Assistant Principal News
This page provides tips and resources for parents, carers and families to support the mental health and wellbeing of children and young people in their care during the school holidays. This includes services to reach out to if more support is needed.
Actions that support positive mental health...
Encourage your young person to:
• Exercise and eat healthily to boost their mood
• Prioritise sleep to support mental and emotional wellbeing
• Explore relaxation techniques and coping strategies
• Stay in touch and catch up with friends and loved ones
• Make time to do things they enjoy
• Practice positive self-talk, and remind them they are not alone
• Seek professional help if needed
'Smiling Mind' is a website with mindfulness resources and activities for primary students and their families. 'Smiling Mind' gives tips on self-care, understanding and managing emotions, being mindful, being kind to yourself, navigating uncertainty and preparing for change. https://www.smilingmind.com.au/at-home
Signs a child or young person may need mental health support
In some cases, these actions will not be enough to support positive mental health. Keep an eye out and seek professional help for changes that last two or more weeks such as:
• Loss of interest or involvement in activities normally enjoyed
• Feeling ‘low’, unusually stressed or worried
• Ordinary things get harder
• Being easily irritated or angry
• Taking more dangerous risks, like using alcohol or drugs
• Withdrawal or feeling overwhelmed
• Difficulties with concentration and motivation
• Having a lot of negative thoughts
• Changing in sleeping and eating
headspace – a parents guide to school issues and stress https://headspace.org.au/friends-and-family/parents-guidetips-for-managing-stress-and-problems-at-school/
headspace ‘mental health and you’ poster https://headspace.org.au/assets/Uploads/Mental-Health-Posters-mgpdf.pdf
headspace – how to talk to your children about mental health https://headspace.org.au/dads/
Young people are most likely to turn to each other for support before seeking out an adult or service provider. Young people can support each other by:
• contacting 000 if a friend needs urgent assistance or is at risk of harming themselves or others
• reaching out to a friend, offering support and letting them know you care
• letting their friend know they may need to tell a trusted adult about their concerns.
Having these types of conversations can be difficult for young people and families to navigate. Your local GP can certainly provide support and advice. These are some additioanl options to reach out to:
• eheadspace: 1800 650 890, www.headspace.org.au/eheadspace
• Kids Helpline: 1800 551 800, www.kidshelpline.com.au
• Parentline: counselling and support for parents and carers, 13 22 89 services.dffh.vic.gov.au/parentline
• Lifeline: 13 11 14, www.lifeline.org.au
• Beyond Blue: 1300 224 636, www.beyondblue.org.au
• Head to Help: 1800 595 212, www.headtohelp.org.au
• Suicide Call Back Service: 1300 659 467, www.suicidecallbackservice.org.au
Family violence information and support services:
• Contacting 000 for urgent assistance
• Safe Steps: 1800 015 188, www.safesteps.org.au
• 1800RESPECT: 1800 737 732, www.1800respect.org.au
• What’s okay at home: www.woah.org.au
