headspace and Instagram supporting Year 12 students receiving end-of-school exam results

Australian celebrities and creators are sharing their support for Year 12 students this week, in a new initiative from Instagram and headspace Australia. Launched today ahead of end-of-school exam results, #GramFam Australia features messages from ARIA winner Amy Shark, TV presenters including Lisa Wilkinson and Sandra Sully, comedian Peter Helliar, Home & Away star Olivia Deeble, musician Jai Waetford, and many more young Australians.

Available now on headspace Australia's Instagram, the project aims to share experiences and practical advice for young people dealing with anxiety or stress ahead of receiving their end-of-school exam results, and encourage students to come together to support each other on Instagram using #GramFamAustralia. headspace recognises young people face a unique set of life challenges, one of which is transitioning from school to study after exams, and therefore have partnered with Instagram to highlight the communities of support that exist for young people online and offline.

Ahead of the release of exam results on Thursday December 13, GramFam Australia aims to reach young people on the platforms they're connected with. Last month, a Pew Center study in the US found that eight-in-ten teens ages 13 to 17 (81%) say social media makes them feel more connected to what’s going on in their friends’ lives, while over two-thirds (68%) say these platforms make them feel as if they have people who will support them through tough times. The study showed that 71% of teens reported they feel more confident and included thanks to social media. However, the study also identified that 45% of users felt overwhelmed during their use of social media.

See the full campaign now on the headspace Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/headspace_aus/

Nick Duigan, Senior Clinical Advisor from headspace National, said: “Finishing high school can be a stressful time for young people, and this is often coupled with anxiety around receiving final exam results. We know young people spend an increasing amount of time accessing support online when times are tough. That’s why we’ve worked with Instagram to bring together a host of familiar faces to share messages of support for young people during what should be a positive and exciting time in their lives.”

“Many of these messages will focus on the importance of connecting with family and friends face to face, staying active, prioritising sleep, getting outside and having some time away from devices,” he said.

Naomi Shepherd, Group Director at Facebook Australia, said: “We're committed to making Instagram the kindest and most positive online community, and this partnership with headspace is an exciting new step in supporting young people around Australia. Instagram gives everyone access to powerful communities that share similar experiences and empower one another. Every day, we see people using the platform to strengthen their relationships with friends and family, build communities based on shared interests and passions, and give and get support when going through a hard time. Just this week, we saw the hashtag #selfcaresis trending where Aussies where sharing tips for self-care. We believe #GramFam Australia will continue this positive conversation on Instagram, and connect students to the people and communities that can support them when they need it most.”

For media enquiries please contact:

Jeff McBride, Instagram Communications Manager: jeffmcb@instagram.com

Suzanne La Fontaine, headspace Media & Communications Manager: 0438 278 000

Stephanie Fonti, headspace Media & Communications Coordinator: 0413 025 385