The Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners

Skylight have launched new support material for Cantabrians as they try to deal with both the continuing earthquakes, and the upcoming first anniversary. They also continue to offer some established support options.

See below for a list of Skylight's support material and support options.

The Anniversary – preparing and remembering: This is easy to read and written for Canterbury people as they look towards the upcoming 22 February Anniversary. Read here.

When the quakes go on and on and on: Easy to read, this has been specifically written in response to Canterbury people now telling us just how difficult ongoing coping is and how sick they are of the word resilience! This gives them many options to try to take control of their own wellbeing as much as possible. Read here.

Stressed Out? Colourful posters you can download for notice boards or hallways, for workplaces or homes, and great symbols for all ages. See these posters here.

When Trauma and Grief Comes to Work: For employers and managers supporting staff and clients. Read here.

 A free copy of Surviving Traumatic Grief: When Loved Ones Die in a Disaster, published by Australian Centre for Grief and Bereavement is available on request. A group of survivors from bushfire affected communities in Victoria have put together this book and have gifted copies to Canterbury, via Skylight. It tells their own stories and suggests ways to cope and get through the devastation of loss and trauma and change. It is most relevant to those bereaved by the disaster. The book includes a personal separate letter of encouragement from them also. To request a copy, please email tricia@skylight-trust.org.nz.

Skylight has brought in a special international shipments of an extremely effective post-trauma books:

• One is for children 4 – 7 years old, but is also very good for older ones listening in too. It is called A TERRIBLE THING HAS HAPPENED and is used widely around the world in post-disaster situations.
• We have also brought in copies of this internationally respected handbook for trauma survivors, which may be useful for those you know or support

Skylight’s earthquake support webpage continues, being updated with new links, pdfs and downloads regularly.

Trauma and Disaster support resources to use to work through post earthquake issues with children, teens and adults. The feedback about the effectiveness of these has been outstanding.

Phone counselling is also available still - weekdays 9am – 5pm – phone 0800 299 100.

And you can request a personalised support pack tailor made for the particular circumstances of your own families or staff, or for clients, which will be posted to them. We have a wide range of support resource and information relating to earthquakes, disaster and trauma - for all ages. This is something we do for anywhere in NZ. Skylight can be contacted on 0800 299 100 or +64 4 939 6767 or by email rs@skylight-trust.org.nz.