Yesterday all year levels were fortunate to have a presentation by “Attitude” – the youth education division of Parenting Place. The organization is dedicated to equipping teenagers with the information and skills they need to negotiate the adolescent years and build meaningful lives.
The day began with year 13’s, where the talk was on Mental Health. This was an excellent presentation by the presenter, Tamatea. He outlined how there is no such thing as those who are “ok” and those who have mental health problems. Tamatea cleverly, but with outstanding humour, delivered the message to the young men that there is simply a “continuum” that all people fall along, and that can change at various times in our lives. The message was as we so often hear, to seek help for the pain or discomfort as we so readily do when we go to a doctor for a physical ailment.
The presentations during periods two and three were to our year 12’s and year 11’s and focused on healthy relationships. Once again, the important points were delivered with sincerity but in such an enthusiastic and entertaining way, that students were fully engaged in what was being covered. One of the key messages of these talks was simply that sex within a mutually respectful relationship is ideal and will result in greater fulfilment and less harm and hurt. Students were challenged to appreciate that social media, films and boasting by other students, is often an exaggeration, a lie or simply do not represent reality.
Later in the day the year 9 students were given a presentation on drugs and alcohol and during period five, the year 10 students received a presentation on well-being.
Our thanks go to Tamatea for these outstanding talks. It was clear that he has a deep concern for the wellbeing of young New Zealanders, and we do hope that each young man will have taken away at least one piece of advice from their time with him yesterday.
For any parents or students wishing to find out more, the contact for Attitude is below.
Phone
+64 9 524 0025
Fax
+64 9 524 0029
Email
northisland@attitude.org.nz
