Your mental health is important – it affects how you think, feel and act – both positively and negatively. But much more than that, it affects nearly every element of your life.
How can mental ill health impact your life?
Mental ill health can affect your physical health…
Prolonged anxiety and stress, for example, can cause cardiovascular and digestive issues. They can also weaken your immune system and worsen any other health issues you may have. During periods of mental ill health, we are more likely to make poorer health choices, such as smoking and drinking more, exercising less and choosing unhealthy food options.
Your mental health affects how well you can manage pressure; if you have good mental wellbeing, you can respond more positively to challenges and deal with adversity more effectively. This also reduces the chances of you experiencing stress and helps you bounce back or recover (known as resilience).
Mental ill health impacts your relationships at work and home..
Symptoms make it more challenging to communicate with friends, family and co-workers and often causing you to become isolated from the very people who could support you through tough times.
Poor mental health can also greatly impact productivity – sometimes due to you being absent from work or causing your overall performance in work to fall (known as presenteeism).
It is clear how crucial it is for us to maintain good mental health. Which is why this blog focuses on self-help – what you can do to address any adverse symptoms and how to improve your overall mental wellbeing.
Self-help approaches
Self-help approaches should not be used as a replacement for accessing professional help, and I would always encourage people to seek that help if needed. However, there are many different approaches to self-help, which can be helpful to improve our mental wellbeing if we are feeling low or anxious.
Negative thinking traps
When we are under pressure or start to feel low, we can often fall into negative thinking traps where we can only see adverse outcomes or interpret events negatively. There are a wide range of strategies which address negative thinking – many of which focus on helping us to recognise these thinking traps and how to analyse a situation to bring about a more balanced or logical reaction. We have gathered a few of these activities together for you later in this newsletter.
Worry management
Worry management is a term for various techniques to address worries – these include identifying if they are real or hypothetical worries and setting out worry time to prevent them from taking over your day. Worry management is also linked to problem-solving techniques – which can be used to focus your mind on resolving real issues causing you to worry.
Mood diaries
A mood diary can help you to analyse your moods to see if there is a pattern to the events around the feelings – this can help you to understand what might be triggering your mood. Gratitude, positive or self-esteem journals capture the positives of each day and what you are thankful for – this can also boost your confidence and mood.
Mindfulness
Another area of managing both mood and feelings of anxiety is relaxation and mindfulness. Many different types of apps are available that provide guided audio for you to use. For those who don’t feel comfortable with the deep breathing mindful exercises, yoga or tai chi might be an option. Or simply a nature walk might have a similar effect.
Implementing self-help techniques is not always easy – sometimes, we need help getting started. Consider this a nudge to set aside some time each week to use self-help or plan an activity which boosts your mental health!
Kath Wood
Product & Consultancy Lead – Workplace Training & Consultancy
Upcoming highlights: Don’t miss out!
We’re thrilled to announce a series of exciting events coming your way soon. Mark your calendars for our ‘free-to-attend’ webinars, thoughtfully timed to coincide with key national events like ‘Blue Monday’ (15th Jan) and ‘Time to Talk Day’ (1st Feb).
These webinars aren’t just informative sessions; they’re stepping stones to enhance your understanding and confidence in vital subject areas. Plus, as a bonus, you’ll receive a recorded copy post-webinar, perfect for sharing insights with your colleagues on the day of the event itself.
But that’s not all. We also have a variety of ‘open courses’ lined up over the next few months, with spaces still up for grabs. Don’t miss the chance to broaden your horizons – explore these options now and secure your spot!
Ready to dive into a world of learning and development?
Scroll down to see our full lineup, and book your place today!
| Format: Webinar or course | Title (Simply click on the title to book your spot!) | Date | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinar | From Blue Monday to brighter days: Promoting mental wellbeing at work | 11th January 2024 | 12:30 – 1:30pm |
| Webinar | Unlocking positive mental health: The art of supportive conversations | 25th January 2024 | 12 – 1pm |
| Open course | Suicide First Aid ‘Lite’ | 29th and 30th January 2024 | 10:00 – 11:30am |
| Open course | Mental Health First Aid | 30th Jan, 1st, 6th and 8th February 2024 | 9:30am – 1pm |
| Open course | Mental Wellbeing in the Workplace | 22nd and 23rd February 2024 | 9:30am – 12pm |
| Open course | Mental Health First Aid | 26th, 28th February, 4th and 6th March 2024 | 9:30am – 1pm |
| Open course | Supporting Customers with Poor Mental Health | 14th and 15th March 2024 | 9:30am – 12pm |
We’re here to help…
If you’re looking for more information about our comprehensive training courses, insightful webinars, or valuable resources, we’re just a message away. Don’t hesitate to reach out for any queries or guidance you might need.
Our friendly consultant, Lee Poole, is always ready to assist you with expert advice and support.
Alternatively, complete the short form on the right and Lee or a member of our friendly training team will be in touch!
