Teaching resilience tricks to kids

A LIVE show aiming to improve children’s mental health outcomes will be coming to the Wendouree Centre for Performing Arts later this month.

The Resilience Project’s Three Happy Tricks, on gratitude, empathy, and mindfulness, will be presented by father of three, former teacher and assistant principal, and AFL player Martin Heppell.

Hugh van Cuylenburg, founder of The Resilience Project, said Heppell is a great fit for the job.

“Kids have so many different challenges to navigate in today’s world and combine this with the difficulties of the last couple of years, it’s no wonder we are seeing such confronting statistics about our children’s mental health,” said Mr van Cuylenburg.

“Martin is unbelievable, there is no one like him. I couldn’t think of anyone better to help kids and their parents understand how much fun they can have looking after their mental health.”

A study on children’s mental health in Australia, the Australian Child and Adolescent Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing, 2013-14, reports one in seven Australian children aged four to 17 were said to have experienced mental illness over a 12-month period.

A more recent study done during the COVID-19 pandemic published on JAMA Paediatrics drew on data from studies around the world, and estimated one in four young people were affected by depression and anxiety.

Mr van Cuylenburg’s organisation takes mental, emotional, and spiritual wellbeing programs to schools, sports clubs, businesses, and other groups.

Three Happy Tricks will be on at Wendouree Centre for Performing Arts on Sunday 24 September, and tickets can be purchased at theresilienceproject.com.au.