12th May 2023
HEADLINES
By James Saunders
MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS WEEK Next week is Mental Health Awareness Week. A week that highlights the importance of taking care of our minds. Prevention is at the heart of taking care of our mental health. Addressing the sources of mental health problems so that people and communities can thrive is always the best approach to take rather than a reactive one, which can sometimes be too late. This year’s theme is anxiety. Anxiety is a normal emotion in us all, and is not necessarily always a sign of mental health issues. However, sometimes it can get out of control and become a mental health problem. Lots of things can lead to feelings of anxiety, including exam pressures, relationships, starting a new job (or losing one) or other big life events. We can also get anxious when it comes to things to do with money and not being able to meet our basic needs, like heating our home or buying food. Anxiety is one of the most common mental health problems we can face. In a recent mental health survey carried out around stress, anxiety and hopelessness over personal finances, a quarter of adults said they felt so anxious that it stopped them from doing the things they want to do some or all of the time. Six in ten adults feel this way, at least some of the time. On a positive note, anxiety can be made easier to manage. By focusing on anxiety for this year’s Mental Health Awareness Week it is hoped that there will be an increase in people’s awareness and understanding of anxiety by providing information on the things that can help prevent it from becoming a problem.
As parents and carers, there are ways you can support your children to give them the best chance to stay mentally healthy. Encouraging and guiding a child to think about their own mental health and wellbeing are vital skills you can teach them from a young age. WAYS TO SUPPORT A CHILD OR YOUNG PERSON Be there to listen Regularly ask your child how they’re doing, to help them get used to talking about their feelings, and know there’s always someone there to listen. You can get tips on Young Minds: How to talk to your child about mental health. Support them through difficulties Pay attention to how your child is feeling or behaving and try to help them work through difficulties. It may not be easy facing challenging behaviour, but try to help them understand what they’re feeling and why. Learn more from the Maudsley Charity on difficult behaviour. Stay involved in their life Show interest in their life and what’s important to them. It not only helps them value who they are but also makes it easier for you to spot problems and support them. Encourage their interests Support and encourage your child to explore their interests. Being active or creative, learning new things and being a part of a team helps connect us and boost our mental wellbeing.