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Wellbeing

Emma Jocelyn, Cruickshank House Prefect —

Over the Level 4 lock-down period, the prefect team has been working together to figure out if and how we can help the members of the Otago Girls' community keep their mental health positive.

After a while of researching and getting in touch with our school guidance counsellor, we've put together a few resources for everyone to use if they need to. Ms Taylor would like everyone to know that her "pearls of wisdom are echoes of our lovely Principal Ms Miller who advocates relishing this time to enjoy and pursue hobbies that are a luxury for you. Keep up your routines so that you are eating and sleeping and managing your academic timetable as you would during school time. Take regular exercise and spend time mending those precious family relationships inside your bubble that may have become stressed in the course of our previously frantic lives. Above all if you need help, please ask we are but a click away". Ms Taylor is available for sessions over zoom, and you can access this by sending her an email at tyr@otagogirls.school.nz 

Meanwhile, our well-being prefects Caitlin and Sylvia would like to let everyone know that you don't need to force yourself to learn a new skill or make yourself feel pressure over schoolwork, it's okay to feel stressed, anxious, frustrated etc because this is a completely new situation for all of us. Take time to take care of yourselves and take care of others! Here are some resources to use: 

- Ms Taylor: tyr@otagogirls.school.nz

- The depression hotline: 0800 111 757

- Healthline: 0800 611 116

- Lifeline: 0800 543 354

- Youthline: 0800 376 633

- Samaritans: 0800 726 666

- Mental health New Zealand: 1737

And in more serious needs these could include:

• Ring 111 in an immediate emergency and ask for Police 

• Emergency Psychiatric Services (EPS), (normally Dunedin Public Hospital Emergency Dept. first in an emergency). It’s often useful to have a support person/advocate with the person to identify risk issues to EPS. Ring 0800 467 846 and then 2 for Otago

• Youth Speciality Services (YSS) Dunedin (14-19) 03 474 5601 : 24 hour Freephone 0800 44 33 66

Stay safe and look after one another!"