Health and Wellbeing
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Keep your mind and body safe
Pandemic Fatigue is a sense of tiredness and fatigue caused by the ongoing effects of living through the pandemic. It’s important to recognise and acknowledge if this is affecting you, and take steps to address it.
Everyone's situation and needs are different, so what is useful right now will vary from one person to the next. Below are some resources for your toolkit – whether that’s for today, tomorrow or next week. Practical steps we can take each day include:
Give yourself some positive feedback for all the things you are doing, give yourself praise as you do to others
Think about and write down things you are grateful for
Focus on fuelling your body with nutritious food
Reach out to friends and family, a conversation can be a mood booster
Find time to be active each day. 30 minutes of activity is great for your body and mind
Practice mindfulness so that you only deal with what’s in front of you
Turn off. Being connected 24/7 is proven to not be good for our mental health. Give yourself some time where you’re not looking at your phone, email or the internet. If all the news on COVID-19 is causing you to be stressed, turn it off.
There are lots of places to go for support, including:
Support for families with Kids Helpline resources: https://kidshelpline.com.au/coronavirus
COVID-19 support for people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds
Are you a carer who is looking after a relative or friend on a regular basis
The Australian Government Department of Health has lots of tips on ‘What you can do right now’ for supporting yourself or others
Get some handy tips on Health & Wellbeing Hub on Workplace
You can access UnitingCare’s EAP Provider, Benestar, for confidential support via 1300 360 364
You can reach out to your local chaplain - either onsite at RACs and hospitals, or by phone in FaDS. Any reason you would you normally to chat to a chaplain applies now. These could include: When you have spiritual questions, Feeling anxious or a sense of loss and grief, When you want prayer for yourself, family or friends, Struggling or having trouble sorting our feelings
Email mission@ucareqld.com.au for a chaplaincy chat and a member of our pastoral care team will ring you back. Or just email your local mission partner
Anyone who needs someone to talk to at any time can reach out to Lifeline crisis support through:
24/7 Lifeline telephone support call 13 11 14
24/7 Lifeline Text 0477 13 11 14
24/7 Lifeline Chat
Resources
UnitingCare Indigenous Community Support Pack
Personal health
PRACTICE GOOD HAND HYGIENE
Please practice good hand and sneeze/cough hygiene to defend against COVID-19 by:
Regularly washing your hands with liquid soap and using hand sanitiser before and after eating, and after going to the toilet, or after contact with others;
Covering your mouth with your elbow or tissue while coughing or sneezing and dispose used tissues immediately and wash your hands; and
Avoiding touching your face and mouth.
MAINTAIN SOCIAL DISTANCING
Maintain social distancing from others where possible. This means staying 1.5m away from others when in public or meeting situations. Where possible try to avoid face to face meetings or contact and utilise virtual meetings where possible.
Where social distancing is unable to maintained consider the use of a face mask.
Avoid kissing, hugging or shaking hands.
Restrain from visiting vulnerable people, such as those in aged care facilities or hospitals, infants, or people with compromised immune systems due to illness or medical treatment.
IF YOU ARE UNWELL BUT DO NOT HAVE SYMPTOMS CONSISTENT WITH COVID-19 INFECTION
If you are unwell but do not have symptoms consistent with COVID-19 infection (cold and flu symptoms), do not come to work, contact your GP for assessment, and notify your manager of your GP’s advice.
Videos
Parenting in a Pandemic
While we are experiencing many layers of challenges in the workplace during COVID-19, for staff working and engaging with children, as well as our own role as parents, these challenges are being amplified.
UnitingCare are proudly supporting the new podcast series, Parenting in a Pandemic as well as a 12-part national television series on parenting which is being aired on Channel 7. We have been actively participating in a professional content advisory group helping inform themes and content for the 12-part podcast and television series.
There are a large number of topics but the theme is that there is no rule book for parenting in a pandemic. The series unpacks various concerns from parents and offers reassurance they are not in this alone.
We are proud that UnitingCare is able to offer these parenting sessions and it is a timely reminder that our Families and Disabilities Services offer number of family and relationship services that can provide extra support during this time.