For some, this time of year can be challenging. This is particularly so for people who are experiencing isolation, loneliness and mental health issues, as we are bombarded with messages of family celebrations, gifts and holidays.

Young people who may be facing some big life changes like starting a new school, awaiting exam results to get into higher education, or commencing employment can be the most vulnerable.

When normal routines change and daily structure is altered, along with missing regular contact with friends or having to financially support themselves, it can cause additional pressure.

During these times, it is valuable for families and friends to be aware of signs and symptoms that something might be wrong with their loved ones.

Being withdrawn, not doing the things they would normally enjoy, ongoing worry or irritability are just some of the changes to look out for. If you need support or advice, headspace is here to help.

As the National Youth Mental Health Foundation, headspace provides support to young people aged 12-25 years old who are going through a tough time and their parents. This can include support around mental health, physical health, work and study or alcohol and other drugs.

No matter where you are, you can access help through one of our 95 centres in metro, rural and regional areas of Australia, which you can locate on our website headspace.org.au.

Dr Natalie Gray Chief Medical Officer, Headspace

When is the deposit refund scheme designed to recycle bottles and cans going to come to fruition?

Hasn't there been enough procrastination? Let's get it on. WA and NT have had it for years with success. 

NSW used to have it, and it was a raging success with different factions of the public out cleaning up their area and making some pocket money in the process. In the mean time, the build up of this rubbish has hit plague proportions.

One of the worst hit areas would have to be around Sydney airport. The amount of rubbish (particularly plastic) on the footpaths, outside many of the airport related businesses is a real eye-sore.  These businesses ,along with the general public and council should be responsible for  cleaning up.

Steven Thomas, Shellharbour

The Turnbull Government are planning to impose a surcharge on fast broadband networks to help pay for rural broadband services.  We had a coherent, cost effective plan to deliver fibre into everyone’s home, future proofing telecommunications.

During Tony Abbott’s period as opposition leader, he said, “by the end of the second term, should we get one, the vast majority of households will have access to speeds of 50 Mbps”.

Mr Abbott said “we will build fibre to the node. So we will be able to do this for under $30 billion, compared to the over $90 billion it will cost the National Broadband Network (under Labor)”. Malcolm Turnbull was Communications Minister at the time.

Maybe a journalist could ask him why his prediction hasn’t eventuated, at a cost of $58 billion and rising rapidly everyday.

Now we are being hit with a new Broadband Levy. It’s strange how the media labelled the Gillard Government’s introduction of a market-based Emissions Trading Scheme as a tax, or rather the headlines screamed “Carbon Tax” but now they prefer to call Turnbull’s Broadband Surcharge as a levy.

Don Kelly, Kanahooka.