In this edition of School TV - SPECIAL REPORT: Flood Support & Recovery

Communities and families around Australia have been touched by the recent floods. Many are still coming to terms with the loss of human life, damage to property, destruction of crops and loss of pets and livestock. Others are rallying together to provide much needed moral and financial support. As the clean-up continues, families are faced with the real presence of the disaster: repairing property, negotiating insurance claims and juggling financial problems.

Being exposed to a natural disaster, either directly through lived experience or indirectly through the media, stirs up various feelings of sadness, depression, anxiety and frustration. Learning to recognise these reactions and emotions as normal will help families better understand these feelings and become more comfortable and effective in coping with them. Supporting your child or teenager during this time is especially vital. Talking and listening to them about the event can help them process their feelings. How well they will cope, or manage any trauma, will depend on specific risk factors in existence before, during and after the event.

This article outlines many resources from organisations including Phoenix Australia, The MacKillop Institute, eMHPrac (e-Mental Health in Practice), and R U OK?. Please follow the link below to access these and many other resources.

We hope you take time to reflect on the information offered in this edition of School TV and we always welcome your feedback. If you have any concerns about your child, please contact the school counsellor for further information or seek medical or professional help.

Here is the link to the Flood Support & Recovery edition of School TV:

https://hsstsv.catholic.schooltv.me/wellbeing_news/special-report-flood-support-recovery