Petition calls for changes
A petition calling for compulsory mental health education in New Zealand schools is gaining momentum.
The petition, launched earlier this month, has been signed by nearly 3000 people.
It was started by Mt Eden resident Lucy Mcsweeney, 21.
She hopes to use her personal battle with mental health to raise the standard of mental health education in schools.
Mcsweeney, a university student in Auckland, said she suffered mental health issues towards the final years of high school.
‘‘I wasn’t prepared to deal with it, and also importantly, neither were my friends.
‘‘It is tough and scary for young people to see their friend change,’’ she said.
‘‘All young Kiwis need to know how to best keep themselves well and support each other.’’
Ministry of Education’s spokesman Karl Le Quesne said mental health education was compulsory in all schools for year 9 and year 10 student.
This was through the subject health which covered stressful situations, loss and grief.
‘‘It seems crazy to me that health classes are only compulsory up to year 10 when so many stressful changes happen in the senior years of high schools.
‘‘That’s when you’re learning how to become an independent adult,’’ Mcsweeney said.