Here are some confronting statistics that we think highlight the urgency of the situation:
- 60% of adults and over two thirds of young people said their mental health has been worse during lockdown.
- Over half of adults with no prior experience with ill mental health reported their mental health got worse during this period.
- 9 in 10 people with disabilities, learning difference and long-term illnesses scored lower than the survey average for well-being.
- BAME people were more likely than white people to suffer from mental ill health triggered by challenges with employment, finances, getting physical health support and caring for someone else.
Mental health is constantly evolving, and it is important for us to be open with ourselves and each other about how we are feeling. In order to provide a non-judgemental point of contact for our guardians, to educate our office and to ensure that we have the resources necessary to help anyone who is experiencing mental ill health, our Guardian Services team undertook the Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) course.
Like physical first aid, MHFA has a handy acronym that takes you through the appropriate steps when offering support to someone experiencing mental ill health.
A – Approach, assess and assist the person
L – Listen non-judgementally
G – Give support and information
E – Encourage the person to get professional help
E – Encourage other support
Understanding our frame of reference is really important in everyday interactions, not just when offering MHFA. We all have biases that are built up by our unique experience, and supporting someone non-judgementally means accepting this and setting it aside. Empathy is vital, and we can empathise with someone even if we haven’t experienced what they are going through first-hand. Just being there to listen to someone and giving them space can make all the difference.
A handy technique for anyone experiencing anxiety or a panic attack, is the 5-4-3-2-1. You ask them (or you ask yourself!) to complete the following steps:
5 – take 5 breaths
4 – name/notice 4 things you can see
3 – name/think of 3 things you can touch
2 – say 2 words
1 – how are you feeling?
The stress container is a really simple way of understanding the balance that we all need. We all have different sized containers, but when that container is full it is vital we turn the tap and find a way to relieve the stress.
Direct and open conversation is the only way to properly address a situation. When we say something out loud, we can confront the issue and begin to receive the support we may need. Mental health is spoken about a lot, but this doesn’t make the actual conversation on a personal level any easier. Sometimes we may feel that mental health support is good for other people, but we don’t want to waste resources on our own problems. The truth is there is no problem too small. Sometimes a person needs support and sometimes they offer it.
If you or someone you know is experiencing ill mental health, we highly recommend the following resources as recommended to us by Mental Health First Aid England.
Tel. 116 123 (24/7)
The Samaritans provide a platform for people to talk about feelings of distress and disrepair, whilst providing confidential, offering non-judgemental support. They are an amazing resource with so many ways of supporting people. If you are uncomfortable over the phone they have effective online platforms and other ways of helping.
MIND
Tel. 0300 123 3393
Mind provides and advice and support to empower anyone experiencing a mental health problem. “We won’t give up until everyone experiencing a mental health problem gets support and respect.” Mind has a huge range of local, independent Mind organisations that offer a range of services from therapy to self help groups. Mind also provide great resources for anyone providing support for a person experiencing mental ill health, and offer legal advice.
Tel. 0207 251 5860
Addaction provides free, confidential support to people experiencing issues with drugs, alcohol or mental health. Your borough will have an Addaction arm who can support you. They also have great resources for people who are supporting or looking to support someone else.