relationships
Relationships are an important part of our lives and they come in many forms. We can have relationships with classmates and friends, family members, as well as romantic partners. Relationships have an impact on our mental health and wellbeing. Relationships can bring joy, connection, opportunities to learn and grow. They can also help us when times are tough. Sometimes we can experience relationships challenges, like conflict, communication issues or misunderstandings. Sometimes changes can occur during our relationships like a friend moving interstate, experiencing a breakup or even changes within our family (e.g. parental separation). Learning skills to manage relationship challenges or navigating changes within our relationships can help build stronger relationships and improve our mental health and wellbeing.
We have helpful resources for young people navigating relationships and information for family, health professionals and educators.
Romantic relationships
- Building healthy romantic relationships
- Dealing with relationship breakups
- Understanding sexual consent - for young people
- Talking to your young person about sexual consent
- Group chat transcripts for young people or family and friends
- Resources for health professionals
Family relationships
- Responding to family conflict - for young people or family and friends
- A guide to parental separation - for young people or family and friends
- How to support a family member
- Managing your families' work and study expectations - hearing from multicultural young people
- Group chat transcripts for young people or family and friends
Supporting a friend
- How to help a friend going through a tough time
- How to help a friend who has been impacted by a natural disaster
Creating stronger relationships
- Create connections for a healthy headspace
- Interactive activity on connecting with others
- Interactive activity on clear communication
- Strong relationships: a resource for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people
How to get support
If you are having a tough time, it’s important that you reach out to a trusted friend, family member, teacher or Elder to share what you are going through. Or you can get in touch with your local headspace centre or use our online or phone-based service at eheadspace.
You can also chat anonymously with other young people about navigating relationships in our peer-led group chat.
For immediate help contact: triple zero (000) if it is an emergency
National 24/7 crisis services:
- Lifeline: 13 11 14 or lifeline.org.au
- Suicide Call Back Service: 1300 659 467 or suicidecallbackservice.org.au
- Beyond Blue: 1300 224 636 or beyondblue.org.au
Additional youth support services include:
- headspace: find your nearest centre or contact eheadspace
- Kids Helpline: 1800 55 1800 kidshelpline.com.au
- ReachOut: reachout.com
- SANE Australia: 1800 187 263 sane.org