On Monday 6 October, during Mental Health Week (4-11 October), the Y WA will launch their seventh annual Inside Our Minds short film series, a powerful acknowledgment of young people’s mental health struggles. This year’s award-winning series amplifies the perspectives of seven courageous neurodivergent young people, each examining how their distinctive cognitive, sensory, and experiential approaches influence their mental health pathways.
In Australia, it’s estimated that around 15-20% of children and teenagers in the education system are neurodivergent. This statistic of neurodivergence includes ADHD, autism, complex mental illnesses, anxiety and depression. The most common forms of neurodivergence in this group are ADHD with a prevalence of 4–11%, and 3–4% for autism, often co-occurring, which can also impact mental health.
A unique Inside Our Minds video will be released each day during Mental Health Week across the Y WA’s social media, as well as playing throughout the week at the Northbridge Piazza, in Yagan Square and across the Curtin University Campus, ensuring these beneficial messages reach the masses.
For the 2025 video series, the Y WA has partnered with the Lyn Beazley Academy, a pioneering enrichment program for homeschooled high school aged young people and beyond. With extensive experience supporting neurodiverse youth, five of the brave young people taking part in 2025 are from the Academy. The other two attend The Y School in Mirrabooka, an alternative learning pathway for students in years 10 to 12 who have struggled in traditional schooling environments.
16-year-old Daisy Brophy from Coogee is with the Lyn Beazley Academy and courageously shares her story publicly for the first time. Daisy said, “I live with neurodivergence, struggling with things like anxiety, autism, burnout and sensory issues. Year 8 was a real challenge, I was in the depth of an autistic burnout, but my family saved me. They made me realise that it was no way to live, and I needed to start fighting for my happiness. I wanted to take part in Inside Our Minds to raise awareness for neurodivergence and to debunk untruths.”
The Y WA CEO Dr Tim McDonald said, “Through honest storytelling, Inside Our Minds gives young people a platform to share their lived experiences with mental health — in their own words and on their own terms. The voices of our youth are driving change during this important week, with a goal to let other young people suffering from mental health, specifically neurodivergence, know that they are not alone.”
For the first time, the 2025 video series was produced entirely in-house by the talented Y WA team, who worked tirelessly across talent liaison, filming, editing, and production to create a powerful and authentic insight into the lives of young people living with neurodivergence.
Inside Our Minds was started by young person at the Y WA, Martin Johnson. It aims to reduce stigma, raise awareness, and encourage support-seeking of the mental ill-health of young people in WA. Each year the project works with young people from traditionally underrepresented communities with past themes including culturally and linguistically diverse young people, Indigenous mental health and LGBTQIA+ young people.
View the 2025 Inside Our Minds video series here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZrtvBUgsokreXEaZIN7VRlL-WNQjJCXq&si=E8V3q13SB46zp4me
If you are experiencing an emotional crisis and require urgent support, you can phone Lifeline to speak to a Crisis Supporter on 13 11 14, text 0477 131 114 or chat to Lifeline online at www.lifeline.org.au (all services are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week). If you or anyone you know is experiencing mental health issues the Y suggest contacting Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636.