Path Finder Mental Health and Counselling Services

29/05/2021

https://headspace.org.au/young-people/what-is-mental-health/

What is mental health? Understand the difference of good mental health, and signs of any problems. Learn more about the affects of mental health and how you can get help from headspace

15/05/2021

In Australia, su***de is the leading cause of death for males and females aged between 15 and 44. About 3,000 people in Australia per year take their own lives. For every su***de, there are tragic ripple effects for friends, families, colleagues and the broader community. We can all play a role in preventing su***de by looking out for possible warning signs, reaching out and talking about it.
For more information, refer to the attached link:

Taking a minute to listen to someone could change their life.

27/03/2021

Autism affects the way people communicate and interact with the world. Every autistic person is different, which means that each person has their own unique strengths and challenges.
Autistic people may have:
• challenges with communicating and interacting with others
• repetitive and different behaviours, moving their bodies in different ways
• strong interest in one topic or subject
• unusual reactions to what they see, hear, smell, touch or taste and
• preferences for routines and dislike change
World Autism Awareness Day is on 2 April 2021. This year landmark buildings, homes and communities around the world will come together to Light It Up Blue in recognition of people with autism and those that love and support them.

What can you do to Light It Up Blue? See below for further details.

How to Light It Up Blue for World Autism Month

13/03/2021

There are many myths about mental health. This can result in stigma, discrimination and isolation of people with mental illness, as well as their families and carers.
There are certain things that can be done about the stigma of mental health illness, including:
• Thinking about mental illnesses like any other illness or health condition and bring them into the open.
• Talking about mental illness openly with everyone you meet - it is surprising how many people are affected by mental illness, particularly the highly prevalent disorders of depression and anxiety.
• Educating the community to overcome negative stereotypes based on misconceptions.
• Promoting mental health and healthy attitudes through childhood and adult life.
• Supporting the development of resilience: learn ways to deal with stress in relationships, situations, and events.
• Assisting friends and family with a mental illness to obtain care and treatment as early as possible.
• Ensuring high quality support and treatment services are provided to people with mental illness to promote recovery.
• Actively supporting the families and carers of people who have a mental illness, who also experience the confusion, distress, and stigma that can accompany mental illness.
• Addressing discrimination in every area of life, including employment, education, and the provision of goods, services, and facilities.
For further information and resources, please visit:

A person with a broken ankle isn’t defined by their health – nor should a person with mental illness. Learn to combat the stigma of mental illness.

27/02/2021

Everyone knows how important sleep is. When we do not have enough Zzz’s, it can affect our mental health and daily functioning. Getting enough sleep is essential for restoring energy to your mind and body. As we know though, getting a good night’s sleep is not always easy.
Headspace have some great resources on how to improve your sleep and mental health.

Sleep is a really important part of our life. It helps us to feel well, focused and happy. Visit headspace to discover the different facts about sleep and how it affects your mental health.

13/02/2021

What is Mindfulness? Mindfulness can be many things, including paying attend to what is going on around you, slowing down and really paying attention to what you are doing. By being mindful, it can help relieve stress, lower blood pressure, improve sleep, as well as many other benefits.
See link below to Kids Helpline for how to be more mindful and present.

If you are feeling stressed, anxious or just struggling to deal, there are lots of coping strategies you can try.

30/01/2021

If you are feeling stressed, anxious or just struggling to deal, there are lots of coping strategies you can try.
For further information, see link below.

If you are feeling stressed, anxious or just struggling to deal, there are lots of coping strategies you can try.

25/01/2021

Helping your child transition back to school

Being away from school and returning to an environment that has changed can be anxiety-provoking. Here are some ways you can support your child:

* Get back into routine. Routines are safe and familiar which can help reduce anxiety.

* Focus on what you can control. It’s hard getting caught up in the unknown and ‘what-if’s'? Helping your child identify what they can control and practical things they can do can help them be more in the present moment and reduce anxiety. Practical strategies can include getting organised, making plans for the weekend, preparing their school bag, etc.

* Revisit social distancing rules and good hygiene practices. Reviewing these can help your child feel more at ease about their safety when in public spaces.

* Provide reassurance. Sometimes we can’t solve all our children’s problems, but they don’t always need solutions – just to feel understood and supported.

* Explore the positives. Even if they are worried about returning to school, there may be some things they are looking forward to. It can be helpful to chat through these together if they seem open to this.