Building your support system

Building your support system

2020 has been rough. Admit it. The Coronavirus pandemic has had an impact on us all. Some of us grieved for our old lifestyles when we were able to go out whenever we wanted to. Some of us lost our jobs as a result of this pandemic. For students in high school and uni, school had been moved online via zoom and or on other online platforms. Some of us really enjoyed this new type of learning but a lot of us struggled to stay on top of our work.

When we are dealing with uncertainty and stress, it is really important for us to reach out to people in our support system. This is why it is crucial for us to build up our support system NOW, so that when we need to reach out for support, we'd know where to go.

Here are some people that you could incorporate into your support system.

1. Friends

Having supportive friends that you can lean on is super important. Friends are great people to turn to for support because you know that they will understand what you are going through (if they are good friends that is). However, make sure that you are checking in with how they are doing as well.

2. Family

For most of us, family members could be someone we could lean on for support. They most likely will have your back and will listen to what you have to say. However, some of us don't have good relationships with our parents or siblings or we just don't feel comfortable enough sharing your feelings with them. This is OK! Keep reading down the list to find out more people you could reach out to if this is the case.

3. Teachers

Hopefully you all have at least one teacher that you vibe with. He/she could be someone you could seek support from! Most teachers would be very understanding and proud of you for seeking support from them. If they are concerned about you, they might refer you to the school counsellor or your year advisor so just keep that in mind.

4. School counsellors

There's often a stigma surrounding school counsellors. Most people, including myself, didn't want to bother the school cousellors because they're very busy or you think that you're not THAT depressed. But guess what? You don't have to have anxiety or be depressed to go see them. Their job at the school is to support us so don't be afraid to pop into their office to book a session. I promise you that it will be the best decision you will ever make for your mental health. (I'm thinking of writing a post about my experience of seeing the school counsellor!)

5. Online websites/ counselling services eg. Kidshelpline, eheadspace, Reach Out Australia

Websites are a great resource because it is anonymous- meaning that no one will know that you've visited the website if that's something that concerns you. Reach Out Australia is an amazing resource for young people under 25 years old. They have lots of information and advice on a broad range of issues such as anxiety and bullying. Online counselling services such as Kidsdhelpline and eheadspace are also amazing because they are FREE! Everything you say to the qualified counsellor is confidential so you don't have to worry about your parents knowing you've called them if you don't want them to know.

So those were 5 ideas that you could incorporate into your support system. Remember that if you are feeling overwhelmed and stressed, it is ALWAYS a good idea to reach out. Don't bottle it up. People are here to support you.



If you are living in Australia and you need to talk to someone:

• For an emergency, call 000
• Lifeline: 13 11 14
• Kids Helpline: 1800 551 800
• Suicide Call Back Service: 1300 659 467
• eHeadspace: 1800 650 890
• Beyondblue Support Service: 1300 224 636