Blue Support Service – any time, chat online to a counsellor or call 1300 22 4636 Headspace – between 9am and 1am (AEST), chat online to a mental health clinician or call 1800 650 890 Kids Helpline – any time, chat online to a counsellor or call 1800 55 1800 Thank you for being here. We’re glad you’ve found us here and hope this can be a supportive space for you Beyond Blue

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yes lost
  • replies: 3

Hello,I'm currently in Year 12 and I've been feeling pretty lost and unmotivated lately. A big part of it is that I’m unsure about what I want to study at university, or what career I want to pursue in the future. I signed up for the UCAT mostly beca... View more

Hello,I'm currently in Year 12 and I've been feeling pretty lost and unmotivated lately. A big part of it is that I’m unsure about what I want to study at university, or what career I want to pursue in the future. I signed up for the UCAT mostly because everyone around me was aiming for medicine, and since I had initially considered physiotherapy, I thought medicine might just be a more secure, better-paying path.But I’ve come to realise that I’m struggling to stay on top of my subjects — I chose content-heavy courses (because I wasn't planning to do the UCAT at first but also because I was doing well in those subjects), and on top of that, I’ve experienced an unexpected academic drop this year that’s shaken my confidence and my UCAT preparation is going pretty poorly as well.Right now, I don’t feel like there’s anything I’m particularly good at, and I’m scared of choosing something too difficult (like actuarial studies) in case I fail and end up wasting time and money switching degrees. I’m also hesitant about physiotherapy now because I’ve heard the pay isn’t great.I think a lot of this confusion comes from not really having much experience with the real world or a clear idea of what different careers are actually like.Does anyone have any advice on how to figure out what degree or career path might be a good fit?(Also I've talked to my careers advisor before and they didn't really help me much).

Lost_Soul I'm a horrible person who doesn't know how to be respectful???
  • replies: 2

I'm not okay. I feel very upset and awful. I haven't been able to study (even though I have final uni exams coming up next week), eat or just experience a willingness to continue living on for the past two days. I have been told that I am disrespectf... View more

I'm not okay. I feel very upset and awful. I haven't been able to study (even though I have final uni exams coming up next week), eat or just experience a willingness to continue living on for the past two days. I have been told that I am disrespectful and 'bully' by many many members on a social platform for giving advice to someone on a social platform that they should try to understand another person's perspective before expressing their own on the matter so that the person doesn't feel misunderstood. I ended up deleting my account. Prior to deleting my account, I made a post saying how I'm crying badly whilst hiding in the bathroom and I would like some support even if it is just hugging emojis or hearts....but despite this the members who said I was disrespectful provided no support. It almost seems like their support is dependent on 'the side' they take rather than non-discriminatingly providing support for those in need. I hate such selective support -

Guest_04870661 Dropping out
  • replies: 3

Hi, My name is Ida. My father is telling me of dropping out, im not sure what to do if i drop out. So i want some advice for if i do drop out. I didnt want to be tutored for year 11 today since ive been really tired. So i want to find a job near me. ... View more

Hi, My name is Ida. My father is telling me of dropping out, im not sure what to do if i drop out. So i want some advice for if i do drop out. I didnt want to be tutored for year 11 today since ive been really tired. So i want to find a job near me. I dont know what to do.

six Should I screw my school and go to a. New one?
  • replies: 3

Hey, basically I’ve been struggling with severe anxiety surrounding school for the past year for ages I couldn’t even stay for first period never mind a day it started when we had to do a presentation and I knew there was no way I could it the teache... View more

Hey, basically I’ve been struggling with severe anxiety surrounding school for the past year for ages I couldn’t even stay for first period never mind a day it started when we had to do a presentation and I knew there was no way I could it the teacher was rude the class was new and I felt sick thinking about it then I spiraled skipping that class and getting picked up early to then missing days of school then I got sick really sick for a month throughout that month no one reached out to me when I came back no one asked why I was gone or if I was okay and my friend group just continued to deteriorate bringing me to now halfway through year eight and I don’t have any friends sure there’s people at school who we are “friends” but not really that’s a whole other story though anyways the work is so easy for me now but I can’t be moved up in any of my classes because I missed so much of school I’m back now i can do a full day easy but the problem is it’s just bearable and I hate that I feel like I’m wasting my teenage years. So I’m looking into new schools I do volleyball and figure skating but they are both very small sports where I live so my hope for a scholarship is pretty low. Due to me struggling with social anxiety moving to a new school could be the best thing for me or make my situation worse making me feel stuck. opinions?

Laura07 Advice on how to navigate struggling to keep my well being up while trying to support someone
  • replies: 1

Hi there, I have an issue that I have never been able to fully deal with, and I would like some opinions or help from someone who may have gone through the same or similar situation. Around 5 years ago my older brother ended up being diagnosed with p... View more

Hi there, I have an issue that I have never been able to fully deal with, and I would like some opinions or help from someone who may have gone through the same or similar situation. Around 5 years ago my older brother ended up being diagnosed with psychosis, specifically schizoaffective disorder. Since then, it has been a rollercoaster of him being in and out of the psych ward and being medicated and then taken off medication and relapsing with episodes. It has been a very big struggle for my family, and it has brought down the family dynamic drastically. Even I have never found a way to deal with it properly. When I was in year 9-10, so around 2-3 years after his diagnosis, I started to severely struggle. I would have panic attacks, and I couldn’t focus when I was at school. School wasn’t a place I wanted to be, but neither was my home, and I always felt alone because my friends couldn’t relate to me, so I felt even more alone. It took a big toll on my mental health, and I never said anything to my parents because I didn’t want them to worry about me as well as my brother. Even now, being in year 12, I haven’t properly learnt ways to help myself. I try to ignore it as much as I can until I explode. I would love for anyone who has gone through something similar to reach out and give me any advice or tips on how they have dealt with it.

driftedID completely dejected from job seeking
  • replies: 2

I'm 19 and never had a job before, and have spent 10 months with around 250+ applications that have gone nowhere. Recently, I've have had 3 interview offers with fast food restaurants that I've never gotten at all before yet all have gone nowhere and... View more

I'm 19 and never had a job before, and have spent 10 months with around 250+ applications that have gone nowhere. Recently, I've have had 3 interview offers with fast food restaurants that I've never gotten at all before yet all have gone nowhere and i have been in slump since. I know it's just symptomatic of job seeking but it feels hopeless constantly making no progress and I honestly dont even think I'll get a job anymore. I always try to at least change my resume and cover letter constantly and get feedback and advice from others a lot but it still hasn't made much of a difference. the worst feeling I got from this was getting rejected from a Macca's after doing 1 interview and hearing nothing back from a kfc after also doing an interview with them. They've always been told to me as jobs that will take in anyone and it feels like I'm not even good enough for that even after 10 months that was the furthest I've gotten. I understand that getting interviews at all is a sign of progress but it still hasn't made me feel better at all. I don't have any experience at all and I can't be underpaid like teenagers do which puts myself at a disadvantage. I also have uni which limits the amount of jobs that I can actually apply for. I'm thankfully not in a position where I need a job to survive, I still live with my family. At worst it's been obstructing with other aspects of my life which are personally important though not necessary. However there's been pressure from others and obvious barriers in my personal life that have been mounting on me to get a job. It feels constant and I'm always thinking of these sorts of things whenever I seek for jobs. Its been weirdly destructive to my mental health recently even thought there's bigger problems I have. I've started to take a break from job searching to focus on my health and stuff like uni but I really need advice on how I can improve and what I should do.

Lost_bee I’m lost.
  • replies: 1

I’m new to this and have never really talked to anyone except my mum and councillor. I’m currently 18 and have had major depression and severe anxiety for a long time. I have rarely left the house since I was 12 and have no contact with anyone other ... View more

I’m new to this and have never really talked to anyone except my mum and councillor. I’m currently 18 and have had major depression and severe anxiety for a long time. I have rarely left the house since I was 12 and have no contact with anyone other than my mum, sister and councillor. I feel so alone, I have no idea how to move forward because I have been trying for so long. I have had trauma in the past which has led to this along with bullying and other factors. I just want to function like a human. I have selective mutism and don’t speak to anyone other than my mum and sister. I just want to get better but I don’t know how.

Brixton_Jane Should I go back to my old school?
  • replies: 2

Hi,I moved to a selective high school at the start of this year. It was a struggle to decide whether or not I should go because I loved and had good connections/reputation/results at my old school but ultimately we decided last minute to go for it be... View more

Hi,I moved to a selective high school at the start of this year. It was a struggle to decide whether or not I should go because I loved and had good connections/reputation/results at my old school but ultimately we decided last minute to go for it because it was a good opportunity. Now I'm half a year in and doing quite well academically, I have a few good friends but I've noticed a severe dip in my mental health, to the point my parents are very worried. The new school doesn't feel the same and it's making me quite unhappy and anxious to get out the door everyday. I don't know if my mental health with withhold for the next 3 and a half years under the intense pressure the school has, especially during VCE.My Mum has contacted my old school and they say they are happy to take me back in term 4 of this year, so I wouldn't be missing out on too much. This news made me very happy but now I'm struggling with the decision again. My current school has such a good academic reputation so I feel like I'm failing by leaving. My old school is worse academically but it's not too bad. many people have reassured me that "bright kids flourish anywhere" and to "put my mental health first". I really want to stop feeling unhappy but also feel intensely guilty about leaving again. Will my old school take me back even? WIll I flourish the same? Please help.

Guest_44016717 i want to move out
  • replies: 1

I am a 17 year old girl, i haave a bf and a family ofc but i want to move out. my mum uses me as a baby sitter and i dont get money from it wich ik is expected but i watch and look after my sibling verys often which leads into me not being able to do... View more

I am a 17 year old girl, i haave a bf and a family ofc but i want to move out. my mum uses me as a baby sitter and i dont get money from it wich ik is expected but i watch and look after my sibling verys often which leads into me not being able to do anything.idk where to go or what to do because i am 17 and i have nothing prepaird but i really just want my own space. i want to be in control of myself again, and have my hard earned money to myself. on the daily my mum shames me over nothing and anything she can and sometimes its really hurtful with some of the things she says. my selfesteem lowered and my mental health is a lot worse now and she just doesnt see it. i feel like my life is jyust what she tells me to do and when she demands. she has 5 kids including myself and even yet until my dad gets home from work i feel like i perent them. i clean, cook and give her money when she wants it for anythig. she ows me alot and just wont give it back and now i still buy things for my younger siblings when they need it becauxe shes always to broke to buy them anything. shes not physically violent often but she can say something and screams iver nothing all the time. my dads a really sweet guy andf has always supported my descision on moving out but ive really had enpugh of my mother. she only needs me when she wants something otherwise im just anothher person. i really need help because idk who to go to and where to look to move out, preferably soon aswell. if anyone has any suggestions or help i would love to here them

Livy What should I do if I really don't want to go to school anymore?
  • replies: 2

I'm a year 10 student who has recently moved to a new school after being bullied at my last. I made that choice in hope of getting better attendance and it has not worked. I feel as though it doesn't matter what school I attend I'll always carry the ... View more

I'm a year 10 student who has recently moved to a new school after being bullied at my last. I made that choice in hope of getting better attendance and it has not worked. I feel as though it doesn't matter what school I attend I'll always carry the burden of not fitting in and breaking down before school, I simply feel out of options of what to do next. I want to go to school but I just can't. I don't particularly want to drop out as I fear that would disappoint my parents and my bf im a girl who really wants to do well in life but after having those experiences at my last school I have never been able to find the motivation to put in any effort into my schooling. Not to mention im failing year 10 as of my attendance.