Our Anglicare Youth Services and Take Love youth initiative have teamed up to develop what we hope will be some helpful resources for young people during this coronavirus pandemic.
Download the Tip Sheet or read it below.
Then focus on the things you can control, instead! Start by drawing a circle on a piece of paper. On the outside of your circle, write down the things you can’t control. On the inside of your circle, make a list of the things you CAN control. Keep this piece of paper somewhere you can see it. Choose to focus your energy on the things you can control and think less about the things you can’t.
Then make time for some self-care… it looks different for everyone, but, basically, it’s doing the things that make you feel good! Dance around the house to your favourite song on repeat, enjoy some DIY pampering, lie outside in the sun, make some fairy bread or pump out a workout.
Don’t let the news about coronavirus overwhelm you. Although it’s tempting to spend hours checking for news updates and scrolling your social media feeds, too much will be harmful, not helpful. Pick a few trusted news sources, check them once a day and only spend 30 minutes online when you do.
Just take it one day at a time. With so much changing in your life right now, there is a lot more for your brain to process than usual. Try to remember this when it comes to making decisions – especially big decisions – that affect your future. While you’re feeling like this, it’s really best to take each day as it comes.
You’ll find it harder to reach a calm state during this stressful time, but your body needs rest to stay healthy and function well… so, do what you can to help! Get your body moving. Every day, get your heart pumping, work out your agitation – you’ll be surprised by how well this will calm your mind! Or, if that doesn’t sound like you, keep your mind still. Spend some quiet time in prayer, journaling, or practicing mindfulness and breathing exercises. (Hot tip: these activities are especially good just before bed!)
When a family member loses a job, it can be stressful for everyone. While this problem is not your responsibility to solve, you might want to ask, “How can I help?” or, “What can I do to make your life easier at the moment?”
People process stress differently. So, it’s important to give your family members the support or the space to work it out as they need. And if the stress is really affecting your home life, call one of these services for support:
eheadspace
1800 650 890
eheadspace provides free online and telephone support and counselling to young people aged 12 - 25 and their families and friends. eheadspace also has online group chats for young people.
Beyond Blue
1300 22 4636
Beyond Blue provides 24/7 phone counselling as well as an online community forum.
Kids Helpline
1800 55 1800
Kids Helpline provides free, 24/7 online chat or phone counselling for young people aged 5 - 25.
Lifeline
13 11 14
Lifeline provides all Australians who need it with 24-hour crisis support and suicide
prevention services.
Ask Izzy
Ask Izzy is an online app that can help you find services you need, now and nearby. You can search over 360,000 services to find housing, meals, healthcare, counselling, legal advice and a whole lot more.
Family referral service
Family referral service will listen to your needs and refer you to the right service.
If you’re stressed about your studies, just remember, we’re all in this together! Every other student is facing challenges due to the coronavirus… and your teachers are doing their best
to support you in this new way of learning. They want you to succeed. So, don’t be shy about reaching out for help when you need it.
Coronavirus is scary because it feels like we have no control. But the truth is, we are never in control - God is. And He is still in complete control through this coronavirus crisis. Quarantine is hard, but God is good. And He has given us His Word to encourage us. Psalm 46:1 says this: “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.”
The below resources are perfect for an online or in-person youth group or school setting. The videos address topics of worry and anxiety, being overwhelmed, settling your mind and being kind to yourself. They've also developed a handy tip sheet containing eight things you might be thinking about coronavirus.
Worry and Anxiety video
Be Kind to Yourself video
Circle of Control video
Settling Your Mind video
Eight Things You Might Be Thinking About Coronavirus
Anglicare Youth Services team consists of staff from a mix of government and donor funded programs. Our team come from social work, psychology and counselling backgrounds. We all work alongside young people who are facing challenges in their personal, family and school situations to help them change things for the better. The types of things we help with range from advocating with other services; helping young people in the youth justice system; sorting out practical things like getting ID, bank accounts or jobs; learning how to be a better friend (or boyfriend/girlfriend); managing mental health symptoms; and helping repair family relationships. We also run drop in groups in partnership with local churches and psychoeducational groups in schools.
