learningathome.gov.je
Wellbeing
Support for your wellbeing
On this page you will find advice and resources to help you and your child deal with anxiety and tips on how to talk with them openly about their thoughts and their feelings. If you notice signs of anxiety, we're here to help, so please don't hesitate to contact us.
‘We become more confident in our ability to reorganise and react to new challenges'
Signs of anxiety and how to help
You might notice signs of anxiety in your child.
For younger children aged 3 to 5 years
These signs might include:
- behaviour such as thumb-sucking or bed-wetting
- greater fear at being separated from you
- tantrums
- trouble sleeping
For pupils aged 5 to 11 years
These signs might include:
- expressing emotions such as sadness, anger or fear
- sharing false information they hear from their peers or see online
- avoiding discussion about a particular subject
- having trouble concentrating
For 11 to 14 and 14 years and above
These signs might include:
- picking fights with you or with siblings
- abusing alcohol or drugs
- becoming afraid to leave the house
- distancing themselves from their friends and family
- showing intense emotions but being unable to talk about what they are feeling
If you have any concerns about how your child is coping or you need any other support, please contact your child’s school.
Take care of yourself
It’s really important right now to take care of your own physical and mental health. Children are very perceptive, and they react to what they sense from the adults around them.
Here are some things you can do to help keep yourself healthy:
- Connect with others – maintain relationships with family and friends through phone and video calls
- Exercise – take some time every day to do some physical activity such as going for a walk or run
- Eat healthy meals – try to keep a well-balanced diet and drink enough water
- Get some sleep – being anxious or worried can have a big impact on your sleep
- Turn off the news – it’s important to keep up to date, but the 24-hour news cycle can make you more anxious
- Do things you enjoy – take up that hobby you've always meant to learn
- Set goals – set daily and weekly goals
- Go outside – make sure you get some fresh air, within Government guidelines
- Talk to someone – share concerns with family and friends
How to talk to your child about what's happening
No matter how calmly you manage stressful situations, children are likely to be anxious, so it’s important to talk to them about what’s happening.
For younger children
Children pick up bits of information from their friends, from the news and from listening to adults talking around them, but they can misunderstand what they’re hearing.
Talk about news items openly and calmly, giving them the facts. Give them age-appropriate information, talk to them about how some stories on social media may be based on rumours or inaccurate information and encourage them to take breaks from listening to or reading the news.
Here are some helpful websites to help you talk:
- BBC Newsround hub is regularly updated with helpful information and advice
- #covibook is specifically designed for under 7 year olds
- You can also download the children’s guide to coronavirus from the UK Children’s Commissioner to help explain the situation to children
Encourage questions
Let them know you are there to answer their questions:
- give them the confidence to reach out, if they have anything to ask
- be reassuring but honest when answering questions
- be ready to answer the same question over and over
Be a role model
Let them learn from you:
- recognise and manage your own worries first
- be open about your own feelings and let them know it’s normal to be concerned
Explain how our body's immune system protects us
Talk to them about how our bodies are working to protect us:
- it's constantly working against germs without us knowing
- remind them how important it is that they eat healthy food, sleep and exercise, as this helps to fight germs
- if it helps, reassure them that the effects of the virus on healthy young people are very mild
Keep doing your bit to help children reduce the spread of germs
Good hygiene is really important:
- remind them to maintain good hygiene like bathing daily and wearing fresh clothes
- encourage them to sing 'happy birthday' twice when they're washing their hands
For young people
Young people will have the same anxieties about their own health and that of their family and friends as younger children. But they’re also likely to feel worried about what life will be like after the pandemic is over.
In addition to the steps above:
- reassure them that they will not be disadvantaged by this situation as everyone else their age is in the same situation
- encourage them to maintain social ties
- equip them with accurate information
- share tools to help them manage anxiety
Mythbusters from the World Health Organization
Data visualisation pack from Information is Beautiful
YoungMinds: practical steps to take if you're anxious about coronavirus
Mind: how to take care of your wellbeing when staying home
Helpful links
If your child would like to speak with someone confidentially, there are helplines and websites available.
| Link | Description | Contact |
| The Listening Lounge | Counsellors and peer workers providing support for mental health and wellbeing |
01534 866793 Appointments are available between 10am and 10pm, 7 days a week |
| Brook | Helping young people to live healthy lives | 01534 507981 |
| Shout | Free confidential support via text available 24/7 | Text SHOUT to 85258 in the UK to text with a trained crisis volunteer who’ll provide active listening and collaborative problem solving |
| Children and Families Hub | Free confidential Jersey telephone helpline that aims to find young people and families the best help | 01534 519000 |
| ChildLine | Confidential telephone counselling service for any child with a problem |
0800 1111 24-hour helpline Have an online chat with a counsellor (9am to midnight) |
| Youth Enquiry Service (YES) | Jersey based service for young people up to 25 years old | 0800 7350010 |
Support services
We all need someone to talk to sometimes and there are people you can call on for support:
| Link | Description | Contact |
| La Passerelle |
Short-stay support team for young people who feel unable to attend their secondary school due to anxiety
|
01534 449152 |
| Liberate |
Equality and diversity charity
|
|
| Jersey Recovery College | Education and training to help individuals overcome mental health issues |
01534 505977 |
| Jersey Eating Disorder Support | Local charity providing support for those affected by eating disorders |
07797 778016 |
| Family Nursing and Home Care | Contact information for parents regarding school nurses, health visitors and more |
01534 443600 |
| Children's Health | Services to support parents with children's health | |
| Community Bereavement Service | Support for those who are dealing with loss |
01534 285144 |
| Citizen's Advice Bureau | Support and advice about the problems Islanders may have |
0800 735 0249 |
| Alcohol and Drugs Service | Facts and support about alcohol and drug use |
Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 9am to 1pm and 2pm to 5pm |
| Mental Health Foundation | Provides information and support for anyone with mental health problems or learning disabilities | Mental Health Foundation |
| Mind Jersey | A mental health charity | 0800 735 9404 |
| PAPYRUS | Youth suicide prevention society |
0800 068 4141 Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 9am to 10pm and weekends and bank holidays, 2pm to 10pm |
| Samaritans | Confidential support for people experiencing feelings of distress or despair |
0330 094 5717 24-hour helpline |
| Be Supported | You can contact them on 24/7 about any worries or concerns you may have |
0800 072 7072 24-hour helpline |
| YoungMinds | A charity dedicated to children’s mental health |
0808 802 5544 Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 4pm |
| Cruse Bereavement Care |
Support for grief and bereavement (UK based) |
0808 808 1677 Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 5pm |
Domestic violence
If you experience domestic violence there is support available to you:
| Link | Description | Contact |
| NSPCC | Child protection charity |
0808 800 5000 for adults or 0800 1111 for children 24-hour helpline |
| Jersey Women's Refuge | Advice on dealing with domestic violence |
0800 735 6836 or 01534 873288 24-hour helpline |