Especean

Principal

Five Ways to Support Your Mental Health During COVID-19

If the COVID-19 outbreak is leaving you feeling stressed and overwhelmed, you’re not alone. Worry, fear, and anxiety are common emotions during a crisis. Everyone reacts differently to stressful situations and taking care of your mental health will help you think more clearly. Here are five ways to support your mental health during COVID-19. 

 

1.Resist the urge to make unnecessary decisions

As a general rule, crises increase impulsivity. When our emotions are strong, we feel a misdirected sense of urgency. People have a hard time just sitting with their feelings. Instead, they feel compelled to ‘do’ something. But a misdirected sense of urgency and a surplus of time to think can be a dangerous combination. Remember, in a crisis, less is more. Tolerating your distress without taking rash action may be the wisest course to pursue. At the very least, sleep on decisions (such as, “Should I really invest in a hand sanitiser company?”) before acting on them.

 

2. Watch how much news you consume

Our impulsivity is directly proportional to how much news we watch. We need to know what’s going on but there’s a point of diminishing returns. Set a time limit on how much news you consume – especially if you feel it’s consuming you. Turn it off and tune in to loved ones who may need your support and connection – especially if small children are looking to you for comfort and guidance.

 

3. Focus on what you can control

Gently bring your mind back to what you can influence and be willing to let go of the rest. That technique is also referred to as mindfulness. 

 

But that’s hard in a time like this. While I appreciate the maxim to ‘stay in the present,’ my brain doesn’t work that way. It constantly jumps to the future; a special place I like to call ‘what-if’ land. When this happens, I non-judgmentally notice what my mind is doing and gently bring it back to the COVID-19 serenity prayer: “Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can (handwashing, social distancing, not going to work when I’m sick, coughing into a tissue); and the wisdom to know the difference.” If we take care of today, tomorrow will take care of itself.

 

4. Use this as time to develop deeper connections with others

Never waste a crisis. If you’re going to be in crisis, use it to your benefit or the benefit of those you love. Express appreciation to someone. Reach out digitally to others. Speak with care.  Let’s use this as a time of increased care and understanding. Panic is more contagious than any virus – and feelings of isolation and hostility are the medium through which panic becomes viral.

 

5. Use this as a time to develop deeper connections with yourself

Practice good self-care. Take a walk. Meditate and pray on things that give you hope. Reflect with compassion on yourself and others. Rediscover things that fill you with faith and gratitude. A person first must decide he or she has an opportunity before an opportunity can be utilised. This could be a time of opportunity. If this moment passes with handwringing but without being used for good, then it was pain without purpose – and that would be even more distressful.

 

Help is available

If you or someone you care about feel overwhelmed with emotions like sadness, depression, or anxiety — or feel like you want to harm yourself or others — call:

Progress on Scientia Building 

I am pleased to announce that Hansen Yuncken has been appointed as the builders for our project. Their methodology for building this facility whilst minimising the impact on Breen Oval made them stand out from other tenderers. At this stage, we believe building works will commence, with the demolition of the tennis courts, at the end of September. Progress will be documented on our Building the Future page on our website: Building Our Future | St Patrick's College Strathfield (spc.nsw.edu.au)

 

Taming Digital Distractions: Free Webinar for Parents

Our school has a membership with Parenting Ideas, one of Australia’s most trusted sources of parenting education and support. As part of this membership, all the parents in this school community can attend some fantastic webinars in 2021 at no cost. We are pleased to let you know about an upcoming webinar. 

 

Technology is an integral part of life for our children – it’s the portal for their leisure, learning and connection. However, digital technologies can also disrupt a child’s focus, put a dent in their learning and compromise their wellbeing. In this webinar, Dr Kristy Goodwin, Award winning speaker and best-selling author, helps parents and carers understand why children and adolescents are vulnerable to digital distractions. She provides science-backed solutions to help kids and teens develop healthy digital behaviours so that they can focus, learn and thrive online. 

 

Key learning and discussion points include: 

  • how long should we expect focused attention from children and teens
  • the research behind why digital distractions are interfering with our children’s attention
  • how some technologies have been intentionally designed to be captivating and alluring
  • why banning technology isn’t the solution
  • how to teach children and teens how to build a ‘fortress around their focus’ and leverage the benefits that technology offers them.

Click this link to view the video overview.

 

When? 

Wednesday 8 September 2021 at 8:00 pm AEST.

 

To redeem your webinar: 

  • Click this link
  • Click ‘Add to cart’
  • Click ‘View cart’
  • Enter the coupon code TAMING
  • Click ‘Apply coupon’
  • Click ‘Proceed to checkout’
  • Enter our school’s name to verify your eligibility. The $39 discount will then be applied.
  • Fill in your account details. These are the details you will use to login to your account and access your webinar and resources.
  • Click ‘Place Order’.

The offer is valid until 8 December 2021. If you are unable to make the broadcast time, register anyway and you will get access to the recording. 

Community News

Please join me in congratulating Ms Melissa Shannon and her husband Dave on the arrival of their son, Jack Patrick Shannon, born on 21 August.  We thank the Lord for his safe arrival and know this child will bring his family many blessings.

In Memoriam

We keep in our prayers Anthony Belfiore (Year 12) on the recent loss of his beloved uncle, Anthony Belfiore. 

 

We also pray for Liam Aglieco (Year 9) whose grandfather, Francesco Aglieco passed away last week in Adelaide.

 

It is with sadness I advise the College community that Old Boy Michael Tok passed away last week. Michael was a student at the College from 2006 to 2011. We keep his family and friends in our prayers at this sad and difficult time. 

 

We keep Tom Van Dijk, a Year 12 student at St Pius X College, Chatswood in our prayers. He passed away after being in the surf with his parents. It is suspected that he died from cardiac arrest. Contrary to malicious rumours circulating about him, he was not COVID-19 positive and nor had he had any COVID-19 vaccination. We keep his family and friends in our prayers. 

 

Eternal rest grant unto them O Lord and let perpetual light shine upon them.

May they rest in peace.

Amen.

 

Dr Vittoria Lavorato

Principal

 

SPC boys can do anything! 

**except divide by zero