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Wellbeing 
 
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Well-being matters

St Paul's Well-being Team —

The uncertainty surrounding the virus Covid-19 can be a trigger for anxiety, stress, feelings of panic, fear and depression.

We hope you and your family are safe and well. As previously mentioned by our Headmaster Grant Lander, as a school, one of our important priorities is to support the well-being of our students, staff and the wider school community. The uncertainty surrounding the virus Covid-19 can be a trigger for anxiety, stress, feelings of panic, fear and depression. These triggers are real and it is important that we share good practice during this time of unprecedented levels of stress to support and boost our mental health and strengthen our resilience.

This link provides some tips and strategies in navigating these challenging times.

Below are some questions and answers that may be supportive.

How can I help, as a parent?

If you are concerned about your daughter or son, find a time to talk with them about what you have noticed. Ask if there are ways you can help to shift the problem, help them to assess what the problem is and let them speak about it with you.

Being there for your son and daughter, attending, being present and actively listening in a caring and non-judgmental way is often all they need and it enables your young person to feel heard.

Click here for a short video on the importance of empathy.

What support can I look into from St Paul's?

St Paul’s Wellbeing Toolkit is a great place to start if your young person requires some direction and advice. If they are finding things tough, feeling stuck or wanting to improve their overall wellbeing, take some time to browse through the Wellbeing Toolkit.

For parents, another great resource is SchoolTV. Today parents face a multitude of modern-day challenges in raising happy, well and resilient young people. Whilst there is a great deal of information available, this can often be confusing and overwhelming for parents looking for guidance. SchoolTV addresses this as a new online resource designed to empower you as parents with credible and sound information with realistic, practical ongoing support strategies.

However, if you encounter a problem that you feel you would like some help to navigate, then don’t hesitate to contact the Guidance Team. We are available to talk with you and your teenager to help figure out the problem and to work towards finding some relief from it.

You can contact St Paul's Wellbeing team by following this link.

What support services are available outside of the school?

Because of the quarantine measures and the distance learning in place, if you feel you need help or support here are numbers you can use.

If it is an emergency and you feel that you or someone you know is at risk, call 111.

Contact phone numbers for support services:

  • Lifeline: 0800 543 354 (available 24/7)
  • NETSAFE - cyber issues: 0508 NETSAFE (0508 638 723)
  • Chinese Lifeline: 0800 888 880
  • The Word - Depression Helpline: 0800 111 757 (available 24/7)
  • Domestic Violence Centre: 0508 744 633 (available 24/7)
  • Sexual abuse help: 09 623 1700 (available 24/7)

Mental health crisis assessment team contact numbers:

  • Waikato (Coromandel, Hamilton to National Park) Hamilton: 0800 505 050
  • Northland (Topuni to North Cape) Whangarei: 0800 223 371
  • Waitemata (Wellsford to North Shore) West Auckland and North Shore: 09 487 1414 After Hours: 09 486 8900 (ask for North Crisis Team)
  • Auckland (Auckland City) Central Auckland: 0800 800 717
  • Counties Manukau (South Auckland to Te Kauwhata) South Auckland: 09 261 3700
  • Bay of Plenty (Tauranga, Whakatane to Te Kaha) Tauranga: 0800 800 508
  • Whakatane: 0800 774 545 Tairawhiti (Hicks Bay to Gisborne)
  • Gisborne: 0800 243 500 Lakes (Rotorua, Taupo, Turangi) Lakes: 0800 166 167
  • Hawke’s Bay (Wairoa, Napier, Hastings, Waipukaurau) Napier, Hastings: 0800 112 334
  • Taranaki (New Plymouth to Waverly) New Plymouth: 0508 277 478
  • Whanganui (Ohakune, Whanganui to Bulls) Whanganui: 0800 653 358
  • Mid Central (Palmerston North to Waikanae) Mid Central: 0800 653 357.

St Paul's Well-being Team will be posting regular Well-being Matters information, thoughts and Q&A during the quarantine period.

With kind regards to you and your family,

St Paul's Well-being Team – Blair Heaton, Leah Gillanders and Reverend Peter Rickman.