Maggie Dent has written A letter to a 21st Century teenager: 10 things I want you to know. In it she said, "Every teen needs to have a significant adult ally who is not their mum and dad – I call them ‘lighthouses’. Sometimes it can be a teacher or a coach, an aunt or uncle, a neighbour, a family friend, a friend’s mum or dad – you just need to have somebody who genuinely cares about you and believes in you." Both my daughters have mentors and older friends they can talk to who are not their parents. You only need one person. Make a list of people who could be a lighthouse for you.
You can read Maggie's letter at https://www.maggiedent.com/blog/a-letter-to-a-21st-century-teen. It's a great read - print it out and put it somewhere you will see it often.
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Here's the link the the newsletter - https://www.maggiedent.com
If you find yourself unexpectedly pregnant, take a deep breath, then look up one of these support organisations. Let me know if I've missed one.
Brave Foundation - for pregnant teens Pregnancy Problem House - Western Australia Pregnancy Help Australia Genesis Pregnancy Support - South Australia Diamond Women - New South Wales The Babes Project - Victoria The Butterfly Foundation has an interesting article on eating disorders and Covid 19. The stress and changes in routine brought about by Covid 19 can lead to a significant increase in eating disorder thoughts and behaviours. Butterfly Helpline Manager, Juliette Thomson, said, "eating disorders thrive in isolation so it's critical to stay connected with family and friends. Social media (when used appropriately), video calls, and phone calls – all play a part in making sure we stay connected. Set a time every day for a video call with a group of friends. Try to limit your exposure to news, and even then only at set times of the day, and only follow reputable sources. Practising mindfulness and engaging in journaling, meditating, chatting with friends, and other activities you enjoy can be extremely helpful during this challenging period."
The Butterfly Foundation has a helpline you can call - 1800 33 4673. Their website has resources about body image and eating disorders - https://butterfly.org.au. Did you know that it is estimated that 4% of Australians are currently experiencing disordered eating (https://www1.racgp.org.au). There is help available - a trip to see you family doctor is the first step. As a recovered eating disorder sufferer I can assure you that there is life after disordered eating. Kit and Teen Breathe magazines have some free downloadable mindfulness packs. You can find them at https://lovattsmagazines.com.au.
Big Life Journal has some free printable including things to do at home for teens. You can find it at https://biglifejournal.com. Access to The Brave Program an online course by Queensland University is free. They have pre-teen and teen programs. You can find them at https://brave4you.psy.uq.edu.au. Smiling Mind has free web and app based mindfulness and meditation app. You can find them at https://www.smilingmind.com.au. I love, love, love this magazine and wish that it had been around when I was a teenager. It is such a refreshing change from popular magazines for teen girls. Everything about it is awesome - the content, the design, even the quality of the paper. Ask your school or local library if they stock it, buy it at your local newsagent, Coles or Woollies or you can subscribe to it.
Emily's Voice is an organisation that supports people of all ages who are unexpectedly expecting a baby. You can find information about abortion, stories of women who have continued their pregnancies and support in your state. For more information go to https://notbornyet.com
I love this magazine - it's from the people who brought us Teen Breathe. It is full of great articles that aren't too long. It is also suitable for teen and pre-teen girls and guys.
Kids' Helpline is not just for kids - their counsellors are trained to deal with people up to the age of 25. |
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