Your health and wellbeing during COVID-19
What you need to know about COVID-19
COVID-19 is a respiratory illness caused by a new virus. Symptoms include fever, coughing, sore throat, shortness of breath and fatigue. The virus can be spread from person to person, but good hygiene and social distancing can prevent infection.
To help reduce the spread of COVID-19 you should:
- wash your hands often with soap and running water
- cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze
- don’t touch your eyes, nose or mouth
- don’t shake hands, hug or kiss when greeting people
- use an alcohol based hand sanitiser with more than 60 percent alcohol
- undertake regular cleaning of high touch surfaces
- get vaccinated, including a booster dose
- continue habits like exercise, drinking water and getting plenty of sleep
- get the flu shot from the beginning of April
For more information on COVID-19, what you can do to reduce your risk of coronavirus infection and what to do if you are feeling unwell, please view this resource:
How to get the vaccine
Visit https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/get-vaccinated for information on COVID-19 vaccines.
What you need to know about COVID-19 in Victoria:
Visit https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/ for the latest information about COVID-19 in Victoria.
Important link:
Australian Government: https://www.health.gov.au/health-alerts/covid-19
Loddon Shire Community Service Contacts
For the list of service contacts within the Loddon Shire Council click here(PDF, 1MB)
Helping our younger people
Children and young people will be seeing and hearing the pandemic unfold through a variety of sources and may be feeling confused and uncertain, and responding in different ways. The information and links below will assist in understanding what you might need to look out for, how to talk to your young person about the pandemic and where to seek some additional guidance and support.
eHeadspace: provides free online support and counselling to young people 12 - 25 years old and their families and friends. If you’re based in Australia and going through a tough time, eHeadspace can help. You can also call Headspace on 1800 650 890.
Emerging Minds - a suite of free, evidence-based resources specifically for adults and services to support infants and children through the different stages of a disaster or traumatic event, including the Community Trauma Tool Kit.
Kids Helpline - open to people aged 5 to 25 via email or web chat, or by phone on 1800 551 800. There are also some great resources on the website to provide support or guidance for parents on a range of topics.
Parentline Victoria – information on the confidential and anonymous counselling service for anything to do with parenting.
You can call on 13 22 89.
Beyond Blue Healthy Families – support, information and resources for parents and carers. View this YouTube video for hints on how to talk to young people about scary stuff in the news.
World Health Organisation - resources for child mental health during COVID-19, including helping children cope with stress during the COVID-19 outbreak.
Looking after your mental health
For more information on looking after your mental health during this time, you may like to check out the following information:
Mental Health Helplines
If you are in an emergency, in danger or you or someone close to you has seriously harmed themselves, call triple zero (000) for emergency services.
If you are not in an emergency situation, but you need immediate help, call one of the following helplines that offer crisis support and counselling over the phone:
- Lifeline – call 13 11 14 for this free, 24-hour Australia-wide crisis support and suicide prevention service.
https://www.lifeline.org.au/
- Suicide Call Back Service – call 1300 659 467 for this free service for people having suicidal thoughts, family or friends affected by suicide and healthcare professionals treating suicidal people.
https://www.suicidecallbackservice.org.au/
- Suicide Line – call 1300 651 251 for free and anonymous support, 24 hours a day, seven days a week across Victoria.
https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/serviceprofiles/suicideline-service
Other helplines that you might find useful include:
- Head to Health - call 1800 595 212 8.30am – 5.00pm Monday – Friday (except public holidays). A trained professional will take your call, give you advice, and if you need it connect you to the best support or service for you.
https://headtohealthvic.org.au/
- Yarning Safe'n'Strong - call 1800 959 563, available anytime 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Yarning Safe'n'Strong is a free and confidential counselling service for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
https://www.vahs.org.au/yarning-safe-n-strong-media/
- Rainbow Door - free support for LGBTIQA (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Gender Diverse, Intersex, Queer, Asexual, BrotherBoys, SisterGirls) people and their family and friends. Contact them 10am – 6pm, 7 days a week by calling 1800 729 367, texting 0480 017 246, or emailing support@rainbowdoor.org.au
- SANE Australia Helpline - call 1800 187 263 for information about mental illness, treatments and support for you and your carer.
https://www.sane.org/services/help-centre
- Mensline Australia - call 1300 789 978 for telephone support, information and referrals for men dealing with relationship issues.
- Beyond Blue - call 1300 224 636 for telephone support, information and resources for people dealing with depression or anxiety.
https://www.beyondblue.org.au/
Family violence
Disaster is no excuse for family violence
It is known that the risk and incidence of family violence increases significantly during and after an emergency.
Family violence and other support services are still operating online and telephone services are available to provide assistance.
Key contacts for people needing urgent help:
If someone is in immediate danger call: 000
Where it is safe for them to do so, for help and support:
- Centre for Non-Violence can be contacted on: 1800 884 292
- The 24 hour state-wide safe steps family violence crisis response line is : 1800 015 188
The stay at home direction currently in place has some exemptions. The direction allows a person escaping harm or who is at risk of harm from family violence to leave their home. They will not be fined if they are leaving a dangerous situation.
Other key contacts:
Other Information
The Domestic Violence Resource Centre Victoria has an online services directory and an online directorate containing contact details and further information on services in the family violence and related sectors around Victoria https://safeandequal.org.au/
More information about family violence crisis response and support during Coronavirus is available at https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/family-violence-crisis-response-and-support-during-coronavirus