The power of gratitude

We’re all doing what we can to stay healthy right now – we’re (hopefully) washing our hands, social distancing, trying to get adequate sleep, staying active and eating nutritious meals – but we often forget that gratitude plays an important role in lowering our stress levels, which is key for strengthening our immunity too. Research even shows that gratitude can boost our mental health and physical health. Try and have a think about an unexpected or surprising thing/s you are especially grateful for during this challenging time and share with a friend or family member.

Three things to be grateful for:

1. Covid case numbers are dropping.

2. Spring is here, and there is a beautiful sweet smell of blossom in the air.

3. Our own strength and resilience

Resources round up

Supporting study for Years 11 and 12

Exams can create an enormous amount of stress for students. There are many ways parents can support their teenager’s study as they work through their education. Check out this great article from Beyond Blue for some helpful ideas for the coming weeks.

Be you

Be you have some great fact sheets on wellbeing, development, social and emotional learning, relationships, mental health issues and conditions, mental health support and grief, trauma and critical incidents, to help you explore and gain knowledge on mental health and wellbeing topics.

'At Home' with Satellite

If you have a parent or carer in your life who has a mental illness ‘At Home’ with Satellite has a school holiday program (ages 8-16years) that can creating opportunities for connection, new friendships and community. Stay connected, be creative and keep well during the school holidays!

Year 12 Wellbeing webinar series with Dr Michael Carr-Gregg

A suite of unique, informative and engaging 30 minute webinars to support all VCE/VCAL students navigate your way through 2020 and beyond. You will walk away with practical and evidence-based approaches to boast mental wellness and build resilience, motivation and connectedness. A program overview appears below. All sessions will be recorded and made available on NEVR Year 12 Google Site (North Eastern Victorian Region).

Digging Deep

Identifying your personal motivators to maintain the effort required to achieve your short- and long-term goals

The nature of grit and resilience- effort matters
Intrinsic and extrinsic motivators- what works for you.
Recreating routines
Motivational tools – e.g. mantras, quotes hero's
Adjusting your narrative - short and long game plans

Friday 18th September

13:00-13:30

WebEx: Hyperlink

Session Password: NEVR

Register - name and email required

On the Horizon

Looking through both a realistic and optimistic lens to a positive future with new knowledge, thinking and skills

The skilled, connected and informed generation
Reasons for hope and optimism
From adversity comes opportunity

Friday 9th October

13:00-13:30

WebEx: Hyperlink

Session Password: NEVR

Register - name and email required

Swinburne Psychology Clinic

Swinburne’s Psychology Clinic has developed a mental health treatment program to help youth affected by COVID-19. This treatment involves a mix of online counselling sessions equipping young people with self-management strategies. See the website for more information on the program. The referral link is here.

Other useful information:

No Mental Health Care Plan required
No waitlist at the moment (but they are accepting Australia-wide referrals so this may change)
$10 per session (there are 6 session) plus $10 for assessment or intake.
Evidence-based
Teachers can refer, however parents/guardians are encouraged to make contact
18 year old / mature minors can self-refer, however, next of kin needed and/or crisis contact needed (e.g. youth worker). This is not a crisis service
Sessions take place via telehealth
There is a pool of therapists available with flexible times available.

Crisis Support and Wellbeing Health Information

Lifeline – 13 11 14
Kids Help Line -1800 55 1800
VIC Emergency 000

Year 10 Animation

Creativity with stop motion animation