Talk to someone you trust, block offensive content and seek support – that is Headspace’s message to anyone struggling to cope in the midst of the same-sex marriage survey.
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Headspace manager Wayne Frost said he was already seeing young people with heightened stress levels, as well as anxiety over whether their vote would count.
“We hope people will have trusted friends and family in their life that they can speak to and remember that they are not alone,” Mr Frost said.
“We do feel that there’s an overwhelming majority of people in the youth age group that are in support of marriage equality, so it’s worthwhile people remembering that.”
Tasmanian Gay and Lesbian Rights Group spokesperson Rodney Croome has now called on the state government to commit funding to promote LGBTI support services during the debate.
Mr Croome is advocating for $100,000 of new funding to be allocated.
Health Minister Michael Ferguson said there had been an effort by the government to provide mental health support services to everyone in the community, with $16 million allocated in the state budget.
“We’d encourage anyone who feels they need support to access those services, which are wide ranging,” Mr Ferguson said.
With the Coalition for Marriage’s no campaign now launched, spokesperson Lyle Shelton said there were concerns freedom of speech would be taken away.
“Australian people however face voting on the future of an age-old social institution without any detail of what is to come,” he said previously.
Working It Out executive officer Susan Ditter said she also had concerns young people may find it difficult to ignore negative comments throughout the debate.
