When Politics is Personal – Looking after yourself at election time

When your community becomes part of political, media or online conversations, politics can feel personal. You don’t have to navigate it alone. We spoke with CMY Practice Leader Sameera Fieldgrass and young people about protecting your wellbeing during election season. 

“As multicultural people and communities, we often cannot detach our lived identities, experiences and emotions from what we are passionate about and advocate for.” 

CMY Practice Leader Sameera Fieldgrass says election periods can make questions of identity, belonging and community safety feel especially personal. 

“Sometimes multicultural young people may see their communities reduced to stereotypes, discussed as political problems or used in divisive public debates. This can create a sense of pressure to explain, defend or represent entire communities.” 

“It can be harmful, painful and exhausting all at once,” Sameera says. 

“Multicultural young people may also experience competing expectations from family members, cultural communities, peers and social movements. It is possible to care deeply about an issue while still having different perspectives from people you love.” 

“There is no convenient move on” 

For Gippsland Youth Advisory Group (YAG) member Adeena, political discussions can have impacts that last long after public debate moves on. 

“Australia is where we were born. Australia is supposed to be our home. Yet we have been made to feel like outsiders in the country where we were born simply because we look different and our families come from a different cultural background. 

For a politician, they can talk about multicultural Australia for a few minutes and then move on to another issue. 

But for someone experiencing racism, there is no convenient ‘move on’.” 

Being cast as a ‘problem’ 

Krisha is a young person who works with CMY’s Reverb and Culture Spring programs. She says this upcoming election has felt politically charged and polarising.  

“It feels like all the major parties have policy platforms to ‘solve the problem’ of migration, as if we are an issue to this country? I find myself feeling a lot of pressure to justify or prove that multiculturalism and migration are net positive to the country and state.” 

“It also doesn’t help that multiculturalism, and migration is linked to other election hot topics such as housing, employment, resource allocation, etc. So, it feels like you have to speak on more than one issue on behalf of a very large and diverse community.” 

How political conversations can affect wellbeing 

Political conversations show up on social media feeds, group chats, comment sections and online communities. For many young people, it can feel impossible to switch off. 

“We often throw around the phrase ‘do your research,” says Krisha. “But how do you do that when there is so much information out there?” 

Everyone responds differently to political content. What feels manageable for one person may feel overwhelming for another. 

Some signs that election-related content may be affecting your wellbeing include: 

  • Checking news or social media compulsively 
  • Feeling unable to switch off from political discussions 
  • Difficulty sleeping 
  • Finding it harder to concentrate at work, school or university 
  • Feeling more irritable than usual 
  • Withdrawing from friends, family or community 
  • Feeling hopeless, scared or unsafe 
  • Noticing political stress affecting relationships 

“The important question,” Sameera says, “is whether the content is reducing your capacity to rest, connect and function.” 

Looking after yourself without disengaging 

Protecting your wellbeing can help you stay engaged in a way that is sustainable over the long term. 

Choose one way to get involved 

      Consider one manageable form of participation, such as: 

      • Voting 
      • Learning about issues that matter to you 
      • Helping friends find reliable information 
      • Attending a community event 
      • Supporting a local campaign or cause 
      • Creating art, content or storytelling around issues you care about 

      Set boundaries 

        It’s okay to decide: 

        • When you want to discuss politics 
        • Which online spaces you participate in 
        • Who you engage with 
        • When to step away 

        As Sameera points out: “No one owes strangers a debate, personal disclosure or an explanation of their trauma.” 

        Stay connected to supportive people 

          Metro YAG member Binusha encourages young people to lean on trusted networks. 

          “Surround yourself with supportive systems and have open conversations. Don’t force yourself to agree to things you don’t believe in. ” 

          Krisha says pacing yourself is important. “Find allies to amplify the impact of your advocacy … have a mental and emotional safety network that you can fall back on when it gets overwhelming.” 

          Remember that political parties aren’t your identity 

            Metro YAG member Zane encourages young people to create some distance. 

            “Treat politics as politics. Whatever parties you vote for, they will always have their own interests. Don’t treat political parties as a platform that believes in everything you believe in. 

            This is important to be able to remove yourself from these positions. Take a step back. It’s politics. Everyone is human. Everyone has the right to believe whatever they want to believe.” 

            Protect your body as well as your mind 

              Political stress is not only emotional. Simple habits can make a difference: 

              • Getting enough sleep 
              • Spending time outdoors 
              • Moving your body 
              • Connecting with culture and community 
              • Making time for creativity, hobbies and humour 
              • Taking breaks from social media 

              Focusing on what you can control 

                When the news cycle feels overwhelming, it can help to focus on what is within your control. 

                One useful wellbeing tool is the Circle of Control, which encourages people to separate concerns into three areas; What I can control, What I can influence, and What I cannot control. 

                You don’t have to navigate it alone 

                As Sameera explains, multicultural young people should not feel responsible for representing an entire community or responding to every harmful claim.   

                “I think it’s important to remind multicultural young people that while it’s important to have these conversations, it isn’t our individual responsibility to constantly push for change,” says Krisha. 

                Resources 

                      Support 

                      If political conversations are affecting your wellbeing, consider reaching out to trusted friends, family members, youth workers or support services: 

                      • Kids Helpline (1800 55 1800): Free, confidential 24/7 counselling for young people aged 5-25.
                      • headspace / eheadspace: Mental health support for young people, including multicultural young people. 
                      • QLife (1800 184 527): Peer support and referral for LGBTIQA+ people. 
                      • 13YARN (13 92 76): 24/7 crisis support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. 
                      • Beyond Blue (1300 22 4636): Mental health support, including translated information and resources. 

                        We’re calling for action on the issues that matter to multicultural young people across Victoria. Read CMY’s platform for the 2026 Victorian Election.