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Image courtesy of http://www.theteencompass.org

Teen Compass has a Wellness Assessment survey that you can work through and see what areas of your life might need a bit of work. It covers relationships, emotions, spirituality, rest and play, resilience, care for body, organisation and school and work. You can find it here.
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If you're in high school then you are either in the middle of exams or they are fast approaching. Most likely you are fairly stressed and anxious. Just remember, you are not defined by the score you get at the end of year 12. For the sake of your mental health, schedule in time to do things you love. Doing this will put you in a better frame of mind and the time that you do spend studying will be more productive. There are some ideas above if you're stuck.

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It's R U Ok day on Thursday. This great video explains how to help people who are not doing ok.
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When you're stressed you need to make some time to be kind to yourself - even if you're busy. One of my favourite ways of looking after myself when I'm feeling a bit stressed is to run a hot bath, light a scented candle or turn on my vaporiser, put on some tunes and read a magazine. The restorative power of water is amazing.
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This is Meghan's explanation of the song from the Zach Sang Show: I was uneducated about anxiety and how it could physically rattle you. I assumed no one had experienced what I was going through because when I would tell my mom ‘I’m going to the emergency room because I can’t breathe right now’ she would be like ‘no, no, I’ll come rub your head.’ The songs that came after this, I was like, ‘ha ha!’ I did one song called ‘Treat Myself’ and it was about how, finally, when my therapist looked at me and was like, ‘Look at you! You’re not shaking anymore and you’re not miserable and sad! You’re like, really happy and everything is going great for you — don’t forget to treat yourself and do something for you. Go get a spa day or do something. I bought a car and was like, ‘treat myself!'
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I just found out that my dog has a brain tumour and is dying. I love her like one of my own children so I am absolutely devastated. Grief is a normal part of life, whether you have lost a pet, a family member, a friendship... At the time it feels overwhelming but you have to remember that it will pass. Headspace has some tips about dealing with grief, including the SORT acronym above. You can read more here.
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When you have a grateful attitude your brain releases chemicals that improve your mental wellbeing. So if you are anxious, think of some things you are grateful for and it will help improve your state of mind. I keep a gratitude journal where I write three things that I am grateful for each day. You might like to use sticky notes and put them on your wall.
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There has been a lot of controversy around this show. It is rated MA 15+ but I know plenty of younger teens are watching it anyway. Here's a message from the cast.
If you need help:
Youth Support Services:
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I spent a couple of days last week exploring the magnificent Karijini National Park in the North of Western Australia. It is both physically and technologically isolated. There was no phone coverage or wi-fi. It took a little while to adjust, but it was good to have a forced break from technology and social media.

I think it's good for the soul to spend time in the natural environment too. We spent hours exploring the gorges each day. Even if you can't escape to a national park (though there are ones much closer to the city), why not go for a walk by the beach or river or visit your local park. Take a friend, turn off your phones and talk to each other.
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This story demonstrates that awareness is the first step toward positive change, in our minds, and in our lives.

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