Apps for Mental Health

School holidays are nearly here, and this may represent a struggle to limit screen time. We all already know that it is healthy to limit screen time for our families to help support mental health and physical health. So it’s important to balance screen time with getting ourselves moving, outside, playing games, doing sport or getting together!

However, electronic devices are a prominent feature of our modern world and there are a multitude of apps which can be used to actively support our mental health. 

Why not explore a new app this holiday and promote some family self-care?

Many of you will already have heard of Smiling Mind which is an app that has a range of mindfulness exercises for young children, teenagers and adults. The exercises are engaging and easy to follow. This is a free app with free content. Why not give it a go?

Another app which has many mindfulness exercises for all ages is Calm. This app also has some sleep stories (some narrated by celebrities) which can really help those children, young people or adults who are struggling to get to sleep or get back to sleep. This app has free content but to gain access to all of the stories and exercises you do have to subscribe.

A reminder: If you or anyone you know needs further support during the school holidays, please see the information below for helpline contact details:

For young people aged 12-25 check out: headspace.org.au - 1800 650 890 

For children aged 5 – 25 check out: Kids Helpline, a 24-hour telephone and online counselling service for young people aged 5 to 25 – kidshelpline.com.au 1800 55 1800 

Lifeline has a 24-hour telephone counselling service as well as online chat and text services -  lifeline.org.au -  13 11 14 

Parentline is a free telephone counselling and support service for parents/carers of children aged 0-18 - www.parentline.org.au -   1300 1300 52 Parent Line is free.

Wishing everyone a happy and healthy break. See you in Term 3!

Thanks for reading - Sam, School Counsellor (Provisional Psychologist)