AS students start their new school year, headspace Ballarat staff are offering mental health and wellbeing tips to help young people settle in calmly.<\/p>\n
Term one can be a busy, exciting, and overwhelming time, and family and carer peer navigator Nicole Saunders said students should be mindful of taking care of themselves, but parents also need to be ready to assist as best they can.<\/p>\n
\u201cReturning to school could bring about a variety of feelings such as excitement, nervousness, possible worry and anxiousness, and this may not only be felt by the young person,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe new year brings about a change in classroom dynamics with new teachers and subjects. They could be entering into year 7, 11 or 12 and already be feeling the pressure of expectation.<\/p>\n
\u201cParents and carers also walk alongside their young person and contemplate a return to the regular Monday to Friday routine.\u201d<\/p>\n
If a young person is restless, seems stressed, isn\u2019t eating normally, or they aren\u2019t getting a good night\u2019s sleep, Ms Saunders identified these as signs that school may be worrying them.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo help prepare your young person and help to alleviate some of those feelings establish and build on positive and confident feelings about returning to school,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cBring up the conversation in a casual way. This could be whilst engaging in an activity with your teen that they like doing.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf they are not ready to talk about it hold off and try again at another stage. Encourage them through positive statements such as, \u2018I believe in you.\u2019<\/p>\n
\u201cSupport your young person with stress and anxious feelings by asking them first what has helped them in the past.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou could ask them if there is anything in particular they are concerned about then support them through their thoughts and feelings.\u201d<\/p>\n
For more information, headspace Ballarat is based on Camp Street, and a drop-in service is available Monday to Friday from 1pm to 4pm.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
AS students start their new school year, headspace Ballarat staff are offering mental health and wellbeing tips to help young people settle in calmly. Term one can be a busy, exciting, and overwhelming time, and family and carer peer navigator Nicole Saunders said students should be mindful of taking care of themselves, but parents also […]<\/p>\n