Pandemic fatigue resources

The AES acknowledges that this may be a difficult time for many in our evaluation community and you may find yourself suffering Pandemic Fatigue. Pandemic fatigue is very real and very normal, and it is absolutely understandable many of us are experiencing it due to the continued challenges of COVID-19. Below are some resources that may assist you (in no particular order).

You can call any of the following services:
Coronavirus Mental Wellbeing Support Services: 1800 512 348
Lifeline: 13 11 14
Kids Helpline: 1800 551 800
Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636

Have you any tips to share?

Please send your suggestions for sharing to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. We are also on the lookout for contributions to the AES Blog. If you’re interesting in blogging about your experience with evaluation during the COVID-19 pandemic, contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. in the first instance.

headspace

headspace - the National Youth Mental Health Foundation provides information for young people affected by stress related to COVID-19. To access go to https://headspace.org.au/young-people/how-to-cope-with-stress-related-to-covid-19/

Sane Australia

Sane Australia has helpful blog posts including a recent one on coping with the sudden Victorian lockdown. Go to https://www.sane.org/information-stories/the-sane-blog for more.

MensLine Australia

MensLine Australia offers resources for dealing with stress during COVID times, including Staying on top of working from home during COVID-19 and physical, mental, and financial support during COVID-19. These and others can be found here: https://mensline.org.au/dealing-with-stress/

The Anxiety Recovery Centre Victoria

The Anxiety Recovery Centre Victoria provide an OCD and Anxiety Helpline (1300 269 438 or 03 9830 0533), for people with anxiety disorders, their families, carers, and mental health care providers. The service is available Monday to Friday 10.00am - 8.30pm. ARCVic also offers free information sessions on learning how to cope with COVID and understanding how we can help ourselves and others. Go to https://www.arcvic.org.au/community-education/latest-news/519-let-s-learn-to-cope-with-covid for more information.

Open Arms

Open Arms provides mental health and wellbeing support for current and ex-serving Australian Defence Force personnel and their families. They have two useful blogs: COVID19 – calming and coping and COVID19 – adjusting and adapting.

Suicide Call Back Service

Suicide Call Back Service (1300 659 467) provides resources on homeschooling and keeping kids busy during COVID-19 and how to support your emotional health during the pandemic. These and others can be found at https://www.suicidecallbackservice.org.au/mental-health/

National Mental Health Commission

The National Mental Health Commission has tips for managing pandemic fatigue.Access via https://www.mentalhealthcommission.gov.au/Pandemic-Fatigue.

Head to Health

The Head to Health website provides information, tips and resources to support you and your loved ones’ mental health during these challenging times.
https://www.headtohealth.gov.au/covid-19-support/covid-19-support

Lifeline

Lifeline has a webpage on how to manage your mental health and wellbeing during the Coronavirus COVID-19 outbreak: https://www.lifeline.org.au/get-help/information-and-support/covid-19/

Lifeline also offers a Text Service (0477 13 11 14) available from midday to midnight. This is short-term support for people who are feeling overwhelmed or having difficulty coping. For more information: https://www.lifeline.org.au/crisis-text/

Beyond Blue

Beyond Blue has a dedicated Coronavirus Mental Wellbeing Support Service: https://coronavirus.beyondblue.org.au

After nearly two years facing challenges brought on by the pandemic, many people are finding it hard to express the new and often conflicting emotions they’re feeling. To help people identify and define how they’re feeling, Beyond Blue has created a new set of words that gives labels to these mixed emotions. One of these words is ‘WorryHope’: a feeling you get when you keep switching between looking forward to the future and being worried by it.

If you don’t know how to feel right now, you’re not alone. COVID-19 has had an impact on everyone, so no matter what feelings or emotions you’re experiencing, there is support available 24/7. Visit the Coronavirus Mental Wellbeing Support Service at https://coronavirus.beyondblue.org.au/mixed-emotions

Other new resources that may be of interest are available here: https://coronavirus.beyondblue.org.au/COVID-normal these include Managing social anxiety as we adapt to COVID-normal life and How to maintain your healthy lockdown habits in the ‘new normal’.

Black Dog Institute

Black Dog Institute resources can be accessed at https://www.blackdoginstitute.org.au/resources-support/coronavirus-resources-for-anxiety-stress/

ReachOut

ReachOut has an article on 10 ways to take care of yourself during coronavirus: https://au.reachout.com/articles/10-ways-to-take-care-of-yourself-during-coronavirus. Other relevant articles can be found: https://au.reachout.com/explore-articles

Kids Helpline

Kids Helpline has a dedicated COVID website: https://kidshelpline.com.au/coronavirus

Emerging Minds

Emerging Minds has resources, including a toolkit, on Supporting children during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
https://emergingminds.com.au/resources/supporting-children-during-the-coronavirus-covid-19-outbreak/

WellMob

WellMob has a list of resources to help Indigenous communities stay safe and well: https://wellmob.org.au/2020/05/26/covid-19-information/

Government resources

The Department of Health provides information on how to protect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and remote communities. Click here to access.

Other government sites:

Vic Government's COVID Checklists

If you are located in Victoria, the Victorian Government has compiled helpful checklists explaining what to do if you test positive to COVID-19 or if you've been told you are a contact. Details here: https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/checklist

Fingerprint for Success

Fingerprint for Success (f2s) recently wrote a guide with 9 mindfulness exercises to help you manage COVID stress:https://www.fingerprintforsuccess.com/blog/mindfulness-exercises

HealthMatch

HealthMatch is driven by a mission to accelerate medical research allowing for faster and more efficient access to life-changing medication. Through technology that puts the metaphorical steering wheel back in the hands of the patient, their goal is to make the process of finding and accessing clinical trials as simple as possible for all. At HealthMatch the patient is always at the centre of everything they do.

HelathMatch has recently written a blog on How the COVID-19 Pandemic is affecting our Mental Health too: https://healthmatch.io/blog/how-the-covid-19-pandemic-is-affecting-our-mental-health-too

Blogs on resting:

Pandemic Resources