It’s almost holiday time!

While holidays can be a time for fun, adventure and relaxation; they are not always a positive time. During the holidays we are out of our usual routines and our usual supports are not always available to us – whether that be work colleagues, friends, teachers or even the College Counsellor. Here are some resources and supports to help you to stay safe and healthy during the holiday period.

STUDENTS

There are lots of great resources from headspace or Reach Out that provide great tips to support your own wellbeing, but also how you can help friends who may be struggling.

But remember to set boundaries. You are their friend, not their counsellor! Supporting others can be very emotional and difficult. You may need to involve others (such as a trusted adult, helpline, or profession), which can be a difficult decision as you may worry about losing your friend’s trust. It is often helpful to tell them you are going to do it, and try to involve them in the discussion, and remind them that it is only because you care. Keeping secrets and trying to manage a situation that is outside of your ability or expertise, will not help anyone, and is likely to lead to negative outcomes.

Here are some links with some great tips and strategies that you may find helpful:

• headspace How to stay healthy over the holidays

• headspace Tips for a healthy headspace

• headspace How to help a friend going through a rough time

• Reach Out Helping friends

• Reach Out Ways to chill for cheap

Parents/Carers

Your wellbeing and self-care is paramount. When you fly on a plane, the flight attendant instructs you to “put your oxygen mask on first”, before helping others. This is an important metaphor because as carers if you don’t take care of yourself, you can experience many issues including burnout, stress, fatigue, reduced mental effectiveness, health problems, inability to sleep, anxiety etc. Carers need to replenish their energy and reserves in order to take care of others.

Here are some great resources for your own self-care, or to assist you to support the young people in your lives.

• SchoolTV has a wide range of practical, and credible resources on a wide range of topics

• Headspace Supporting a Young Person - for friends and family

• Parentline NSW (1300 1300 52) has tips and advice around a range of topics that can assist parents in supporting young people. Information relating to older children can be found here

• Head to Health is a go to place to help you find information, services and resources to help yourself or your young person.

• Reach Out has tips to support teenager wellbeing

• Beyond Blue has some tips on Routines and Mental Health

• Beyond Blue also has some practical tips on how to start conversations when you are worried about your young person

HELPLINES

Phoning a helpline may feel scary, but it can really help to talk to someone who’s there to support you, in a non-judgmental way. You can get immediate support and advice from a counsellor without having to make an appointment or travel somewhere. You can call for all different kinds of problems, such as feeling overwhelmed, family problems, friendship or family problems, feeling lonely, feeling unsafe, mental illness, bullying, experiencing abuse. You don’t have to give your name, and most helplines don’t cost anything.

Here are some helplines that you may want to consider:

APPS

There are also some great Apps that you can utilize to help wellbeing whether it be to improve sleep, mindfulness or keep safe. Here are a few free ones you may like to try:

Smiling Mind for daily meditation and mindfulness exercises

Fabulous! is a motivational app that uses challenges to help build physically and mentally healthy routines. There are plenty of individual and group activities that will help you build a positive and social schedule.

Insight timer is a relaxation app that uses guided meditations, music and talks to help with sleep, relaxation and mindfulness. There are thousands of free tools to use on the app which range from stress and anxiety management to improving self-esteem and relationships.

Remember if you are having a tough time there is always support available. Reaching out and talking to someone is the best thing you can do. Whether it be family, friends, or professionals there is always someone there.

Wishing you a safe and wonderful holiday break.

Look forward to seeing you in 2025.

Karen Surian College/School Counsellor

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