Wellbeing- Reaching out for our community

Wellbeing: reaching out for our community

The following 'wellbeing summary' is written by our Principal, and is another way we are reaching out for the mental health of our community. 

The rumours of a 'lockdown' extension for Melbourne have started to quietly circulate on some forms of social media in recent days; and consuming such media isn't always good for our mental health. 

As adults, when considering our own mental health, it is important to be able to make informed decisions about how we feel and act around children. To make informed decisions - especially when feeling overwhelmed - can almost seem an impossibility! 

However, learning how to successfully navigate the 'tough stuff' arms us with the skills and confidence to deal with these tough times, it helps us to be more resilient and more productive, and it helps us to see the opportunities which can come from challenging situations. 

After all, it's worth being aware that children can take their social/wellbeing cues from the adults around them.

How to engage in mental health awareness

There are all sorts of mental health tips flying around the internet at the moment, some of them may be useful for your personal situation at this 'very point in time', whilst others may not. 

However, it can be useful to consider our mental health as requiring four pillars to see us through. These four pillars are awareness, connection, insight, and purpose. 

These terms may be familiar, and even if they are not they are reasonably self-explanatory. 

There are also two less self-explanatory 'buzz words' doing the rounds in mainstream media at the moment, which are: 

1. Languishing: the condition of absence of mental health, characterized by apathy, listlessness, and loss of interest in striving to achieve life pursuits.
2. Flourishing: the opposite of languishing. Successful, driven to pursue goals, successfully achieving satisfaction. Flourishing is often associated with a sense of balance between social, personal, and professional life, all three of which bring their own sense of joy and purpose to an individual.

The diagram below helps to explain these opposing concepts: 

The above graphic comes from an easy-to-read resource which was recently provided to DET school principals- to raise our own awareness of mental health. You can access the .pdf below: 

Trying to beat that languishing or 'bleh' feeling can prove challenging, and sometimes we might just need a little bit of help to keep moving in the right direction with our own mental health. 

If you feel you need to reach out, please consider the below resources: 

• Beyond Blue – 1300 22 46 36 or https://www.beyondblue.org.au/get-support/get-immediate-support
• MensLine Australia – 1300 789 978 or https://www.mensline.org.au/
• eheadspace – 1800 650 890 or https://www.eheadspace.org.au/
• Kids Helpline – 1800 551 800 or https://kidshelpline.com.au/
• The Line – 1800 MYLINE (1800 695 463) or http://www.theline.org.au/
• Parentline Australia – 1300 301 300
• Family Relationship Advice Line – 1800 050 321
• Life Supports – 1300 735 030 or https://lifesupportscounselling.com.au/
• Lifeline – 13 11 14 or https://www.lifeline.org.au/
• Suicide Call Back Service – 1300 659 467 or https://www.suicidecallbackservice.org.au/
• SANE Australia – 1800 18 SANE (1800 18 7263) or https://www.sane.org/

And of course...

...if you feel the need to reach out to our school regarding your current family situation or your child's wellbeing, we are always here to listen. 

In order to effectively manage communications from families, we request that in the first instance you direct any questions or comments to your child’s classroom teacher. 

In the subject line of your email, please include: 

-  your child’s full name and the subject matter.

Your child’s classroom teacher will then reply to your email, and CC their Level Leader. 

The contact details for each staff member are available at the top of our Level Pages in each edition of our newsletter. They can also be accessed through the Compass portal by selecting email my child’s teacher. 

Should you have any pressing concerns please make contact with the School Principal via email Damien Kitch Damien.Kitch@education.vic.gov.au or phone 0459 864 712.