Getting Through Together Digest: 29th April 2020
Kia ora. Welcome to day two of level three! Has it made much difference to you? Did you take the chance yesterday to get your caffeine fix? Or maybe you've fallen back in love with instant? These are indeed strange times.
Level 3 presents new challenges and we know that many of us are still missing the things we took for granted before COVID-19: hugs and high fives, catch-ups and outings, office banter and takeaways. We totally get it!
To help you get through, we share how one family with a loved one in dementia care are looking after each other, provide some tips on how to look after yourself, and take you on a wellbeing adventure with our friends at Sparklers.
Take care out there, Aotearoa.
Arohanui,
All Right? and the Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand
Keeping whānau well from afar
For Vivienne Wilson - a Kawerau-based counsellor - keeping a close eye on her pāpā Hemi James Wirihana has been part of her life since his diagnosis of dementia in 2012.
But COVID-19 has, of course, changed everything. Currently, Vivienne and her whānau are unable to visit Hemi in his rest home because of the heightened immunity risks being elderly brings.
For Vivienne, managing this stress has come down to knowing what is in her control, and what is outside of it. Not being able to see elderly family members is hard for a lot of us, she says. “But if they’re in the best place they can be, then it’s up to whānau to keep themselves well for that whānau member that’s in a rest home.”
Read Vivienne’s story to hear more about what she’s doing to keep herself and her whānau well until she’s able to visit her beloved pāpā again soon.
Top wellbeing tips for getting through
When we're feeling a little blah or lacking inspiration, it can be really easy to stop doing the things we love. And sometimes we struggle to come up with ways to help boost our wellbeing.
The Mental Health Foundation have developed seven tips to help get you thinking about simple actions you can do to help your wellbeing at the moment - Inspired by the Five Ways to Wellbeing and Te Whare Tapa Whā. Sometimes small things can be big mood boosters - find what works for you and keep at it!
Download a poster featuring all seven tips.
Wellbeing is child's play!
The team at Sparklers quickly created Sparklers at Home when the noho rāhui/ lockdown started, to support whānau help their children feel good.
The Sparklers at Home website has over 20 wellbeing activities designed to support home learning. There's fun activities for all ages, as well as useful tips from our experts on things like how to keep the calm in your bubble.
Tips from those in the know!
Check out this video about the importance of looking after your mental wellbeing during these unusual times featuring Robyn Shearer (Deputy Director-General of Mental Health and Addictions) and Dr Sarb Johal (AKA the Useful Psychologist).
Losing a loved one during COVID-19
Many of the ways we would usually connect and come together after losing a loved one aren’t possible right now.
The Mental Health Foundation has put together Grief and loss during COVID-19 - a new resource designed to provide supportive guidance for those who have lost a loved one during COVID-19.
Created by people with lived experience of grief and loss, the resource discusses funerals, tangihanga and honouring a person's life, and offers useful information and remote support links for those who may be experiencing grief right now.
Not all right?
For many of us, these new challenges and the loss of our regular routines is causing stress. We want you to know that however you’re feeling, there is someone to talk to and free help available. It’s okay to reach out if you need to - we all need a bit of support from time-to-time.
Call or text 1737 to speak with a trained counsellor anytime - it’s free and completely confidential. You can also call Lifeline on 0800 543354 or text HELP to 4357.
Check out the Mental Health Foundation’s website for further advice on how to stay mentally well during this time.
Until next time, stay well Aotearoa.
And remember, we'll get through this - together.
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