School Holiday tips and resources!

This page has some resources and tips for parents, and where to find activities in your area these school holidays!

Tips for parents

The following tips have been collated by NBMLHD School Coordinator.

This information has been put together to assist you in supporting your child or young person in the coming weeks. The end of the school year can be a big relief for young people and the summer break will hopefully provide some rest and relaxation, however for some it may be a challenge. You may find the following information helpful.


Signs that may suggest that your child or young person is struggling

It is normal for young people to have ups and downs. However changes in mood, levels of participation and thinking patterns that continue for more than a couple of weeks may indicate that your young person needs extra support.

Changes in mood include:

  • Being irritable or angry with friends or family for no apparent reason
  • Feeling tense, restless, stressed or worried
  • Crying for no apparent reason, feeling sad or down for long periods of time

Changes in activity include:

  • Not enjoying or not wanting to be involved in things they would normally enjoy
  • Being involved in risky behaviour they would normally avoid
  • Unusual sleeping or eating habits

Changes in thinking include:

  • Having a lot of negative thoughts
  • Expressing distorted thoughts about themselves & the world (e.g everything seeming bad & pointless).

If you’re concerned about your child or young person, there are a number of ways you can seek help and advice. If you believe they are at risk of harm you should seek professional support from your GP, mental health service or emergency department.

Below are some resources and services you or your child or young person can access:

Headspace

eheadspace provides free online and telephone support and counselling to young people 12-25 going through a tough time, and their families and friends. https://headspace.org.au/eheadspace/

Some helpful factsheets:

Support your young person during the school holidays

How to help a friend going through a tough time

Self-Care for Family and Friends 

Supporting your young person – the transition from primary to secondary school

Digital Services flyer

Kids Helpline

24 hour support for kids and young people.

A free, confidential 24-hour counselling service for young Aussies (ages 5-25), that connects with kids on the phone, via email and live WebChat. Telephone: 1800 55 1800 or www.kidshelpline.com.au

Kids Helpline’s website has separate sections for:

  • Kids 5-12 years old (including feeling sad over the holidays; thinking about hurting myself)
  • Teens and young people 13-25 (loads of questions answered including managing relationships; what happens after school; if you’re concerned about anxiety, depression or suicide and someone you know)
  • Parents and carers (including empowering young people to ask for help).

Lifeline

24-hour national telephone crisis counselling service and online counselling

Telephone: 13 11 14 or www.lifeline.org.au

Suicide Call Back Service

24-hour national telephone counselling and online service for people 18 years and over

Telephone: 1300 659 467 or www.suicidecallbackservice.org.au

Beyond Blue: National depression initiative

24-hour telephone support and online chat service with links to local services

Telephone: 1300 22 4636 or www.beyondblue.org.au

NSW Government – Education

Care and Connect 

A great resource that includes what to look out for and what you can do for children and young people at different stages of their lives. Resources available for:

The Rural Adversity Mental Health Program (RAMHP)

helps people in regional, rural and remote NSW who are experiencing mental health concerns by providing advice on appropriate services and resources in their local area. www.ramhp.com.au

You can click on a range of resources on their Get Help Now page:

Sonia Cox is the Lithgow RAMHP Coordinator: Sonia.Cox@health.nsw.gov.au Tel: 0448 125 676

Mental Health Line

1800 011 511

The Mental Health Line is a single number, state-wide 24 hour mental health telephone access service. Anyone with a mental health issue can use the Mental Health Line to be directed to the right care for them. Parents, carers, other health professionals and emergency workers can also use the Mental Health Line for advice about a person’s clinical symptoms, the urgency of the need for care and local treatment options.

GoodGrief

GoodGrief – www.goodgrief.org.au/assistance – information on children and grief, young people and grief, and supporting someone who is grieving.

Suicide Prevention and Support

Orygen Chatsafe

provides online Tools and Tips to help young people communicate safely online about suicide: https://www.orygen.org.au/chatsafe

Conversations Matter

is a practical online resource to support safe and effective community discussions about suicide. The Community Resources section includes: When someone is thinking about suicide, and helping those bereaved by suicide.
www.conversationsmatter.com.au/resources-community/someone-thinking-about-suicide

Support around Bushfires and Disasters

Stronger Families Alliance Health and Wellbeing for Recovery

Our Health and Wellbeing for Recovery page has useful information about services and information available to you in Bushfire preparation and recovery, including:

  • Where to find bushfire recovery assistance near you
  • Step by Step Recovery Support Service
  • Blue Mountains City Council bushfire recovery information and recovery guide
  • Service NSW
  • Grants
  • Guides and directories for the Blue Mountains

Other helpful information

Orygen – Helpful Youth Health Factsheets on a range of mental health issues 

These include:

Psychosis; Autism spectrum disorder (ASD); Obsessive compulsive and related disorders; Eating & body image disorders; Depression; Anxiety; Borderline personality disorder; Self harm; Getting help early for psychosis; Recovering from psychosis; Helping someone with psychosis; Psychosis and physical health; Sleep; Getting active.

Mindfulness:

Try the free Smiling Mind app and see tips for practicing mindfulness at home:

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

www.smilingmind.com.au/at-home

Where to find school holiday activities in your area!

Local Councils usually provide a calendar of activities happening at Libraries, Aquatic and Sporting Centres and other council venues.

Check your local council’s Website or Facebook page for more information.

Penrith City Council

PCYC Penrith

Blue Mountains City Council: Libraries

Blue Mountains Botanic Gardens

Hawkesbury City Council

Lithgow

OUT of the NEST 

Activities in the Blue Mountains available for you and your family!

OUT of the NEST is a website by local parents for local parents/carers sharing information, stories, tips and local resources to learn from each other in raising happy healthy kids in the Blue Mountains

blue mountains mums

We are a supportive community of local mums who share and discuss ideas, tips and knowledge about raising our little ones in the Blue Mountains.  Ask questions, seek recommendations or have a laugh together… We’ve got this!

blue mountains mums has the latest information and events available in the Blue Mountains for you and your family