Wellbeing Support Over the Holidays

This guide provides tips to continue looking after your mental health and wellbeing over the school holidays and services to reach out to if you need support.

Actions to support positive mental health over the school holidays:

Exercise boosts mood and mental health – make it fun!
Nourish your brain by eating healthily – it will also improve your mood
Prioritise sleep to support mental and emotional wellbeing
Explore relaxation techniques and coping strategies
Stay in touch and catch up with friends and loved ones
Make time to do things you enjoy
Practice positive self-talk – and remember you are not alone
Seek professional help if needed.

Keep an eye out and seek professional help for changes that last two or more weeks such as:

Loss of interest or involvement in activities normally enjoyed
Feeling ‘low’, unusually stressed or worried
Ordinary things get harder
Being easily irritated or angry
Withdrawal or feeling overwhelmed
Difficulties with concentration and motivation

Additional Support Services

HEADSPACE

Headspace is the national youth mental health foundation and supports young people who need someone to talk to or who are going through a tough time. Headspace offers an online counselling service.

www.headspace.org.au

SMILING MINDS

Smiling Minds gives you tips on looking after yourself, understanding and managing emotions, being mindful, being kind to yourself, navigating uncertainty and preparing for change. You may find that these actions are not enough to look after your mental health.

https://www.smilingmind.com.au/smiling-mind-app

YOUTH BEYONDBLUE

Beyondblue provides information and support to help everyone in Australia achieve their best possible mental health, whatever their age and wherever they live. Youth Beyondblue provides information and resources as well as telephone and chat support.

Tel.1300 22 4636

www.youthbeyondblue.com

MINUS18

Minus18 is Australia’s national network for LGBTIQ youth. Their website provides information on youth events, workshops, campaigns and access to resources developed by and for young people.

www.minus18.org.au

YGENDER

Ygender is a peer led social support and advocacy group for transgender and gender diverse young people.

www.ygender.org.au

SWITCHBOARD

Switchboard Victoria provides peer based, volunteer run telephone and online chat support to LGBTIQ people of all ages. The phone line is available 7 days a week, from 3pm to midnight.

Tel. 1800 184 527

www.switchboard.org.au

PARENTLINE VICTORIA

Parentline is a confidential and anonymous phone counselling service for parents and carers of children and teenagers in Victoria. Parentline offers counselling, information and support around a range of parenting issues. Counsellors are available 7 days a week, 8am to midnight.

Tel. 13 22 89

www.education.vic.gov.au/parents/services-for-parents/Pages/parentline

RAINBOW NETWORK

Rainbow Network provides a directory of all LGBTIQ support groups in Victoria.

Tel. 9479 8870

www.rainbow.network.com.au

THE ORANGE DOOR

The Orange Door work with all types of families and support can be tailored to meet the diverse needs of you and your family members. The Orange Door will listen to you and your family to understand what your family needs and ask what you would like to happen next. They will work with you to improve your family's situation and help children and young people get the support they need.

They can help if:

you are worried about the wellbeing and/or development of your child(ren)
you need help to strengthen your parenting skills and develop positive family relationships
your family needs help to get through stressful times, which may be caused by a range of reasons including separation, mental health, grief, drug and alcohol abuse, financial worries, illness or living with a disability
you need extra help managing the behaviour of your child(ren)
someone at home is making you, your children or another family member feel unsafe or afraid
you’re pregnant or a new parent and need support and advice
you have concerns for a vulnerable child in your community

Support includes:

listening to you to understand the difficulties you’re facing.
helping you to explore your options and think about what you want to do next.
working with you to improve you and/or your family’s situation.
connecting you to services that can help, such as parenting support groups, services for children, family violence support, counselling, financial help, or legal assistance.
supporting you to access funding for basic living expenses and other costs.
providing information and advice to professionals if you are worried about a vulnerable child in your community.

How can you access services?

There are multiple ways to access help and support from The Orange Door, including face-to-face, and via phone or email. Tell them if you have special requirements, for example if you use communication aids or require an interpreter, including Auslan. You don’t need a referral.

Search by suburb or postcode to find a service near you.

The Orange Door is open from 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday (closed public holidays). Out-of-hours support is available.

EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE

If the young person is in need of immediate support:

Lifeline Australia 13 11 14

Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800
For emergency medical assistance, please call 000

Publication Date (Saturday)	Issue
16 December	Family iNewsletter (End of Year Special)

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