BEING IN LOCK DOWN – MENTAL HEALTH – WITH A FOCUS ON STUDENTS AND CHILDREN – WE CAN OFFER SUPPORT
During LOCKDOWN, some children and students cope well.
While others may suffer from anxiety – which can even lead to depression.
These situations do not bypass some of our families.
Children and students are missing friends, missing the interaction with extended family members, missing out on excursions and special events.
Churches and community Associations can be an interlocker and a connector, a source of information. It shows we care. We need to focus on our children – they are also doing it hard.
The Australian Federation of Ukrainian Organisations (AFUO) encourages our members to keep in touch with our families. Many households are juggling competing priorities. Work, financial stress, home schooling.
We will get through this together! We need to support each other.
Stay Safe.
On behalf of the AFUO Committee we wish you well!
Stefan Romaniw OAM
AFUO Co-Chair
PHONE TREE
A simple one is a PHONE TREE – with the ARE YOU OK? Message – A phone call between children and students can give some an uplifting spirit.
Parents, better than anyone, know their children. We should encourage parents to look out for signs – they may be simple – loss of appetite, withdrawal, aggression.
There are a number of agencies that are out there to assist in each State and Territory
BRAVE https://brave4you.psy.uq.edu.au
HEADSPACE https://headspace.org.au
KIDS MENTAL HEALTH LINE https://kidshelpline.com.au/teens
E HEADSPACE https://headspace.org.au/eheadspace
BEYOND BLUE https://www.beyondblue.org.au
HELFUL CONTACTS https://www.beyondblue.org.au/who-does-it-affect/young-people/helpful-contacts-and-websites
STRATEGY FOR CHILDREN
Ask children to draw a circle.
In the circle write, draw the things that make you feel good, that you can control.
Outside the circle draw, write the things that make you anxious, that you feel you can’t control.
Daily management of both through discussion or reflection encouraged to communicate and focus on positives and work through issues.
Younger Children –
Give them a teddy bear, doll or object that they can communicate with.
Tell them that this teddy, doll is there to listen. Take it to bed and allow them time to talk and tell the teddy or doll how you felt today or how you feel now.
Book – How Big Are Your Worries Little Bear?
