Mental Health & Wellbeing Report

“It’s worth remembering that it is often the small steps, not the giant leaps, that bring about the most lasting change.” – Queen Elizabeth II

Dear Parents and Carers,

Last week, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II passed away peacefully at the age of 96. In the coming days, she will be laid to rest. For the past week, the world has mourned her passing, paid tribute to her life and reflected upon what she has done for Australia and the Commonwealth. The passing of significant figures in our lives affect people differently and the way in which people grieve is also different. Your children may have asked you questions about the death of Queen Elizabeth and why it has affected so many people.

Children may experience grief over:

Death of a family member or friend
Death of a family pet
Parents separating or a family break-up
Moving to a new home or school
Loss of a friendship or friend moving away
Having a disability or medical illness
Finding out a family member is sick
Loss related to a crisis such as as fire, flood or accident.

You can't protect your kids from the pain of loss, but you can help build healthy coping skills. Here are some tips to help you support a child who is experiencing grief and loss:

Offer support, reassurance and comfort
Find time to do enjoyable things together
Acknowledge or help them name or identify their feelings
Let them know they are loved and will always be cared for
Assure them that what’s happened is not their fault
Maintain normal routines to help them feel secure
Let them know that it’s ok to play, be happy and have fun
Allow them to ask questions and talk about their loss as much as they want to
Encourage them to talk to a caring adult if they feel uneasy talking to you
Provide clear and age appropriate answers to their questions
Talk about your feelings and how you’ve been coping with them
Try to include them in decision-making when it directly affects them
Inform the school of what’s happened so they can provide additional support

(Source: https://kidshelpline.com.au/parents/issues/supporting-child-through-grief-and-loss)

Have a wonderful and safe holiday. See you all again on Monday 3rd October for the final term of 2022.

Kind Regards,

Vanessa Moore

Mental Health and Wellbeing Coordinator (MHWC)