Kiama council’s SENTRAL Youth Services and Kiama High School are hosting a social media and mental health forum for Youth Week 2017 (March 31 to April 9).

Senior youth worker Andrew Chatfield said the ‘See, Speak, Change’ forum at Kiama High School (taking place on Thursday, April 6) would tackle the challenge of creating healthy online relationships.

“While we all use social media pretty much, today’s youngsters use it more often and intensively for all aspects of their lives,” Mr Chatfield said.

“The fact is that more than 40 per cent of kids say they’ve been bullied but only a handful ever tells their parents or a trusted adult about it.”

The forum will involve members of the Kiama High School Student Representative Council and the Kiama Youth Services Team discussing a range of critical questions around online behaviour.

These include: 

*What are some positive ways to respond to bullying on social media?

*What can you/people do to create healthy relationships online?

*How can social media affect young people’s mental health?

*What help is available when things go wrong on social media?

*What can you do to raise awareness of mental health and social media?

“We are asking kids and their parents to contribute their own questions and comments for the forum to discuss,” Mr Chatfield said. 

“The discussions and outcomes of the forum will be compiled and shared with participants, those who made submissions, local councils, state and federal MPs and youth service organisations.

“This is a meaningful and practical way to mark Youth Week; addressing one of the biggest challenges for young kids today.”

Those wishing to contribute can forward their submissions to council@kiama.nsw.gov.au with the subject ‘See, Speak, Change’ Forum.

A full program of Youth Week 2017 activities is available from www.kiama.nsw.gov.au and www.facebook.com/kiamayouthservices.