Wellbeing

What is mental health and wellbeing?

Mental health and wellbeing includes our emotional, psychological, physical and social well-being. It is an important and vital part of our life and affects how we think, feel, and act. Being healthy emotionally can promote productivity and effectiveness in activities like work, school or care giving and it also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others and our decision making. Mental health is important at every stage of life, from childhood and adolescence through adulthood.

In this area of our website we have information about supporting mental health and wellbeing and include links to guidance and support.

We hope you find it useful - please do get in touch as we love hearing from you.

Children's mental health and wellbeing

Children’s emotional wellbeing is just as important as their physical health. Good mental health helps children to develop the resilience to cope with the ups and downs of life and motivates them to reach their full potential. Good mental health also supports children in living a life that is filled with positive experiences with the willingness to do what is best for themselves and those around them and to grow into individual unique adults.

Positive mental health provides a safe structure for wellbeing which can promote their physical health. It can impact on all aspects of their life, including their educational attainment, relationships and physical wellbeing.

Mental health can also change over time, children’s stress and anxiety capacities will depend upon age and stage of development, external factors like family, community and personal situations and structural impacts such as economic, social and environmental issues, such as poverty, pandemics and war to add a few!

Being mentally healthy during childhood means reaching developmental and emotional milestones and learning healthy social skills and how to cope when there are problems. Mentally healthy children have a positive quality of life and can function well at home, in school, and in their communities. Things that can help keep children and young people mentally well include:

- keeping physically active

- eating a balanced diet

- having time to play indoors and outdoors

- spending quality time with family

- attending school regularly

- taking part in local community activities

(taken from the Mental Health Foundation)

Other factors are also important, including feeling loved, trusted, understood and safe. Children who are optimistic, resilient, have some control over their lives and feel like they belong are more likely to have good mental wellbeing. Life is full of uncertainty, and the COVID-19 pandemic has increased stress and anxiety levels in children and adults in an unprecedented way. Now is the time to do all we can to protect our mental health and the mental health of those we love. Children and young people are particularly affected by intensified uncertainty. Below links to some websites that may help you in managing your childs mental health:

Young Minds – Parents Survival Guide https//www.youngminds.org.uk/parent/parents-guide-to-looking-after-yourself/

NHS – Children’s mental health – Every Mind Matters – https//www.nhs.uk/every-mind-matters/supporting-others/childrens-mental-health/

BBC – Mental health advice for parents – how to support your child – https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/articles/zndp6v4

Here are some suggestions for how to positively support your child's mental health

Adult mental health and wellbeing

Below are some useful links that can help you with your own mental health:

Mental Health UK – Information and support https//mentalhealth-uk.org/information-and-support/
Mental Health Foundation – Your mental health https//www.mentalhealth.org.uk/explore-mental-health
NHS England – https//www.nhs.uk/mental-health/
Mind – Tips for everyday living – https//www.mind.org.uk/information-support/tips-for-everyday-living

Things you can try if you experience anxiety, fear or panic:

- Try talking about your feelings to a friend, family member or health professional
- Use calming breathing exercises – Breathing exercises for stress – http://https//www.nhs.uk/mental-health/self-help/guides-tools-and-activities/breathing-exercises-for-stress/
- Try to do some exercise, such as walking, running, swimming or yoga which can help you to relax
- Look at your sleeping patterns and seek help if need be - http://https//www.nhs.uk/live-well/sleep-and-tiredness/
- Listen to mental wellbeing audio guides or relaxation and mindfulness apps –http://https//www.nhs.uk/mental-health/self-help/guides-tools-and-activities/mental-wellbeing-audio-guides/

Don't:
- Try to do everything all at once – set yourself small targets that you can easily achieve
- Focus on the things that you cannot change – focus your time and energy into helping yourself feel better
- Try to avoid situations that make you feel anxious – try to slowly build up time spent in worrying situations to gradually reduce anxiety
- Tell yourself that you are alone and that no one else gets worried or anxious – everyone experiences anxiety in different situations
(the above information has been sourced from the NHS website)

The wellbeing of our community is important to us

We are a Trauma Informed Trust (TIS), supporting children and families who suffer from trauma or mental health worries to help prevent this becoming a barrier to learning or life in general. It could be said that we have all experienced trauma, especially with every person being affected in some way by the Coronavirus pandemic.

Don't forget, we are here to help. Please do come in an speak to us.