Mental wellbeing matters

Today, 10th October 2024, is World Mental Health Day. The them this year set by the World Federation for Mental Health is: “It is time to prioritise mental health in the workplace”.

Mental Health UK addresses the problem of burnout in the workplace:

“We’re calling for everyone to take shared responsibility for workplace mental health. From employers to employees, executives to managers, we must unite in educating ourselves and one another to recognise the signs of poor mental health and provide mutual support so that we can create healthier, more resilient workplaces where mental wellbeing is a priority for all.”

Work makes up a significant part of our lives, and can dominate our mind during our waking (and sleeping) hours. As individuals, we can aim for balance, and reach out for support.

When life is good and we’re care free, it’s easy for us to face the world and smile. But sometimes it can be hard to understand and make sense of the world we live in.

We might experience a time when nothing seems to go our way either at work or home.  That’s when we can begin to feel down, and worry there’s no clear path to feeling positive again.

For younger and older people alike, living in today’s world has its own special demands and pressures. The concerns people report, for themselves or another, usually fall into these broad categories: low mood, depression, anxiety, stress, panic, anger, trauma, bereavement, loss, phobias, relationship difficulties, family problems and financial worries.

Attitudes towards mental health, and the language we use to talk about it, have advanced considerably. This means mental health concerns are acknowledged to be as important as physical health issues because of our increasing awareness of the inter-connectedness of mind and body.

Every Mind Matters – top tips

Every Mind Matters is part of the Better Health campaign run by the NHS, aiming to help people achieve physical and mental wellbeing.

Five Tips for better mental health are:

1. Reframe unhelpful thoughts
2. Be in the present
3. Get good sleep
4. Connect with others
5. Live a healthy life

Good mental health can help us enjoy our lives more.

Young people and mental health

Both children and young adults benefit from support for their mental wellbeing. Different problems affect different age groups but in general may be linked to:

• Relationships with peers, family and friends, which may be different after the pandemic.
• Dealing with change, such as a new teacher, new class or new school, can be more stressful than before.
• Problems associated with screen time, perhaps including increased exposure to social media, may cause low self-esteem, fear of missing out, and body image concerns.
• Academic difficulties from feeling inadequately prepared, especially before tests or exams, can lead to stress and avoidance.

These issues can lead to: difficulty sleeping, anxiety, avoidance strategies, self-harming and substance abuse. Parents and carers are advised to keep an eye out for changes in children’s behaviour. Most importantly, try to keep communication channels open.

Young people often don’t want to talk about their problems, so try to encourage them to talk about anything before leading into how they feel. Reassure them that it’s okay to feel sad, angry, stressed and overwhelmed. Create opportunities to talk about problems as that can often help guide them.

Mental health support for young people under 19 24/7:

• Call 0800 1111 to talk to Childline. The number will not appear on your phone bill.

Mental health support is available for all ages

The old-fashioned stigma attached to mental health problems has diminished over the last thirty years. Public personalities are acknowledging their problems and speaking out about their struggles. No one should suffer alone.  Now we recognise how helpful professional support is. Whether it’s reading advice, joining webinars, or having one-to-one counselling, there are people ready to help.

• URGENT CARE – Find a local NHS urgent mental health helpline (England only)

Free listening services

These services offer confidential support from trained volunteers. You can talk about anything that’s troubling you, no matter how difficult:

• Call 116 123 to talk to Samaritans, or email: jo@samaritans.org for a reply within 24 hours
• Text “SHOUT” to 85258 to contact the Shout Crisis Text Line, or text “YM” if you’re under 19

Also:

• Supporting Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

Useful Links & Information