We are very excited to introduce our new social worker, Tina Taylor, who brings with her a wealth of experience in mental health and counselling. Miss Tina is an experienced mental health practitioner and a valuable additional to our team and will provide individual and small group child counselling at our school.
Appointments and consultations require parental consent. For further information please contact me, Wendy Harris-Gallichan on 40928100.
This week is Queensland Mental Health Week (8th -16th October)
The theme is Awareness, Belonging and Connection.
Being mentally healthy during childhood includes reaching developmental and emotional milestones and learning healthy social skills and how to cope when there are problems. Mentally healthy children are more likely to have a positive quality of life and are more likely to function well at home, in school, and in their communities.
Awareness means raising our understanding of mental illness, reducing stigma and increasing access to necessary help for those who need it. Reach out for professional help if you or your child needs it. GPs are able to provide mental health plans under medicare.
Belonging comes from finding quality, meaning and satisfaction with social connections. Belonging may also relate to feeling connected to places or events. Based on research and experience, we know that a sense of belonging has been a fundamental human need. Data suggests that in an educational setting belonging is associated with school engagement, student academic success, positive mental health, and a range of socio-emotional outcomes.
You can help your child feel they belong at school by talking to them about the difference between belonging and fitting in, especially if they are struggling with friendships, identifying who is importance to them, teaching them they need different relationships in their life to feel fulfilled and helping them to cultivate relationships – invite friends over for playdates, meets at the park or the markets. Mareeba State School focuses heavily on belonging for the first two weeks of Term 1 each year in our 'We All Belong' project. Now is a good time for parents and teachers to remind and revisit these concepts with our children.
Connection is critical for humans to avoid loneliness and helps with lowering anxiety. Family, friends and pets are all wonderful ways to connect. Tuning in to children's emotions and being ready to listen and respond when children need comfort helps children feel loved and cared for. But sometimes being busy can make it harder for you to connect with your child. Taking time to talk to your child will help them feel secure and loved. This can be as simple as a cuddle on the couch, a loving note in their lunchbox, or a family ritual like a secret handshake or nickname. Try to put aside time just for you and your child as often as you can.
Visit: https://www.qldmentalhealthweek.org.au/
Parentline is a free and confidential telephone counselling, information and support service for parents and carers of children in Queensland. 1300 30 1300.
Vaping
Whilst we are a primary school, we are seeing a very concerning increase in children vaping across both primary and secondary schools in Australia.
Vaping is the use of an electronic (E) cigarette. E-cigarettes are battery-operated devices that heat a liquid solution which usually, but not always, contains nicotine, turning it into a vapor that can be inhaled. Despite common belief VAPING IS NOT HARMLESS. An Australian study into flavoured vape juice showed that the toxic particles in these liquids can include formaldehyde (used in glue and can cause irreversible lung damage), propylene glycol (found in paint and is toxic to human cells) and nicotine (is addictive and can harm your brain, especially in the areas that control attention, learning, mood, and behaviour).
Vapes are designed to look cool, and the liquids are developed to be tasty with flavours like vanilla, Krispy Kreme, roast chicken and tuna.
Vaping is popular with young people because: • You can do it anywhere • You don't have to share it with anyone • It's cheaper than cigarettes • It's easy to buy vapes and the liquids online. Viral online trends involving vapes have become really popular. Young people who engage online may have seen these shared by influencers. Being a role model is one of the best ways to show you're making good choices for your health and your body, and helping your friends do the same.
I encourage you to converse with your child about the dangers of vaping. If you do suspect they have tried it, encourage them to understand the dangers. Warning signs include - changes in emotions, trouble sleeping, scents of fruity odours on skin, breath and clothes and strange cylinders, chargers or batteries lying around.
For further help or information please reach out to me or look at: https://www.families.org.au/article/truth-about-vaping-help-parents