A social enterprise providing education and information to protect and enhance the mental health of young people
Wladislaw Rivkin, Aston University As an academic who regularly worked from home in the days before coronavirus, my friends often joked about what they imagined my daily routine might be (such as enjoying a morning gin and not changing out of my pyjamas). But as many people now realise, the reality is quite different. Working [...]
Jane Fisher and Maggie Kirkman Many people are experiencing free-floating anxiety in response to the adaptive challenges and uncertainty associated with COVID-19. Anxiety can reduce capacity to concentrate, and to plan and organise activities. Helpful guidance has been provided by government and non-government agencies on the benefits of maintaining routines, social connections and exercise, and the [...]
Dr Greg Nyilasy In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic has come to dominate the media, both domestically and abroad. Alongside increased attention on the pandemic, has come the viral spread of COVID-19 fake news online. Many of these stories, as tantalising as they are, are patently false. In the case of COVID-19, the spread of fake [...]
Usually, this week would have seen many students returning to school. But here in Victoria, they’re at home – after Premier Daniel Andrews announced that most students would be studying from home during their second term of the school year. For those students in their final year of high school who are already preparing for [...]
Claire Brown, Victoria University and Rannah Scamporlino, Victoria University Effective learning is a two-way process between the teacher and students, meaning both need to engage. If a student simply sits and listens to new information without engaging or applying it, it’s called passive learning. Active learning is where students engage with new learning making connections [...]
Alison Willis, University of the Sunshine Coast As children learn from home, parents are effectively running two schedules – work and school. Some children may not be able to get through all the work their school assigns in the time they have, which can leave parents feeling guilty. It’s important for parents to note they [...]
The role of parents and adults in talking to young people through this time is crucial. As the situation progresses the types of challenges we will face will change as will the general reaction of most people. This will most likely follow some fairly predictable stages. I will release a series of statements over the [...]
There are of course not many upsides to a global pandemic, but one of them may be that the single biggest threat to youth wellbeing is lessened. Founders of free-play advocacy organisation Let Grow, Lenore Skenazy and Peter Gray, point out that anxiety is an already huge problem for young people that has also been [...]
The ongoing coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) is stress-testing all aspects of society in uncomfortable and unsettling ways. In terms of education, COVID-19 has already stretched our education systems to breaking-point. By the end of March 2020, school closures had affected over 1.3 billion children and young people across the globe – that is nearly 80 per [...]
Self-isolation can be difficult and boring, but it can also be an opportunity for self-reflection and renewal. In many cultures, this is traditionally the purpose self-isolation has served.Self-isolation in religious traditions is in many ways about practising self-restraint and withdrawing from the ills of society. Fasting during Ramadan, Good Friday or Lent are exercises in [...]
