Topics for this month:
Stress Awareness Month –
April 2019
Stress Awareness Month has
been held every April, since 1992 to increase public awareness about both the
causes and cures for our modern stress epidemic.
According to the Mental Health Foundation, 74% of UK adults have felt so
stressed at some point over the last year, they felt overwhelmed or unable to
cope.
What can you do for Stress Awareness Month?
- Talk about stress and its effects – work together to reduce the stigma that is associated with stress by talking about the topic openly and freely with friends, family and colleagues.
- Share your coping mechanisms – if something has worked for you, why not share it. It might benefit someone you care about and in the meantime it might help you take your focus off your own challenges.
- Be nice to those who are stressed and anxious – we are all undoubtedly going to experience stress and anxiety in our lifetime so treat others going through it with compassion and empathy.
- Look after yourself – we all need to think more about self–care. Take time out of your day to relax or do something that you enjoy. Don’t forget to exercise and eat well, even when you feel too stressed.
Mental Health Toolkit for Employers
There has been a lot written about how to tackle ill mental health and promote wellbeing in the workplace. Business in the community has partnered with Public Health England to produce a free, online toolkit, to help every organisation support the mental health and wellbeing of its employees.
Click here for more information;
E Safety Cards for Social Media
We have attached a number of e-safety cards produced by Ineqe to raise awareness of how young people can keep themselves safe online. The cards focus on a number of social media platforms such as: YouTube; Whatsapp; Instagram; Facebook; Twitter; Twitch; TickTok; Snapchat; and Kik, and outline the different privacy settings that can be set so that young people only talk to those that they know and trust.
Click here for more information;
Click here for more information;
Click here for more information;
Click here for more information;
Click here for more information;
Click here for more information;
Click here for more information;
Click here for information;
Helpline for Grief and Bereavement
Grief Encounter is one of the UK’s leading
bereaved child charities, providing free, pioneering services and support to
bereaved children, young people and their families.
On average one child in every classroom will experience the death of a parent
or sibling before they reach 16 years of age; 44,000 dependent children bereaved
a year. Adolescent grief has a devastating impact that can last for life, with
research showing links to mental health issues, social and behavioural problems
and more.
Grief Encounter offers a flexible and accessible service, which aims to professionally
care and respond to bereaved children, young people and their families via
counselling, group activities, family fun days, residential camps and
interactive online services.
Phone: 0808 802 0111 (Free to call; Monday – Friday 9am – 9pm)
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://www.griefencounter.org.uk/
ConnectFutures
ConnectFutures are an organisation that provides
independent expertise on radicalisation, extremism, terrorism and violence.
They have produced an insightful short video telling the story of the Woolwich
boys – a largely Somali-led south London street gang involved in county lines
drug distribution. In 2015, police monitoring criminal gang activity first
became aware of a possible radicalisation crossover after 20 members and
associates of the Woolwich Boys were known to have travelled to Syria.
Watch the video: https://www.connectfutures.org/new-film-woolwich-boys-gangs-extremism-september-2017/
For further information about ConnectedFutures, please visit their website: https://www.connectfutures.org/
What is ADHD?
Attention deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD), is when a person can have lots of energy and find it difficult to concentrate and learn. It can also be hard to control speech and actions, for example talking too much, being restless and doing things on impulse without thinking first.
ADHD is the most common behavioural disorder in children and young people, symptoms usually become noticeable between the ages of 3 and 7.We don’t know what causes ADHD but experts think it runs in families, it could also be caused by an imbalance in brain chemicals. A related condition, ADD (attention deficit disorder) has similar symptoms, but there is less hyperactivity and the main problem is difficulty concentrating.
What to do about ADHD: Take the first step
If you feel a learner is struggling with ADHD encourage them to talk to someone they are comfortable with and trust, for example a Tutor, relative, counsellor or friend.
Support is available from their GP, who may offer to refer the child or young person to the child and adolescent mental health service (CAMHS). There is no set test for ADHD instead they can talk to an expert i.e. a psychiatrist or specialist paediatrician to find out the best way to help.
Treating ADHD
Medication, behavioural therapy, counselling, family meetings and special educational support can all help children and young people with ADHD.
Young people can be given medication, children under 5 should not be given ADHD medication. Psychological therapy can also be offered on a one-to-one basis, older children may be offered group sessions to help with their social skills and behaviour.
For more information, please access: https://youngminds.org.uk/find-help/conditions/adhd-and-mental-health/
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