news
No stress app
Using healthy coping strategies is the key to getting through tough times and a new app takes this approach to its core .
Clinical psychologist Dr Helen Stallman ( pictured below ) has spent her career helping people manage anxiety and stress , and she has now translated her knowledge into a simple-to-use phone app to help people cope .
Dr Stallman , a Senior Lecturer at the University of South Australia
and the Director of the International Association for University Student Health and Wellbeing , specialises in health and wellbeing , particularly suicide prevention .
She has adapted her ‘ Coping Planning ’ approach to suicide prevention into a free app that guides people through a straightforward process to help deal with stress .
Dr Stallman developed a hierarchy of five coping mechanisms to stop stress escalating to a point where there doesn ’ t seem to be any options and put them on a phone app called My Coping Plan ( pictured left ).
The app guides people through the five steps they can take to deal with stress , beginning with ‘ calming down ’ and then a reminder to do something relaxing or distracting . The third step is to spend time with a friend , and then call someone to talk with . If those strategies aren ’ t helping , the strategies then escalate to health professionals and finally
Cherrywood Hub opens
The Australian Foundation for Disability ( Afford ) has opened a disability services hub at Cherrywood in Llandilo , New South Wales , that incorporates interactive programs and activities to deliver whole-of-life supports to people with disability .
emergency services , if more intensive support is needed .
“ The idea of the app is you have a really simple hierarchy of things to do when you are distressed and because it ’ s on your phone you have it with you to remind you whenever you need it ,” Dr Stallman said .
“ The calming down exercise takes you through some brief strategies , like taking a few deep breaths . This can help you feel calmer before going on to the strategies that you ’ ve already planned out that work for you .”
Dr Stallman said the app ’ s simplicity – it has only five buttons – is deliberate because a complicated strategy would only add to stress , not alleviate it .
Designed to provide greater choice of more person-centred supports , the Cherrywood Hub will offer opportunities for Afford customers to enhance their skills for independent living .
New South Wales Minister for
My Coping Plan is available on Android and Apple devices . www . unisa . edu . au
10 news linkonline . com . au