National Stress Awareness Day

Almost two years ago, before any of us had heard of Covid 19 or indeed social distancing; and a global lockdown was beyond our wildest imagination, something that would only happen in a futuristic film, I was approached by my Boss to become a mental health first aider (MHFA). As someone who’s studied Psychology and has had friends and family touched by mental health issues and suicide I jumped at the chance to attend this 2-day training.

The training was informative and enlightening, it provided me with the tools to help to understand the signs and symptoms of mental health issues and how best to support them. From a personal perspective I was pleased I had been able to improve my awareness whilst developing new insight and the potential to support people who are suffering from mental health issues. Following my training, armed with my handbook I took the first proactive steps into the unknown by making my colleagues aware of the support myself and my fellow mental health first aiders would be able to offer. 

Independent evaluations prove that mental health first aid works. It provides the skills, knowledge and understanding of first aid for mental health and how to effectively support those experiencing distress or who are in ‘crisis’. Similar to physical health we all have a responsibility to look after our own mental well-being as well as looking out for people we work with and care for. But we don’t always know how we can do this. 

The role of the MHFA is a proactive one, it requires constant communication and reinforcement of key messages and guidance available. It also requires a dedication and a natural desire to support and assist others. To put them first, to help them, to keep them connected through emails, provide active support like training, one to one telephone conversations and sometimes group activities, to ensure they don’t feel alone and most of all that they feel they are valued and have a support function available for them when needed.

During the twelve months following my initial training I received a small number of calls from colleagues who wanted the opportunity to talk to me. I admired their bravery, it inspired me; having made the challenging first step to ask for help I felt honoured to be entrusted and to be listening, providing a safe place where they could unload in confidence. Difficult as it is a MHFA should never tell someone what to do, we are there to talk through what might be of help. I’ve learnt that whilst there are many services which offer free support for a raft of different topics, sometimes, a listening ear is all someone needs to start feeling better about things.

Fast forward to present day and we now live in a world that has been turned upside down and inside out. In March 2020 everything changed. No one knows the long-term impact that Covid-19 will have on the mental health of the population and no one can predict the future. With the second national lockdown looming, the roller coaster that is 2020 has done a loop the loop and the intensity has once again increased. 

It has been reported that as many as four in ten employees admit they have experienced poor mental health related to work in the past year. I may be wrong, but I fear the true figures could be much, much higher than that. There is still a stigma around people talking about how they feel and this stigma and discrimination will worsen someone's mental health problems, and delay or impede them getting help and treatment, and by default their recovery. Social isolation, fear, unemployment and poverty are all linked to mental ill health. So stigma and discrimination can trap people in a cycle of illness.

Back at the beginning of the first lockdown I remember one of my children asking me what was going to happen. I was preoccupied with something or other, but I remember I stopped what I was doing for a moment to think, and slowly the realisation dawned on me, that I had no idea! I couldn’t help my child by signposting them to a positive outcome because I just didn’t know and I didn’t have an answer. All of a sudden I felt so utterly helpless and out of control, for the first time ever I couldn’t provide comfort for my child. It was horrible; feelings of powerlessness, helplessness, and isolation descended like a grey mist, all at once with such intensity, I felt like I was trapped in a fog of irreversible decline.

On reflection, my mental health had tipped into a bad place. I hadn’t realised how many problems and concerns were starting to pile up. I was grieving the far-reaching impact of the virus; I was juggling home schooling with a full-time job which had moved to my kitchen table overnight. I was worried about money and paying the bills. As well as fear for myself, family and friends, what really affected me was just thinking about the sheer magnitude of people all over the world who would be greatly impacted by sickness, loss and a crumbling economy and it made me feel inadequate and dejected. I know I am not alone; many of us have had such thoughts over the last 9 months, but that’s ok. To feel and express that you’re not ok is ok, to reach out to ask for support is ok.

At the beginning of the pandemic I recognised I needed to take steps to improve my mental wellbeing and I’ve tried to share this with others. I started to connect with people more, I set up regular calls with my team members and encouraged them to do the same. I created a team what’s app group and some silly challenges and quizzes to keep people engaged. I reached out to family and re connected with people I’ve not had the time to speak to for years. Good relationships are important for our mental wellbeing. 

I knew I needed to get out and about, I usually shun any form of exercise but I was going to be home for the foreseeable future. I bought scooters for myself and my 10-year-old son. In reality mine only got used once or twice, but we went out for an hour each day without fail, him riding the scooter and me walking. Being active is not only great for your physical health and fitness but evidence also shows it can improve your mental wellbeing. I also tried to eat healthier (and less), which met with varying success! I’m currently working on losing the Covid stone!

Next I wanted to learn a new skill, whilst I’d love to say I learnt to speak a language (like many did) it would be a lie. I did however do a lot of reading, I wanted to learn about the long-term impacts of Covid-19 on the economy and the environment so I read books and articles on both subjects. Research shows that learning new skills and improving knowledge can enhance our mental wellbeing. Finally, I tried to do something kind each day, sometimes my acts of kindness were very small but they were always mindful. Each one, I hope made the recipients simile but also made me feel that I had helped someone. Research suggests that giving acts of kindness can help improve our mental wellbeing.

As you would expect during these extraordinary times, the number of people contacting me for support in my MHFA capacity has increased significantly. But I am also recognising signs of distress when having general chats with friends and colleagues who are experiencing a vast range of Covid related issues from; feelings of inferiority, negativity, lack of physical interaction, fear of further imposed lockdowns, financial worries, health anxiety, resentment of colleagues who are less busy, isolation, helplessness to name a few….. Regardless of the reason it’s not uncommon to encounter feelings of fear, to hear someone say they keep ‘bursting into tears for no reason’, sleeping too much or not at all or they are waking up every morning with an impending sense of doom and hopelessness, unsure how they will get through the day. 

Working on mental wellbeing isn’t easy. First we must accept what is happening and change our mindsets, the human psyche doesn’t like change so we tend to resist it, but we must take these steps to start to feel human again; to rise above the chaos. Many employers, like my own are committed to looking out for employees and being there to provide support and advice when needed. In a world where, even now mental health is so often still overlooked or ignored, I fear for the future.  

During these unprecedented times many people are finding it difficult to keep positive and deal with the uncertainty and array of emotions which are bombarding us every minute of the day. Everyone reacts differently to stressful situations. How you respond to stress during the pandemic can depend on your background, your social support from family or friends, your financial situation, your health and emotional background, the community you live in, your workload and many other factors.

Whether you're concerned about yourself, a colleague or a loved one, don’t delay, these are a small selection of mental health charities, organisations and support groups who can offer expert advice.

Mind

Promotes the views and needs of people with mental health problems.

Phone: 0300 123 3393 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm)

Website: www.mind.org.uk

Samaritans

Confidential support for people experiencing feelings of distress or despair.

Phone: 116 123 (free 24-hour helpline)

Website: www.samaritans.org.uk

SANE

Emotional support, information and guidance for people affected by mental illness, their families and carers. 

Textcare: comfort and care via text message, sent when the person needs it most: www.sane.org.uk/textcare

Peer support forum: www.sane.org.uk/supportforum

Website: www.sane.org.uk/support

YoungMinds

Information on child and adolescent mental health. Services for parents and professionals.

Phone: Parents' helpline 0808 802 5544 (Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 4pm)

Website: www.youngminds.org.uk