Mental health, bullying top concerns for Mid West youth: report from Commissioner for Children & Young People

Mental health, bullying and racism are the biggest issues confronting Mid West youth and they feel their parents and teachers don’t understand their struggles, according to WA’s Commissioner for Children and Young People. Commissioner Jacqueline McGowan-Jones released her findings from a “listening tour” she conducted in Geraldton, Dongara and Northampton in September last year when she spoke to 100 young people aged between nine and 17 at meet-up events and student forums at 12 local schools. Young people told Ms McGowan-Jones there were not enough resources in the region to tackle mental health in schools and the community and teachers and parents had a limited grasp of how bad the level of bullying and racism was around body shaming, cultural backgrounds, sexual orientation and gender. “Sadly, an observation made by one child (and supported by others), was that teachers were either not aware of, or not concerned about, their students’ struggles,” she said. “Participants also talked at length about their parents’ limited understanding of mental health. “When children in the primary school forum were asked if teachers were able to help in matters of bullying, their response was unanimously ‘not yet’.” “Some suggested that (anti-)racism should be a subject taught in the Australian curriculum and that there should be more mental health services for people of a different heritage, who are being bullied.” Many youth surveyed suggested smaller class sizes would help teachers identify bullying when it happens, and they also called for more Aboriginal education assistants as well as anti-bullying, anti-racism, cultural inclusion and gender diversity education introduced into learning programs. Multiple youth said they would be more comfortable texting or messaging a helpline or counsellor rather than speaking to them. Ms McGowan-Jones said youth spoke of a “feeling of helplessness” when trying to report bullying. “Many participants believed it to be common that a bully does not get the discipline they should — which reinforces the victim’s feelings of isolation and being unsupported,” she said. Ms McGowan-Jones also met with Aboriginal and LGBTQIA+ youth during her tour as well as different community groups and religious and education leaders. Youth she spoke to recommended that age limits be properly reinforced on social media, as well as time limits on the use of various apps. “It was also suggested that there should be greater education about the dangers of social media for children, young people, their teachers and families,” Ms McGowan-Jones said. Other issues raised by young people included the prohibitive cost of participating in sport, the prevalence of illicit drugs and lack of entertainment and youth-centred activities during after-school hours and on weekends. Ms McGowan-Jones said it was imperative to listen to young people and what mattered to them. “Nearly a quarter of the Mid-West population comprises of children and young people ... the children and young people who participated in the 2025 Mid West Listening Tour felt empowered to speak out and were quite vocal about what they need us adults to hear and act upon,” she said. The youth made a number of recommendations for schools, government, parents/guardians/carers and counselling services. IN THEIR OWN WORDS “It would be helpful if teachers made talking about their problems easier, then they (children and young people) might find it easier to call helplines.” “Teachers and parents should be taught about mental health and how to help us.” “Adults treat (mental health) as a joke; educate more parents about mental health.” “Sometimes kids feel alone because (parents) are always busy.” “Adults tell you not to worry (about racism), but we can’t, because we see it.” “Friends are dying (because of suicide) but there’s no real news about it; why not? This is important.” “We all bleed red, we’re not so different.” “We all have voices, we need to use them to speak up against discrimination.”