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Wellbeing advice and resources during COVID-19
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Image: Wellbeing in Education
We’ve seen huge progress in the fight against Covid-19. So much of society has re-opened and many of the things we all enjoy doing, or rely on, are possible once again. We continue on a daily basis to adapt to living with Covid-19.
As we start a new school year, we know that most children and young people and school staff are looking forward to reconnecting with each other and settling back into school life. Naturally many of us may feel apprehensive about the return to school. That’s to be expected and it’s a normal response at a time of transition and change.
People have an inbuilt capacity to adapt. This is what is at the heart of resilience. Most of us have weathered this storm and emerged stronger and with new skills. But for some of us, adapting and managing the challenges that have come our way has been hard. We have taken steps to support our wellbeing during this time and now as we start a new school year we once again need to focus on supporting our wellbeing.
Starting a New School Year
Supporting the Wellbeing of School Communities: Guidance for Schools
DownloadThe links below can take you to Wellbeing Resources and Supports that are available to support you at this time.
The Department of Education NEPS psychologists have developed the following advice and resources for parents, students and school staff for the new school year.
School staff are really looking forward to welcoming your children back to school. Most children and young people will be feeling excited and looking forward to school and meeting up with friends, teachers and other school staff. Some may feel a little anxious and worried about getting back. That’s to be expected and it’s a normal response at a time of transition and change.
Getting back into a school routine, getting enough sleep, eating healthily, taking physical exercise, taking some time to be creative and reconnecting with friends will help everyone to settle back in. The following guidance and videos may also be useful at this time.
Below are guidance and videos we have created with some back to school advice for parents and children attending primary and post primary school. You are encouraged to watch these videos with your child before they return to school.
The following information can help you to support your child if they experience difficulty at the start of the new school year.
The transition from Primary to Secondary school can be an exciting time in your child’s life. Here are some things that you can do to support a smooth transition for your child.
The following information can help you to support your child if they experience difficulty at the start of the new school year.
Student wellbeing is influenced by the wellbeing of the adults around them so it is important that the adults in the school are proactive and look after their own wellbeing.
The Department recognises the need for school staff wellbeing and have an Occupational Health Strategy for staff in schools. The aim of this is to promote the health and wellbeing of employees in the workplace, with a strong focus on prevention.
The Employee Assistance Service (EAS) provides advice to employees on a range of issues including wellbeing, legal, financial, bereavement, conflict and mediation. The EAS also provides advice and support to managers and delivers interventions to help them deal with health and wellbeing issues in the workplace. For more information see: Employee Assistance Service for School Staff
You may find the tips and reminders in the following resource developed by NEPS useful:
People have an inbuilt capacity to adapt. This is what is at the heart of resilience. Most children and young people will have weathered this storm and emerged stronger and with new skills. But for some, adapting and managing the challenges has been hard. The links below can take you to wellbeing resources and supports that you may find useful in supporting your students during this school year.
Catalogue of Wellbeing Resources for Primary Schools
Download
Supporting the Wellbeing of Students with Special Educational Needs (SEN) Returning to School: Strategies and Resources
Supporting the wellbeing of the school community
Download
Supporting Bereaved Students and Staff Returning to School Following COVID-19 and Public Health Restrictions
Primary, Post Primary
Download
Responding to Critical Incidents during COVID-19 Information Booklet for Schools
Primary, Post Primary
Download
Catalogue of Wellbeing Resources for Post-primary Schools
Download
Supporting the Wellbeing of Students with Special Educational Needs (SEN) Returning to School: Strategies and Resources
Supporting the wellbeing of the school community
Download
Supporting Bereaved Students and Staff Returning to School Following COVID-19 and Public Health Restrictions
Primary, Post Primary
Download
Responding to Critical Incidents during COVID-19 Information Booklet for Schools
Primary, Post Primary
Download
Returning to school after COVID-19 school closure wellbeing toolkit for post primary schools
Supporting the wellbeing of the school community
DownloadThere are steps that you can take to support your wellbeing during this time. It will help to:
Include some physical activity into your day. The government campaign In This Together has lots of great suggestions on physical activity.
Social connection is very important at this time. In addition to meeting friends, use technology to stay in touch. If you are feeling overwhelmed or stressed talk to your family and friends or a member of the school staff about your feelings. Sharing thoughts or worries with others really does help. Ask for support from someone you trust.
If you think you need additional help there are also lots of support services for young people that provide advice and support via text, email and online, see Mental Health and Wellbeing Information Leaflet. It is also important to be able to provide support to others if you can.
- Notice your feelings. Over the next few weeks you may have lots of different feelings. You may feel stressed, anxious, sad, afraid, fed up, angry, frustrated or even numb. You may feel nothing at all, that’s ok too. These are all normal and healthy reactions to change. If your feelings and reactions seem different from those of your friends, that’s ok. There is no ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ way to feel. The following information can help to support you if you experience any difficulty.
Managing Thoughts and Feelings – A Guide for Students
Download
Dealing with Anxiety
Download
Dealing with Fear Coping Strategies
Download
Managing Panic
Download- Identify what it is that helps you to relax. It is different for everybody but it is important to include time to relax each day. It might involve being active or it might involve winding down. It might also include doing some meditation, mindfulness or yoga. Other ideas on how to relax can be found in Relaxation techniques (podcast)
- Do something you enjoy or try something creative every day. Think about things that make you feel good, then make it happen – like listening to music, going for walks, doing an exercise routine, writing, drawing, cooking or watching a funny movie. Remember laughter is good medicine!
- Sleep is good for our health and wellbeing so it’s important to get plenty of sleep - eight to twelve hours is recommended. Try to get to bed at the same time every night. Leaving the phone, laptop and tablet outside the bedroom will help to get a better night’s sleep. More information on what will help is here.
- It’s also important to eat healthily and to drink lots of water. See here for useful information.
Our sense of wellbeing can be improved by taking time to reflect on some of the following:
Positive Emotion:
- what positive/healthy experiences can I plan to do today (e.g. reading, music, food, games, exercise, meditation, learning etc.)
- what can I be grateful for today? (I am grateful for …. list 3 things)
- what small act of kindness can I do for someone else today?
- how can I help myself to take a moment of calm?
Engagement:
- what gives me enjoyment and makes me laugh?
- how can I use one or more of my strengths today?
- who can I connect with today (over the telephone, online, in reality)?
- in what way can I make a small positive difference to someone else?
- how can I show interest in another person or their work/hobbies?
Meaning:
- what goals can I set for today?
Accomplishment:
- what goals no matter how small can I achieve today?
- what challenge can I take on today?
- what will I do?
Other supports
There are a number of supports available to you both in school and outside of school.
At school there is a Student Support Team which includes the principal or deputy principal, the guidance counsellor the special education needs coordinator. They are available if you need assistance or support.
There are lots of supports for young people outside of school. The support offered by the agencies listed below, and at this link Mental Health and Wellbeing Information Leaflet are for students who are feeling worried or anxious about various issues.
They include:
Childline (ISPCC)
Ireland's 24-hour national listening service for young people up to the age of 18
freephone 1800 666 666 (any time, day or night)
text 50101 (from 10am to 4pm every day)
chat online at www.childline.ie (from 10am to 4pm every day)
BeLonG To Youth Services
BeLonG To provide support for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex (LGBTI+) young people in Ireland.
text LGBTI+ to 086 1800 280 to chat in confidence with a trained crisis volunteer (anytime day or night, standard SMS rates may apply)
visit www.belongto.org for more information
Jigsaw
The Jigsaw Support Line is available for free mental health support and advice to young people aged 12 to 25 years old, and parents or concerned adults in Ireland.
freephone 1800 544729 (from 1pm to 5pm Monday to Friday)
text CALL ME to 086 180 3880, giving your preferred day and time for a call (from 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday)
email help@jigsaw.ie (for responses from 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday)
visit www.jigsaw.ie or www.jigsawonline.ie for more information.
Barnardos
Barnardos provide a national telephone support service for parents, in response to the challenges they are facing during the COVID-19 pandemic. Freephone 1800 910 123 from 10am to 2pm, Monday to Friday.
Barnardos also provide a children's bereavement helpline service, for members of the public seeking information and support in relation to bereavement. Telephone 01 473 2110 from 10am to 12pm, Monday to Thursday.
SpunOut.ie
SpunOut.ie provides a wide range of articles and information for young people, on many different topics, including mental health.
text SPUNOUT to 086 1800 280 to chat to a trained volunteer (standard message rates may apply)
visit www.spunout.ie for more information
Pieta House
Pieta provides free therapy to those engaging in self-harm, with suicidal ideation, or bereaved by suicide.
visit pieta.ie for more information
call free on 1800 247 247
text help to 51444
The YourMentalHealth website provides information and signposting on all mental health supports and services that are available nationally and locally provided by the HSE and its funded partners. You can also call the freephone YourMentalHealth Information Line to find supports and services any time, day or night: 1800 111 888.
TURN2ME provides a 3 tiered approach to supporting mental well-being - self-help, support groups and professional support. Online services include counselling and support groups
www.mymind.org provides access to counselling and psychotherapy, face to face and online
For students who have complex mental health needs, access to help continues to be through your GP or health centre or hospital emergency services as detailed below:
GP and health centres
A GP can offer support for anyone in crisis. If possible, ask someone to come along with you.
Find a service near you:
GP or health centre GP or health centre
Out of hours GP services Out of hours GP services
Hospital emergency services
Go to or call the emergency department of your local general hospital local general hospital
Telephone emergency services
You can contact emergency services on 999 or 112.
Samaritans
The Samaritans telephone service is available 24 hours a day.
For confidential, non-judgmental support:
freephone 116 123
emailjo@samaritans.ie
visit Samaritans Ireland for details of the nearest branch
Messaging support service
A mental health messaging support service is now available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It provides in-the-moment anonymous support when you need it most.
This service aims to connect you with a trained volunteer in less than 5 minutes. They will listen to you and help you think more clearly, enabling you to know that you can take the next step to feeling better.
