The question teens need to ask

This article was written by Jack Ward, a 14-year-old journalist from Ararat in Victoria who believes in the power of conversation. You can read more of Jack's stories, articles and opinion pieces at www.jacktward.com

Life as a teenage can be difficult sometimes. You’re juggling homework, family, friends and you might even be dealing with things like drugs and alcohol. Plus, your body and brain are changing. It can feel like a lot of pressure and a lot of stress. And when that pressure and stress become a bit too much, we need our friends to step in and make sure everything is OK.

But it’s not always obvious when the pressure and stress has become too much. Some people like to keep their struggles private and not show their true emotions. So, someone could appear happy all the time when they’re really struggling or going through a tough time. That’s why we need to make sure we’re checking in with our friends and the people around us all the time.

Over the last few years I have stood beside a number of my friends who’ve been going through very hard times. Recently, a friend of mine, someone who seemed happy nearly 100 per cent of the time, made me feel like there was a slight difference in their behaviour. I asked if they were okay and they said, “Actually, I’m not”. My friends and I made sure we helped this person but we also wanted them to have a bit more support than we could give them on our own. So after this conversation, we went to the school counsellor. The counsellor then made the time to have a chat with them and made sure they were all good. I'm so glad we did this as that person's now in a much better place.

No matter how old we are, the job we have or where we live, we need to ensure those around us are healthy and safe. There is no excuse for not looking out for our friends, family and even those who we might not be that close with. So, if someone you know seems a little off-colour or you’re wondering how they are doing, ask them, “are you ok?.” And if either of you need some extra support speak to a counsellor, psychologist or a trusted adult. Your support can make a difference.