The Anchor

From the Counsellor

Being our Best Holiday Selves 

This is the final article for 2022 and there’s lots to share with you, including a list of agencies/helplines for holiday support, updates on recent Professional Learning opportunities, and some quirky and creative ways to connect with loved ones over the holiday break.  

 

I have been fortunate recently in attending two thought-provoking and worthwhile professional learning opportunities: Gatekeeper Suicide Prevention Training and the Positive Schools Wellbeing and Resilience Conference. The objectives of Gatekeeper include – the consideration of personal/community attitudes about suicide and their impact on intervention, the identification of suicide risk, understanding of self-harming behaviour, and understanding the importance of postvention. Suicide is the leading cause of death in Australia for people aged from 15 to 44 years. I am very aware that this is a confronting message for the opening of the final Wellbeing article and make no apologies for it; rather, we know that family conflicts and stress rise during holiday periods and distress tolerance and self-awareness may need resetting for many. Attached below is a list of the many agencies and helplines available for us as needs arise.  

 

Supportive Agencies.pdf

 

It will surprise none of you to read that, like a strong golden thread, weaving its luminous way, connecting all the speakers the Positive Schools Conference, the overwhelmingly salient message is that … relationships matter (including our relationship with self) and our wellbeing relies on this. The incredible speakers included John Marsden (renowned writer, principal of two schools and all-round plain speaker), whose memorable and at times hilarious anecdotes revealed his frustration with the burgeoning dearth of abstract thinking; Kelly Goes (from The MacKillop Institute), whose work with traumatised people (children, families, generations) asserts that change begins with adults’ self-awareness and vulnerability; Susan McLean, who presented some startling facts on Online Risk and Wellbeing, including Sextortion and how so many underage children have access to platforms favoured by paedophiles; Helen Street, whose recent work on Contextual Wellbeing exhorts the message that wellbeing depends on our ability to connect deeply while managing change; and Arne Rubenstein, whose work on Rites of Passage echoes Street’s message about change, highlighting transformational growth needs and recognition by elders and community members, which he claims can be seen in stark relief when press and social media photos of schoolies week expose how, without guidance, young people create their own sometimes ghastly rites of passage. I absolutely immersed myself in these two days of nourishing and validating content, which sparked hopeful ideas around change, especially as our school is currently metamorphosing into its new dimensions and shape, while nesting and protecting its many loyal denizens. 

 

So many students observe that they experience a kind of time elasticity – that it flies when they are having fun and enjoying themselves … and … it drags and stretches interminably when doing boring stuff! I still experience this, despite my understanding of the machinations of the brain, no matter how calm, or hectic, or engaged I feel. I wish to share some really cool ideas and suggestions from a few of my go-to parenting gurus. These are simple bite-sized gems which may serve as acorns for your own irrepressible flashes of creativity:

Furthermore, creating and maintaining rituals, touchstone moments, and deliberately embedding kindness and gratitude into daily interactions will support family cohesion and togetherness. 

 

Recently released political prisoner Sean Turnell, who, after being in isolation for two months in “the box” in a lock-up in Myanmar, and upon being moved to the utterly notorious Insein prison in Yangon, claimed that he felt heartened about this transition, as he was looking forward to interacting with others. When I heard this on ABC 7.30 last night, I was literally moved to tears as this most resilient, hopeful and insightful human rejoiced in the anticipated fellowship in this hellhole.  We are hardwired to connect with others and these relationships can be precious, challenging and deeply resonating. 

 

It is my wish that you take care of your precious cargo this holiday season.  

 

Until 2023, yours in mental health, 

Ms Sheryl Moncur | Teacher and Counsellor