12:00a.m. 11th October 2008

They say two heads are better than one.

Well, what about 55 heads?

Dozens of students joined forces yesterday at the Sunshine Coast TAFE Mooloolaba campus to discuss what they saw as the biggest problems facing young people today, and solutions to fix them.

The students, who ranged in age from 14 to 25, were divided into four groups to look at issues such as alcohol and drugs, education and training, body image and self-esteem, and mental and physical health.

Beerwah High student Saira Manns said she was interested to hear what other young people had to say about body image and self- esteem.

“All girls feel like they need to be perfect; in their own eyes if they don’t compare or conform to standards they feel a bit worthless,” she said.

Saira said the answer was to raise awareness among teenage girls.

“And let all girls know we’re all the same,” she said.

“We need to increase positivity and self-worth so that girls recognise we all have our flaws, but we’re all beautiful and unique in our own way.”

Tom Waterman, from Burnside High, was interested to hear opinions about mental health, particularly since he lived with Aspergers syndrome.

He said he saw a link between mental health and bullying.

“We feel there should be more coverage on bullying as it causes more mental-health states ... such as low self- esteem,” he said.

“A lot of bullying goes on. I’ve seen a lot and experienced a lot by other people.”

Tom said his group had come up with a “radical idea” to put the bully and the victim together through sport.

“To get to know each other, understand each other and learn a bit,” he said.

“Friendship doesn’t have to be formed, but a working relationship at school does.”

Sunshine Coast mayor Bob Abbot and Councillor Christian Dickson attended a feedback session with the students yesterday afternoon.