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Telethon funding helps Kookaburra Kids break cycle of family mental illness

Claire SadlerThe West Australian
Bianca Sibbald with her son Parker (8).
Camera IconBianca Sibbald with her son Parker (8). Credit: Ross Swanborough/The West Australian

Children whose families are impacted by mental illness families are at a much higher risk of experiencing issues themselves later in life.

It is a pattern the Kookaburra Kids Foundation is hoping to break with the help of new funding from Telethon.

The foundation supports young people impacted by family mental illness, with the aim of teaching children and adolescents help-seeking behaviours if they ever are struggling themselves.

Its programs include annual adventure camps and activity days at places like Caversham Wildlife Park, interwoven with mental health education.

Bianca Sibbald enrolled her eight-year-old son Parker with Kookaburra Kids after her own experiences.

“I had a lot of mental health challenges growing up and I couldn’t understand why until I was recently diagnosed with ADHD,” she said.

“Mental health was never a big thing to talk about when I was growing up, so we need to raise the next generation to know it’s OK to acknowledge and process their emotions rather than bottling them up.”

Ms Sibbald said she would be worried for her son’s future mental health without the support of early intervention programs such as Kookaburra Kids.

“Without this program it wouldn’t allow the kids to open up and connect, so I’d be worried it could have negative effects on their future mental health,” she said.

Bianca Sibbald enrolled her eight-year-old son Parker with Kookaburra Kids after her own experiences. 
Camera IconBianca Sibbald enrolled her eight-year-old son Parker with Kookaburra Kids after her own experiences.  Credit: Ross Swanborough/The West Australian

“For him to be able to connect with other children and open up has been really beneficial.”

A Telethon grant given to Kookaburra Kids means more children like Parker will be able to attend the activity days and adventure camps.

The funding comes as the latest data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics revealed there were 3249 deaths by suicide in Australia in 2022 — 105 more than the previous year.

Kookaburra Kids chief executive Renee Coffey said the grim statistic was proof that investment in programs promoting mental health strategies from an early age was necessary.

“It’s incredibly disappointing to see suicide rates on the rise — we are conscious of the fact that every number in that statistic is a life lost,” she said.

“Through Kookaburra we encourage young people to learn help-seeking behaviours so they have the confidence to seek help when needed.”

Lifeline 13 11 14

Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800

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