Page 4427 - Week 12 - Thursday, 24 October 2019
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Earlier this year there was significant media attention about changes to reporting processes and the burden placed on peers to receive reports of assaults within residential colleges. Eleanor talked to me about wait times for counselling services on campus and the fact that students have to continue living with the perpetrator in halls, even if they report the result. I commend the students’ response to this issue. Student-led initiatives such as the STOP campaign are aiming to raise awareness about these issues and ultimately stop assault.
It is important that we support the services and programs for those in our community who have experienced sexual assault. Everything from immediate crisis responses and health care to long-term mental health services can be crucial to helping a survivor.
The ACT provides many resources for survivors. Canberra Hospital offers forensic and medical sexual assault care, which assists people immediately following sexual assault and refers patients for counselling. The Canberra Rape Crisis Centre’s crisis line is an independent call line that can also assist in counselling. I am also pleased to say that the ACT is one of the only states in Australia to have a service specifically for male survivors of sexual assault.
It was an absolute pleasure to have Eleanor in my office and to have the opportunity to speak about the critical issues of sexual health and how we can work to address and prevent sexual assaults in our community. I thank Eleanor for providing this speech and Jasiri Australia for establishing the girls take over parliament program.
Youth—mental health
MRS KIKKERT (Ginninderra) (6.33): Last week was National Mental Health Week, and yesterday we received a report that gives us some sense of what young people in our territory are facing. For example, of the 351 young Canberrans surveyed, a quarter reported experiencing psychological distress. Figures were higher for females, at 33 per cent, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, at 43 per cent.
I worry about the wellbeing of these youths and want to see them receive whatever help they need. Unfortunately this can be difficult in the ACT. Seeing a counsellor at Headspace or even at school often requires months on the waiting list. The adolescent and young adult mental health inpatient unit that Labor promised would be up and running by 2016 has not been delivered at all. I have previously spoken about parents needing to take their children to Sydney and even to Melbourne in order to access specialist mental health services. These gaps in service provision, and long waiting lists, can discourage youth from seeking help.
But today I want to encourage young people not to give up. I know that it can be difficult to open up and tell someone what you are feeling, but it is important to do so. You may be worried that people will judge you. I cannot promise that some will not, but I am confident that there are more people all around you who will not. Talk to a trusted friend. Talk to a parent or other family member. Talk to a teacher at school, to a youth leader or to a faith leader at your church, temple, mosque or synagogue. If you do not find the right person to confide in at first, do not give up. You are valuable. Keep looking. Keep reaching out. There will be someone who will listen to you.
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