Care and connect
Look for changes, listen with kindness and seek advice. On this page, you'll learn how to care for yourself and look out for others.
Care
Care for myself and others by looking out for changes.
It is normal for people to be feeling and acting a bit differently during challenging times.
These are some signs that extra support may be needed:
- Changes in mood:
- Being unusually irritable, frustrated, angry or sad.
- Feeling agitated and less able to switch off.
- Feeling overwhelmed.
- Changes in behaviour:
- Lacking motivation, energy and feeling tired.
- Increased risky behaviour.
- Changes to eating and/or sleeping patterns.
- Changes in thinking:
- Being forgetful, disorganised and confused.
- Having unhelpful thoughts and being very concerned about the future
- Physical symptoms such as headaches, muscle pain and stomach aches
What to look for in children and young people
Children and adolescents react to challenging events in unique ways at different ages.
- Routines offer a sense of predictability, when routines are disrupted it can increase worry and distress which may present as separation anxiety.
- It is common for young children to lose some skills they used to be able to do. This may include increased bedwetting, difficulties with sleeping and feeding.
- Young children may be seeking more reassurance and this may present itself as constant demands for attention, increased crying and challenging behaviour.
- Disengaged from school, poor attention and difficulties concentrating.
- Decline in memory and language skills.
- Acting younger which could increase any separation anxiety.
- Increased reactivity which could appear as anger outbursts, increased jumpiness and sleep disturbances.
- Changes in mood and loss of interest in connecting with friends or previously enjoyed activities.
- Decline in self-care, such as personal hygeine.
- Disengaged from school, a decline in memory and concentration.
- A decline in comprehension skills and written tasks.
- Increased moodiness, loss of interest in connecting with friends or previously enjoyed activities.
- Conflict with friends and family and changing friendship groups.
- Increase in risk taking behaviour.
- Loss of optimism about the future.
What I can do
Visit our Connect page if you have noticed changes.
Find more specific information for you at: