International Stress Awareness Week 2019 – 4th to 10th Nov

International Stress Awareness Week

International Stress Awareness Week came about in 2018 when the International Stress Management Association [ISMA UK] decided to expand the annual event from 1 day to an entire week. National Stress Awareness Day was traditionally held on the first Wednesday in November in the UK/USA and has turned out to be the day that attracts the greatest activity on social media.

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What Is Stress And How Does It Affect Us?

Stress is a part of life and it is unlikely that all but a very few can avoid it completely. Some stress is actually essential for all humans – however, too much or poorly managed stress causes harm to our mental and physical health and relationships. Modern life has brought about a surplus of stress factors. When we are faced with a challenge, or a threat to our well-being, the body experiences stress. When you’re dealing with struggles in your life that leave you in a state of constant worry, stress can be a real killer. Failure to deal with stress in your life effectively can lead to serious health problems, including mental illness, increased blood pressure, heart disease, and a decline in your immune system.

Healthy Stress Awareness And Management Strategies Are The Key To Improved Health

The theme for this year is ‘RESILIENCE – the Power to Succeed’. And of course, this ties in very strongly with I’m Enough’s focus on Digital Resilience. Like it or not, stress is here to stay, and so is the digital social environment that particularly young people are exposed to. So if we accept that ignoring the issues is not going to make them disappear, what then can be done to cope with stress in our lives?

Firstly, being mindful of your response to stress is very important. By observing your response to isolated, healthy stress situations can make you aware if ever you find yourself in this state for prolonged periods. Chronic ongoing stress can, if not treated, develop into mental health issues such as anxiety and depression, as well as having negative impacts on the body.

Some of the tips recommended for dealing with stress are:

  • Try to focus on 1 thing at a time so as not to be overwhelmed
  • Take regular breaks from the factors creating stress – this includes taking breaks from digital social media.
  • Accept that there are things that you cannot control – like the opinions of other people. Let them go.
  • Avoid unhealthy substances such as caffeine, alcohol, and nicotine – they add to the stress on your body
  • Try to be more physically active
  • Try to eat as healthily as possible
  • Learn some physical relaxation techniques, such as meditation or yoga
  • Get enough sleep! Experts recommend between 6-9 hours of sleep per day
  • Spend more time outdoors. Not only does this soothe you mentally but exposure to sunlight allows your body to make vitamin D, which if you have too little of can cause depression.
  • Talk to someone, anyone, about the factors which are stressing you out. Some resources can be found here.

Tackling stress from multiple angles can make a huge difference in your mental and physical health. Above all, you need to realise that you are enough just as you are. You are much stronger and more capable than you may think. Use this week to reflect on your own validity and value, and begin to take the actions required to build your resilience and claim your power to succeed.

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Emergency and help lines

New Zealand Police Call in emergency 111
Description

If it is an emergency and you feel like you or someone else is at risk,

call 111

 

Website Address
Business Tags
APP – MyRivr
Description

Everyone knows someone in need, whether it's a family member, a school or work friend, an associate or someone that you meet as you are going about daily life. Perhaps you do not know where to find help. MyRivr uses your location details to be able to provide you with the exact service providers close to you should you need support or need a nearby agency.

About MyRivr

As an ex-cop and gang member, Akerei (Rei) Maresala-Thomson has spent time witnessing the struggles and challenges of the New Zealand community

After 12 years serving with the NZ Police, Rei resigned from his role as Senior Sergeant in Charge of the Pacific, Ethnic and Asian portfolio for Counties Manukau in March, 2017.

He has made it his mission to continue confronting issues, and trying to improve Pacific wellbeing in NZ – but this time he is using technology.

Rei is now the Technical Advisor for free app MYRIVR, a self-funded and volunteer managed concept from the community which was developed and released in 2015 by Corefusion Limited as MASA (Multi-Agency Services Application) to assist in a successful trial with Counties Manukau Police.

MYRIVR is now NZ’s largest in-app directory of community services, enabling visibility and instant access to more than 20,000 helpers and over 7,000 health and social services around the country.

Website Address
whatsup.co.nz
Description

www.whatsup.co.nz

Call: 0800 WHAT’S UP (0800 942 8787)

We are now open from 11 am - 11 pm for our phone service (0800 942 8787).

Our online chat service is open from 11 am - 10.30 pm.

We are open every day of the week, 365 days of the year. Including public holidays.

Kidsline is now part of 0800 what's up so both have the same contact numbers and opening hours.

If you have any questions or queries, please email us on whatsup@barnardos.org.nz

Website Address
Youthline
Description

Need support or want to talk? Contact Youthline.

Free Text 234

Email: talk@youthline.co.nz

Website Address
Lifeline
Description

Lifeline's telephone counselling service provides 24 hour a day, 7 day a week counselling and support. Calls are confidential and free and you will speak to a trained Lifeline counsellor.

Phone: 522 2999 (within Auckland)
Phone: 0800 543 354 (outside Auckland)

Website Address
Keeping Your Kids Safe Online
Description

Information for parents on creating a safe online learning and social environment for your children at home.

Website Address
Netsafe Cyberbullying
Description

Information and advice about cyberbullying for young people, parents and teachers.

Our service is free and confidential and we provide specialist online incident advice. CLICK HERE

Website Address
Police Kia Kaha bullying programme for schools
Description

Kia Kaha is a school-based programme that aims to help schools create environments where all members of the community feel safe, respected and valued, and where bullying cannot flourish.

Website Address
Depression helpline
Description

Depression Helpline – 0800 111 757 or free text 4202 (to talk to a trained counsellor about how you are feeling or to ask any questions).
This includes includes The Journal online help service.

Website Address
Depression helpline
Description

An online e-therapy tool provided by the University of Auckland that helps young people learn skills to deal with feeling down, depressed or stressed.

Website Address
Sexuality or gender identity helpline
Description

Provides confidential telephone support.
Helplines for children and young people

Website Address
Sexuality or gender identity helpline
Description

What's Up – 0800 942 8787 (for 5–18 year olds).
Phone counselling is available Monday to Friday, midday–11pm and weekends, 3pm–11pm.
Online chat is available 7pm–10pm daily.

Website Address
Depression Helpline 24 hours a day
Description

Depression Helpline (8am to midnight) Phone: 0800 111 757

Samaritans Phone: 0800 726 666

Suicide Crisis Helpline Phone: 0508 828 865

Alcohol and Drug Helpline
Description

Alcohol and Drug Helpline – 0800 787 797 or online chat

Website Address
Family Violence Helpline
Description

Are You OK – 0800 456 450 family violence helpline

Website Address
Gambling Helpline
Description

Gambling Helpline – 0800 654 655

Website Address
Anxiety
Name
Description

Anxiety phone line – 0800 269 4389 (0800 ANXIETY)

Seniorline
Description

A free information service for older people
Phone: 0800 725 463

Wellbeing Service
Description

0508MUSICHELP – The Wellbeing Service is a 24/7 online, on the phone and in-person counselling service fully funded by the NZ Music Foundation and provided free of charge to those in the Kiwi music community who can't access the help they need due to hardship and other circumstances. Call 0508 MUSICHELP.

Domestic abuse helpline
Description

Shine – 0508 744 633 confidential domestic abuse helpline

Smoking cessation help
Description

Quit Line – 0800 778 778 smoking cessation help

Vagus Line
Description

Vagus Line – 0800 56 76 666 (Mon, Wed, Fri 12 noon – 2pm).
Promote family harmony among Chinese, enhance parenting skills, decrease conflict among family members (couple, parent-child, in-laws) and stop family violence

Women’s Refuge Crisisline
Description

Women's Refuge Crisisline – 0800 733 843 (0800 REFUGE) (for women living with violence, or in fear, in their relationship or family)

Shakti Crisis Line
Description

Shakti Crisis Line – 0800 742 584 (for migrant or refugee women living with family violence)

Rape Crisis
Description

Rape Crisis – 0800 883 300 (for support after rape or sexual assault)

Website Address
Warmlines for consumers of mental health services – Canterbury and West Coast
Description

Free peer support services for people experiencing mental illness or those supporting them
Canterbury and West Coast – 03 379 8415 / 0800 899 276 (1pm to midnight, seven nights)

Warmlines for consumers of mental health services – Wellington
Description

Free peer support services for people experiencing mental illness or those supporting them
Wellington 0800 200 207 (7pm–1am, Tuesday to Sunday)

Warmlines for consumers of mental health services – Auckland Central
Description

Free peer support services for people experiencing mental illness or those supporting them
Auckland Central 0508 927 654 or 0508 WARMLINE (8pm to midnight, seven nights)

Mental Health Crisis Helpline
Description

Mental Health Crisis Helpline - 0800 800 717

Depression
Description

Depression and anxiety affects us all differently.
Free 24/7 Helpline: 0800 111 757 Text 4202

Website Address
Lifeline
Description

Lifeline – 0800 543 354 or (09) 5222 999 within Auckland

Youthline
Description

Youthline – 0800 376 633, free text 234 or email talk@youthline.co.nz or online chat

Samaritans
Description

Whatever you're going through, call us any time on 0800 726 666.

Website Address
Suicide Crisis Helpline
Description

Suicide Crisis Helpline – 0508 828 865 (0508 TAUTOKO)
What's Up – 0800 942 8787 (for 5–18 year olds).
Phone counselling is available Monday to Friday, midday–11pm and weekends, 3pm–11pm. Online chat is available 7pm–10pm daily.

Kidsline
Description

Kidsline – 0800 54 37 54 (0800 kidsline) for young people up to 18 years of age. Open 24/7.

Sexuality or gender identity helpline
Description

thelowdown.co.nz – Phone: 0800 111 757 or email team@thelowdown.co.nz or free text 5626

Website Address
Supporting Families in Mental Illness
Description

Supporting Families in Mental Illness - 0800 732 825.

Mental health services – Ministry of Health
Description

We all face challenges to our mental health at various times in our lives. The way we’re feeling can change how we think and how we deal with tough times.

There’s a range of resources and services available to help including phone and online services and information, as well as face-to-face support.

Most services are free and provide information and confidential advice from trained professionals. There's also information for family, whānau, or friends if they need advice and support.

If you’re told that there is a waiting time for a service, please still reach out and make contact. Other supports can be put in place – ask what you can try in the meantime.

 

Helplines for children and young people

Need to talk? Free call or text 1737 any time to talk to a trained counsellor.

To talk to a trained counsellor 24/7 call the Depression helpline – 0800 111 757.

To get help from a registered nurse 24/7 call Healthline – 0800 611 116.

Youthline – 0800 376 633, free text 234 or email talk@youthline.co.nz or online chat.

What's Up  – 0800 942 8787, (for 5–18-year-olds). Phone counselling is available Monday to Friday, 1 pm–10 pm and on weekends, 3 pm–10 pm. Online chat is available from 7 pm–10 pm daily.

Website Address
Home and Family Counselling
Description

Home and Family Counselling is here to help you, or someone you care about.

We are a community-based service providing professional counselling to individuals, couples and families.

Our services are affordable and accessible to all. We work with children, teenagers and adults.

We are committed to providing the highest level of counselling assistance available so that our clients can lead more fulfilling lives. Home and Family Counselling provides services which are free from any discrimination, coercion, harassment and sexual, financial or other exploitation.

Central Auckland T. 0800 800 717
Wellsford to North Shore T. (09) 486 8900
Rodney T. (09) 427 0360
Henderson T. (09) 822 8501
Counties Manukau T. (09) 261 3700