Staying Connected – Children and Adults we are in this together. 

During times of uncertainty children and parents can experience a range of emotions.  These can include feeling worried, fearful, anxious and being overwhelmed. It is important to note that these are normal feelings to have. These feelings help us, they tell us we are needing something. Most often we need connection, we need to know we are not going through this alone. I have included a Staying Connected information sheet that helps give ideas about how to support your child during this time. It is also important to support yourself. Ensure that you are getting enough sleep, are maintaining healthy eating, exercising regularly, and taking time out 10 -15 minutes for yourself each day to relax. Most of all remember it is important for your feelings to be acknowledged as well, this can be hard to do as we try to support our children. You may be able to reach out to your family and friends, have support between each other, perhaps you belong to a great parent group who can all help each other. There are services you can call and online platforms you can access should you feel you need extra help during this time.  They include:

For Parents

Lifeline - Any one can call Lifeline. Lifeline counsellors are available to talk about whatever you need to talk about. You can call them on13 11 14, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Lifelines Online Counselling Service is available at night, 7pm until 4am, 7 days a week. You can access this by visiting: https://www.lifeline.org.au/get-help/online-services/crisis-chat

Mental Health Access Line - The Mental Health Line offers professional help, advice and referrals to local mental health services. It is staffed by mental health professionals who will ask questions to determine if you, or the person you are concerned about, needs ongoing mental health care and how urgently it is needed. They can put you in contact with the most relevant mental health service for children, teens, adults and older people.

The Mental Health Line is available to everyone in NSW and operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Call 1800 011 511.

Mensline Australia - Mensline offers free telephone and online counselling to Australian men. Call and talk with a counsellor on  1300 78 99 78  or access online counselling at https://mensline.org.au/phone-and-online-counselling/mensline-australia-online-counselling/

Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week across Australia.

Parentline -  is a telephone counselling, information and referral service for parents of children ages 0 to 18 who live in New South Wales. Parentline provides advice and support about all aspects of parenting. Their counsellors are available on 1300 1300 52, 9am to 9 pm Monday to Friday, and 4pm to 9pm on weekends. 

MyCompass – offered by the Black Dog Institute

For: Adults experiencing stress, anxiety or depression, a free service which can be found at www.mycompass.org.au

Mental Health Online

For: Adults experiencing generalised anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, panic disorder, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder. www.mentalhealthonline.org.au

For Children

Kids Helpline - Kids Helpline is a free 24/7 phone and online counselling service for young people aged 5 to 25. Your child can call them on 1800 55 1800 or connect to a counsellor online via https://kidshelpline.com.au/get-help/webchat-counselling/

Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week across Australia.

The Brave Program - For children and teenagers experiencing anxiety (and their parents) which is free to use and can be found brave4you.psy.uq.edu.au

Smiling Minds - For children and adults this  app allows you to practice mindfulness which helps reduce worry and fear and can be found here https://www.smilingmind.com.au/

There are also great online apps that can help with working through emotions, balancing sleep and managing health. Reachout lists a range of different apps for use and can be found here https://au.reachout.com/tools-and-apps

Staying connected and being there for each other helps to reduce feelings that can make us feel tired, irritable and anxious. I have also included a 21 Day Well Being Challenge that your whole family can do together to help support mental health wellbeing during this time.

Mrs Rita Maher

School Counsellor

Catholic Care