Mental Health Blog

I still get a lot of people confused about what Mental Health is and what is most apparent is that the topic is perceived with a measure of fear. So if we all experience Mental Health, sometimes good, sometimes poor, maybe an illness, what are we afraid of? It seems there are quite a number: Fear of being associated with poor mental health, fear that we will be in a situation that’s frightening, fear that we will have to solve it, fear we will say or do the wrong thing, fear that it will affect our mental well-being. Yet with every group that qualifies as First Aiders they realise that knowledge is the best protection. Poor mental health is everywhere, we are already facing issues and by being a first aider we feel calmer and more confident, we make a difference to those around us just by understanding, that stigma is being broken down through understanding, we realise we don’t need to solve issues, sometimes it’s ok to not engage, but by even doing the simplest things we can make a huge difference. So if anything mental health related makes you feel afraid then come and have a honest chat with me and let’s see what we can do to resolve it.

6 Reasons why mental health and wellbeing matters for workplaces. 1. Did you know a Deloittes survey found that 61% of people leaving or planning to leave their roles in the near future cited poor mental health for their reason for leaving 2. MEntal health issues such as stress, depression or anxiety account for 17.9 million working days lost and an estimated cost of £56 billion to UK employers. 3. Government studies suggest that higher levels of well-being are associated with higher workplace productivity and financial performance. 4. Help to end prejudice against people with mental health issues. Create a culture where people feel supported to bring their whole self to work. 5. Improve employee satisfaction. Minimise staff complaints and discrimination claims. 6. Under the Equality Act 2010 employers have a duty not to discriminate and to make reaswonable adjustments in the workplace. We can help you to build your mental health and wellbeing strategy.

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10% of children and young people have a clinically diagnosable mental health issue Source: Green et al. Mental health of children and young people in Great Britain 50% of mental health issues are established by age 14 and 75% by age 24 Source: Kessler: Lifetime Prevalence and Age-of-Onset Distributions of DSM-IV Disorders Suicide is the most common cause of death for people aged 5-19 Source: Public Health England: Health Profile for England 2017 80% of young people say exam pressure has a big impact on their mental health Source: Young Minds: Wise Up report But only 25% of young people with a diagnosable mental health issue get access to the treatment and care they need Source: Green et al. 10 years is the average delay between a young person first showing symptoms of mental ill health and getting hel p Source: Centre for Mental Health: Missed Opportunities report In an average classroom of 30 15-year-olds, 10 are likely to have watched their parents separate, 7 are likely to have been bullied, 6 may be self-harming and 1 has experienced the death of a parent Source: Public Health England: Promoting children and young people’s emotional health and wellbeing And since these Statistics were published (before Covid) there has been a 77% rise in the number of children needing specialist treatment for severe mental health crisis. Last week the BBC released a report showing that the statistics are growing at a terrifying rate. Amount many figures the report stated “Some 409,347 under-18s were referred to the NHS in England for specialist care for issues such as suicidal thoughts and self-harm between April and October 2021.” There are endless reasons why this has come about most of which lead back to the consequences of Covid19. But the upshot is the same. A mental health crisis is unfolding, and our youngers needs our support, guidance and understanding now more than ever. If you are dealing with someone (of any age) who is experiencing poor mental health, please give them your time, your listening skills without judgement, your kindness and hope. Start with your GP and then seek out charities and other organisations that understand what the individual is going through and can offer advice.

It’s the festive seasons, a time for family, friends, celebration, and a well-earned break. But after such a difficult year many of us are facing more pressure than normal as well as personal or financial hardships. As employers it’s more important than ever to offer support to staff. Forbes estimated that for every £1 invested in employee well-being an organisation can see a £3-5 return. Now that is something to celebrate! Mental ill-health exists everywhere and by creating supportive environments and open-minded cultures, organisations reap the benefits of increased loyalty, morale, and productivity. So where to start? Proper rest is key so prioritise wellbeing. A few ideas: - Stick to work hours. Statistics show that individuals produce their best work in the first 7 hours. Anymore and you’re doing your staff and your clients a disservice. - Set delays on emails so that they only arrive during work hours. Don’t call outside of work hours. - If someone is not managing the workload, then your client is not getting your best quality. Don’t overload. Invest in training and create teams that can support each other. - Create a winter and a summer office close-down where everyone gets a break and doesn’t return to a stack of email. - Create an annual well being day. - Have trained Mental Health First Aiders so that they can fully support your team and empower the First Aider to make the changes to create a richer and more understanding culture. - Get feedback from employees about their workplace experience - Be emotionally aware of others. It’s been a difficult year. Some people may be keen to socialise, others keen to avoid. - Give yourself time off too. You need and deserve it. And whatever your organisational plans are for 2022, make sure that you have a mental health and well being strategy at the heart of your approach.

It doesn’t matter whether you in a town or in the country, the benefits of getting outdoors are essential to coping with the over excitements of the festive season. If there’s one thing you can do for your mental health then it’s this: get out for at least 30 minutes every day. Stroll, walk, run, cycle. It really doesn’t matter what form. Try to cut back on all interference and leave the phone and any gadgets/watches behind. This isn’t about setting a time or a pace. It’s about unwinding with no quiet tech judgement that you could have gone further/faster. Set yourself free and go tech-free. Take the time to empty your mind, let thoughts come and go. Don’t focus on any negatives, you can come back to any important issues later. Leave the responsibilities and obligations at the door for now. It’s just you. Be aware of your breathing and breathe deeper, let yourself unwind, focus on the details of the landscape/cityscape around you and notice the details. Breathe. If you can, then get out to somewhere green and quiet. It’s so simple yet so restorative. Don’t forget to look after you and have a lovely festive season.

Such great advice from the IASP. Remember: Listen with out judgement Stay with the individual Let them know you care and there is hope Be genuine Get help.