New Zealand Red Cross has launched a brand new website to provide young people in Canterbury with coping skills after the earthquakes.
The site Address the Stress provides video messages from sports heroes,musicians, comedians and actors. Although aimed atyoung people dealing with the Canterbury quakes, the advice contained on it can be applied to any natural disaster.
Chief executive John Ware says the website will reassure young people that what they are feeling is normal.“Our concept is to provide information for youth affected by the earthquakes with the aim of reducing anxiety and reminding people of their social connections with appropriate forms of advice and information.
“This is a responsive site where young people can leave advice for their peers on how to cope with tough times and see what music choices celebrities use to help them get through,” says Mr Ware.
“Overseas research, in particular from the 2009 Australian bushfires, shows the third year after a disaster is often the hardest.”
The target audience is young people aged 12- 25 years in the Waimakariri, Christchurch and Selwyn districts (approximately 77,000 individuals based on census statistics).
Source: Red Cross Media Release
