Over the past 20 weeks, I’ve had the privilege of volunteering as a youth mentor with the Raise Foundation – a national organisation committed to supporting the mental health and wellbeing of young people through one-on-one mentoring in Australian high schools.

Each week, I sat down with a student for just under an hour. No agenda. No pressure. Just space to talk, to reflect, and maybe most importantly, to feel heard.

I thought I was showing up to support someone else’s growth.

What I didn’t expect was how much I would learn in return and how desperately needed this simple act of presence truly is for adolescent mental health support.

Beyond the traditional pressures of adolescence, they’re grappling with issues that often lead families to seek counselling services, therapy for teens, and anxiety treatment:

👉🏽 Digital overwhelm and social media anxiety:

The constant comparison culture of Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat creates unrealistic standards and perpetual anxiety.

Young people are forming their identities in an age where every moment can be documented, judged, and shared. This digital stress often manifests as social anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem.

👉🏽 Academic pressure and performance anxiety:

With rising university costs, competitive job markets, and rapidly changing career landscapes, many students experience overwhelming academic stress. This pressure frequently leads to burnout, panic attacks, and the need for anxiety counselling or stress management therapy.

👉🏽 Teen mental health crisis:

Anxiety disorders, depression, and stress-related conditions are reaching epidemic levels among young people. The stigma around seeking professional help often leaves them suffering in silence, making early intervention through mentoring crucial.

👉🏽 Social isolation and relationship issues:

Despite being more “connected” than ever, many young people report feeling profoundly lonely and struggling to form meaningful relationships. This isolation can contribute to depression, social anxiety, and difficulties with emotional regulation.

👉🏽 Identity and self-esteem challenges:

From gender identity to cultural belonging, young people today are exploring complex questions about who they are in a world that offers both more acceptance and more confusion than ever before. These identity struggles often impact self-worth and may require therapeutic support.

👉🏽 Family relationship stress and communication issues:

Changing family structures, parental pressures, and intergenerational misunderstandings can leave young people feeling caught between worlds. Family therapy and communication skills training often become necessary.

👉🏽 Climate anxiety and future uncertainty:

Environmental concerns, housing affordability, and economic uncertainty create a backdrop of worry about the future that can feel overwhelming, often manifesting as generalised anxiety disorder or existential depression.

There’s a misconception that mentoring means having all the answers, or being a role model with a perfect track record. That’s not what this is about.

Mentoring, especially in the context of youth mental health support, is about something much more powerful: therapeutic presence.

💬 “The power of showing up” – There’s a reason the Raise Foundation use this slogan.

For the young people I met, knowing someone would be there at the same time every week made a difference. I wasn’t there to provide therapy or counselling sessions. I was there to listen; without judgement, without pressure, and without an agenda.

Sometimes, that’s all we need. But the impact of that simple, consistent presence reverberates through every challenge they face, often preventing the need for more intensive mental health support further down the line.

There’s a lot of noise these days about “what’s wrong” with young people. But sitting across from a teenager once a week gave me a very different view; one that reflects the same resilience I see in my therapy clients.

Both collectively and as individuals, they possess:

✅ resilience in the face of unprecedented challenges

✅ curiosity about complex social and environmental issues

✅ self-awareness and emotional intelligence that put many adults to shame

✅ courage in vulnerability, even when the world felt unsafe

✅ creativity in problem-solving and adapting to constant change

✅ compassion for others, even while struggling with their own mental health

These were students juggling social pressures, family dynamics, school stress, digital overwhelm, climate anxiety, and big questions about identity and the future; and they were doing it with a level of insight and openness that left me feeling genuinely optimistic about the future.

As a counsellor working with clients from all walks of life, I’ve seen the difference that consistent, safe, and respectful relationships can make in someone’s wellbeing and mental health recovery.

Youth mentoring is a form of early intervention and preventive mental health care. It’s not therapy, but it is therapeutic and can provide a positive experience with accessing support that may increase the likelihood of doing so again in the future.

🔷 For digital overwhelm and social media anxiety:

A mentor provides a real-world connection that reminds young people of their worth beyond likes and followers, helping build healthy boundaries with technology.

🔷 For academic pressure and performance anxiety:

Having someone who listens without adding to the pressure helps students gain perspective on their choices and reduces anxiety, often preventing the need for more intensive anxiety treatment.

🔷 For mental health struggles:

Regular check-ins with a caring adult can be the difference between spiralling and seeking professional help. Early intervention through mentoring can prevent mental health crises.

🔷 For social isolation and relationship issues:

The mentoring relationship itself models healthy connection and can boost confidence to form other relationships, supporting social skills development.

🔷 For identity questions and self-esteem issues:

A non-judgmental space to explore who they are becoming, without family or peer pressure, supporting healthy identity development.

🔷 For future anxiety and stress management:

Someone to help them break down overwhelming futures into manageable steps and remind them that uncertainty is normal, teaching valuable coping strategies.

When we invest in young people, by listening to them, believing in them, and showing up for them, we reduce the likelihood that they’ll need more intensive mental health support, therapy, or counselling services later on.

A two-hour commitment per week can:

🔹 Help a young person feel seen and heard in a world that often ignores them

🔹 Model healthy emotional expression and coping strategies for stress management

🔹 Offer a safe space they might not have elsewhere, providing emotional support

🔹 Help them navigate the complexity of modern adolescence and mental health challenges

🔹 Provide perspective on social media pressures and digital overwhelm

🔹 Support them through academic stress and anxiety management

🔹 Be a consistent presence during times of change and uncertainty

🔹 Help build resilience and self-esteem

🔹 Teach healthy communication skills and emotional regulation

🔹 Support their mental health and wellbeing through active listening

🔹 Contribute to building their resilience for life’s challenges

🔹 Invest in preventive mental health care and early intervention

That’s not just time well spent. That’s an investment in the kind of future we all benefit from; one where young people have the mental health support they need to thrive despite the unique challenges of their generation.

What happens when a young person feels truly heard and supported?

They’re more likely to:

✅ Seek professional help when they need therapy or counselling

✅ Develop healthy coping strategies for stress and anxiety

✅ Build stronger, healthier relationships

✅ Pursue their goals with confidence and resilience

✅ Support others in their community

✅ Become mentally healthy adults who can contribute positively to society

✅ Break cycles of mental health struggles in their families

The investment you make in two hours a week doesn’t just change one life, it creates ripples that extend far beyond what you can see, contributing to community mental health and wellbeing

If you’re looking for a way to give back – something practical, meaningful, and focused on mental health support – I can’t recommend the Raise Foundation highly enough.

You don’t need to be a therapist or counsellor. You just need to care and be willing to listen.

The young people of today are facing challenges we’ve never seen before. They need adults who understand that the world has changed, who don’t dismiss their struggles, and who are willing to show up consistently as part of their support network.

Two hours per week. One young person. A lasting impact on mental health challenges that matter.

👉 Learn more at www.raise.org.au

The challenges faced by young people today are very real, but so is their incredible capacity for growth, resilience, and positive change. Sometimes, all they need is someone who believes in them and shows up consistently. Other times – just like any of us – they may need professional counselling, therapy for anxiety or depression, or family therapy to address deeper issues.

Whether you’re considering mentoring, seeking therapy for yourself, or looking for mental health support for a young person in your life, remember that help is available.

Early intervention and consistent support make all the difference.

If you’re feeling disconnected, stuck, or unsure how to contribute, you’re not alone. Professional mental health support is available, and it’s okay to ask for it.

Professional mental health services available at Solid Foundations Counselling:

✅ Individual therapy and counselling

✅ Anxiety and depression treatment

✅ Stress management and coping strategies

✅ Family therapy and relationship counselling

✅ Teen and adolescent mental health support

✅ Online therapy across Australia

📍 In-person counselling in Melbourne, or online therapy across Australia

📞 Book a free call to discuss your mental health needs or those of someone you care about, or check out the Solid Foundations Counselling Resources page here for more options.