For Teens & Young Adults
These are for you, not about you. A lot of what gets written for teenagers is actually written for the adults worrying about them, which is pretty annoying. We've tried not to do that here. Have a scroll, take what's useful, ignore the rest.
Understanding Neurodivergence
Neurodivergence is a word used to describe brains that work in different ways. It includes autism, ADHD, dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia, dyspraxia (DCD), Tourette syndrome, and other neurodevelopmental differences. If you're neurodivergent, your brain isn't broken or "wrong" - it's simply wired differently.
Neurodivergence is common. Estimates suggest around 15-20% of people in Australia may be neurodivergent, depending on how neurodivergence is defined. Neurodivergent brains come with genuine strengths as well as genuine challenges, and understanding how your own brain works is one of the most valuable things you can do as a teenager.
Understanding Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a mental health condition where the brain gets stuck in a cycle of unwanted thoughts and repetitive behaviours. These thoughts can feel upsetting, scary, confusing, or impossible to ignore. Despite what people often say, OCD is not just about being neat, organised, or liking things a certain way. It can be exhausting, time-consuming, and have a major impact on daily life.
Understanding Anxiety
Anxiety is one of the most common mental health experiences in Australian teens. If you're reading this, chances are you already know what anxiety feels like; racing heart, churning stomach, a brain that won't stay quiet, and a body that won't relax. This is a guide to making sense of it, understanding what's going on, and learning what actually helps.
Understanding Depression
Depression is more than just sadness or having a bad day. It is a mood disorder that affects your ability to cope with daily life due to persistent low energy and loss of enjoyment of life for more than two weeks. Young people can seem more irritable, withdrawn from friends, a decline in school/work performance, headaches, and stomach aches. Depression is rarely ever caused by one thing alone.
