In Your Head – Empowering Students Through Mental Health Advocacy
This week, 11 of our Years 10 and 11 students stepped beyond the classroom and into a powerful space of learning and connection at In Your Head, WA’s largest youth mental health conference, held at the Perth Exhibition & Convention Centre.
The one-day event brought together over 1,000 students and educators from across the state. It was a chance to hear from diverse voices – athletes, artists, psychologists and young leaders – all united in one mission: to break down stigma and empower young people to look after their mental health.
Inspiration from the Stage
The keynote speaker, Olympic boxer Harry Garside, delivered more than just sporting wisdom. Known for his bold self-expression and commitment to smashing gender stereotypes, Harry shared openly about resilience and the importance of caring for your mind, not just your body.
Caitlin Bassett, former Australian netball captain, spoke candidly about performance pressure – handling the pressures of sport, study, social life and mental health. She shared what she’s learned about staying grounded while chasing big goals, a message that resonated deeply with many students.
Adding to the inspiration, Hannah Palelei, one of our very own staff members and a professional rugby player with the Western Force, also featured on the panel alongside Caitlin and two of her rugby colleagues.
WA hip-hop trio 3NA had the room moving – and thinking – with a blend of music and mental health messaging. Their lived experiences and cultural roots brought a fresh, authentic perspective to the conversation.
Learning By Doing
Throughout the day, students participated in breakout sessions tailored to their interests. Topics ranged from coping with stress, vaping myths, and body image, to yoga, mindful movement, and creating safe online spaces. Each session gave practical tools for wellbeing and sparked meaningful conversations among peers.
“We learnt the importance of having a release from your daily activities like work, school or professional sport and how it helps you to let go of your daily struggles. Caitlin Bassett told us that her release from netball was her music (saxophone). 3NA are three brothers who have a rap band to forget about their stresses of work.” Bronagh, Year 11
“Going to the conference really helped me realise that there are others that understand what you’re going through, even the people you see on TV, and that everything is not as serious as you may think it to be! The speakers were relatable and really offered that connection… after they had spoken, you could go to meet them and even take a photo with them! It was really fun experience, and I hope to go again next year!” Lucy, Year 11
“I especially enjoyed the ability to meet and listen to elite athletes who demonstrated that not everything you see online, and not all progress is perfect; there are ups and downs in everyone’s journey. A message that really stuck with me from the day was the encouragement to get out of our comfort zones to learn more about ourselves and who we really are.” Chloe, Year 11
Compassion in Action
We are deeply committed to promoting student wellbeing. Events like In Your Head bring our Mercy value of Compassion to life and strengthen key student attributes like resilience, emotional intelligence, and empathy.
We are proud of our students for stepping up, sharing space, and gaining insights not just for themselves but also for their peers, families and future communities.
- Featured, InYourHead, MentalHealthAdvocacy, MercyValuesinAction, ResilienceEducation, SantaMariaCollege, SocialEmotionalLearning, StudentWellbeig, WAYouthConference, YouthMentalHealth
Author: Santa Maria College
Santa Maria College is a vibrant girls school with a growing local presence and reputation. Our Mission is to educate young Mercy women who act with courage and compassion to enrich our world. Santa Maria College is located in Attadale in Western Australia, 16 km from the Perth CBD. We offer a Catholic education for girls in Years 5 – 12 and have 1300 students, including 152 boarders.
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