There is so much information on the web about psychological issues and mental health problems that sometimes it can be overwhelming trying to figure out where to start looking or what information is accurate. Below are a list of websites and resources that I think are good starting points for finding out more about different conditions and therapeutic techniques. I have also included some resources my clients have said were useful.
It would be fair to say that at the moment the entire world is facing an unprecedented event as we try and fight the spread of Covid 19, protect the most vulnerable members of our community and avoid our health services becoming overloaded. This event has had wide spread impacts, social, economic, physical and psychological. Here’s some resources that might be helpful for dealing with the psychological impact of a pandemic and social isolation (I’ll update this as I come across other useful material);
https://www.headspace.com/work/mindful-approach-to-covid-19
The Low Down - Straight up answers for when life sucks - this website covers a range of different problems including anxiety, depression, relationship issues and general "life suckiness". https://thelowdown.co.nz/
The Black Dog Institute - publishes research to help better understand mental illness and reduce stigmatisation. Their website has lots of information about a range of mental health problems including depression, bipolar , post traumatic stress disorder and other anxiety problems. There are fact sheets and also self help tools and links to others resources and apps. https://www.blackdoginstitute.org.au/
Depression.org.nz - is a site that provides advice to New Zealanders specifically about depression and anxiety. There are ideas for self-help strategies and stories of peoples' personal experiences with depression and/or anxiety. https://depression.org.nz/
Centre for Clinical Interventions - has resources, including workbooks, for a range of different psychological issues and mental health problems including, excessive worry, depression and mania, assertiveness, body image, self-compassion, health anxiety, problematic eating habits and panic, to name only a few. http://www.cci.health.wa.gov.au/
Headspace is a great app for getting started with mindfulness and mediation. If you're anything like me, finding the time and remembering to be mindful can be challenging. This app has reminders and very short guided mindfulness exercises that can be done anywhere when time is a scarce commodity. https://www.headspace.com/headspace-meditation-app
In the wake of the tragic hate crimes that occurred in two of our beloved city’s mosques on March the 15th there will be many people trying to come to terms with this traumatic event. The following links provide some useful suggestions for coping after a traumatic event and talking to children about it. https://www.dropbox.com/s/2j85x4i83lj8cx4/MoH%20coping-after-a-traumatic-event-16mar-2019.pdf?dl=0