Busselton Senior High School adopts iconic mullets for mental health awareness

It was business in the front and party in the back at Busselton Senior High School as both staff and students donned the iconic Aussie mullet in the name of mental health awareness. The big shave, facilitated by hairdressers from Oscar and Ivy Hair Co, was part of the school’s participation in the Black Dog Institute's Mullets for Mental Health initiative aimed at raising awareness and start conversations around mental health. BSHS teacher Viv Barton took the school’s effort to the radio waves, saying the school was not only raising awareness, but funds for the Black Dog Institute's campaign. "It's just something different and exciting and coincides with having that conversation about mental health issues,” she said on air. "We see a number of students who have some sort of mental health issues and we know from the evidence that if young people or any person is going to have mental health issues they often emerge in the teenager years.” "We are really trying to have those conversations with our student and staff and increasing their language around mental health and their capacity to ask for support." With teachers, students and even new principal John Watters jumping on board, the school linked the big chop in with the Nationals R U OK? Day events, with music, food and activities in the name of better mental health.