Kerry Mental Health Association has teamed up with a well-known clinical psychologist to help to allay the anxiety that children might feel since the COVID-19 lockdown came into effect over Christmas.

10 years after being crowned the Rose of Tralee, Dr. Clare Kambamettu has created a video to demonstrate how children could overcome stress and to help youngsters who are not feeling great to feel a little bit better.

“The joy of Christmas has been dampened by growing Coronavirus cases, increased hospitalisations, uncertainty about schools reopening and all the other doom and gloom associated with another lockdown," General Manager of Kerry Mental Health Association, John Drummey, said. "Clinical psychologist Dr. Clare Kambamettu, who has extensive experience of working with children, has demonstrated some age-appropriate proven coping techniques.”

The children’s self-care video, which is available to view on social media, includes tips about creating a happy box, setting a worry-time in the day to talk to mum or dad about things that are causing upset, and taking balloon breaths.

Dr. Clare Kambamettu said that things have been very uncertain with so many changes to our everyday life.
“It’s very normal that some people might feel a bit more worried than they used to. I hope the few tips and tricks in the video are helpful in managing some worry during this really difficult time.”

Parents, teachers and childcare providers are encouraged to show the video to children at home or in classrooms when the schools reopen. It can be viewed on Kerry Mental Health Association's Facebook page and YouTube channel.

Kerry Mental Health Association has expressed its appreciation to Dr. Kambamettu for giving her time to record the video.