Health and Wellbeing News

As the COVID-19 situation is progressing and the Government guidance continues to change, individuals may be feeling anxious. Mental Health support during times like these are paramount, which is why Care first have worked tirelessly to ensure our services remain available 24/7 throughout the pandemic to provide emotional and practical support and ensure we have every aspect of your overall wellbeing covered. Where clinically appropriate Care first are continuing to offer structured counselling through phone and virtual software. At Care first the health and safety of both you the employee and our counselling team are absolutely paramount, any changes to our structured counselling process will be made in line with government guidance.

These services include:

Counselling support

Our team of professionally trained, qualified and BACP Accredited Counsellors are available 24/7 to offer support for personal or workplace related issues. As well as the headline issues surrounding mental health, our Care first counsellors are also trained in dealing with both work and home grievances, bullying & harassment issues, domestic violence, relationships at both home and at work and much more. No matter how big or small the problem may be, our counsellors are here for you to provide you with unbiased support away from the situation. Everyone has very individual needs for support, Care first provides short term focussed counselling, so the Care first Counsellor will assess your circumstances when you call to establish what the most appropriate form of support will be for  you. It might be that you just need a brief conversation with the Counsellor that day, or you may benefit from a few more sessions.

Information Specialists

As control, or the lack of it, can be an influencing factor on the impact of stress. Many individuals identify stress as emotional, however, a lack of control around practical issues can be just as impactful. We have expert advisors that have been trained by Citizens Advice who can provide you with comprehensive answers and assistance on a wide range of practical issues which can affect our daily life, these include but are not limited to; redundancy, advice on funerals and probate, legal information, housing and tenancy issues, childcare, eldercare, health, consumer issues, employment, travel and education. Our Information Specialists are also money trained experts and can provide support with a variety of financial queries such as help with budgeting finances and advice with benefits. You can speak with one of our Information Specialists confidentially Monday-Friday between 8am-8pm.

Management Support

If you are a manager, have leadership responsibilities, or look after a team within your organisation, it is as important as ever that your colleagues are made aware of the range of support available from Care first. As well as supporting you to signpost your colleagues to the Care first service effectively to maintain your managerial boundaries, Care first can also provide you with support within your role as a manager. Care first Counsellors are all management trained and can provide support with issues such as if the organisation is going through a period of redundancy, managing change and difficult conversations, workplace performance, remote working, absence management and disciplinary.

Care first Lifestyle

Through the Care first lifestyle site you can access a wide range of supportive information, read helpful articles published by our team, view Webinars covering a variety of well-being topics and even speak with a Care first Counsellor in real-time via our online counselling facility. You can log into your account by visiting www.carefirstlifestyle. co.uk and logging in using your organisation’s unique log in details. If you are unsure what these details are then please contact your line manager or HR department. The Care first Lifestyle website is great place to go to learn more about Care first and the different areas that we can support in.

How all of these above services link together

As you can see from the above table, all the services that we offer complement each other to ultimately encompass an individual’s overall mental and physical wellbeing, which enables individuals to access professional and clinically proven support.

Our counselling support is available 24/7 to help individuals with any emotional issues that they may have. Our Information Specialists can help individuals with practical information and advice. This practical support is so important because if an individual is concerned about a practical issue, then this can cause detrimental effects to their emotional wellbeing. By getting some support from an Information Specialist this will provide the individual with some clarity on that particular issue, which may help them to feel more in control of a situation and relieve some anxiety.

The Care first Lifestyle site can help individuals who are concerned about an issue. The individual may not know where to start and they can have a look at the resources on our Lifestyle website which may be enough to help them. The Lifestyle website is a great starting place to learn about the types of issues that Care first can support with. The individual can also access our online counselling tool through the Lifestyle website which is an alternative way to access support from a counsellor. By an individual looking through all the resources on our Lifestyle website this can help them to get answers about an issue they may be having. Again by getting some clarity on their issue this may have a positive effect on their mental wellbeing.

If you would like to learn more about ‘How Care first can support you’ then please join our webinar on Monday 20th September at 12pm using the details below –

https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/84470398346574094

If you are unable to join the webinar live, a recording of the session can be accessed using the same link above after the webinar has taken place.

If you wish to contact the Care first telephone counselling and information line then please don’t hesitate to call the Freephone number provided by your organisation and you can speak to a professional in confidence.

In 2020 the law around organ donation in England changed to an opt-out system, to enable more people to save more lives. This means that unless you choose to opt out, or are in an excluded group, you will be considered to have agreed to be an organ donor when you die.

Those excluded will be people under 18, people who lack mental capacity to understand the new arrangements and take the necessary action, people who have lived in England for less than 12 months or who are not living here voluntarily.

Although the system has changed, organ donation remains your choice and families will still be involved before organ donation goes ahead.

Your family can override your decision, so it’s important that you talk with them about organ donation and whether you’d want to be a donor. That way, if your family are ever involved in discussions about organ donation, they will have the certainty to support your decision at a difficult time.

If you don’t have family, or want to ask someone else to support your decision, such as a faith leader, your GP or a good friend, you can nominate a representative instead.

Every day in the UK, someone dies waiting for an organ transplant, because there just aren’t enough organ donors.

There are currently more than 5000 people waiting for an organ transplant in the UK, and while more people from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds are receiving transplants than ever before, Black and Asian patients still wait longer than white patients for a transplant.

Although people can receive a transplant from someone of any ethnicity, the best match will often come from a donor of the same ethnicity.

Only around 5000 people across the UK each year die in circumstances where they could donate their organs.

If you want to donate your organs after you die you could save and improve the lives of up to nine people, and help even more if you donate tissue such as heart valves, skin, bone, tendons and corneas.

We know many people don’t want to think about their own death. But patients waiting for a transplant depend on people of all ages thinking about whether they want to save lives when they die and registering their decision to become a donor.

If you want to save lives, your age and any medical conditions you have, should not stop you from signing up as a donor and talking to your family about your decision to donate.

We need as many people as possible to register their decision whether or not they want to be an organ donor. That way if someone dies in circumstances where their organs or tissue could be used to help others, authorised NHS staff can see what they wanted to happen.

The best way to make your decision known is to record it on the NHS Organ Donor Register and tell your loved ones. There are tips on the organ donation website which could help start the conversation.

Useful Links:

• Why Should I Become An Organ Donor
• How Do I Register As An Organ Donor
• How Does Organ Donation Work
• What Is The Organ Transplant Waiting List
• How Does Organ Transplant Surgery Work
• How Does Organ Donation Happen When You Die

Find out about organ donation across the rest of the UK

Scotland website https://www.organdonationscotland.org/law-change

Ireland https://www.organdonation.nhs.uk/uk-laws/organ-donation-law-in-northern-ireland/

Crown Dependencies page https://www.organdonation.nhs.uk/uk-laws/organ-donation-law-in-crown-dependencies/

There are times when we all feel the strain. As parents and carers, there are ways we can support children and young people to give them the best chance to stay mentally healthy. Parents and carers play an important role in teaching children and young people how to understand and manage their feelings as they grow up.

Research tells us that as many as three children in every primary school class has a mental health problem. This is an issue which is growing and remember, these are only the reported number of diagnosed cases, as not every child has a diagnosis and many struggle in silence for fear of being seen “differently” to their peers. At a young age, difference matters and so many struggle to conform to what they think is the norm, or the way they should be. If there is a problem within the home, or the young person is subjected to bullying, it is likely they will keep quiet and not reach out for support.

Of concern is that around 70% of children and young people who experience a mental health problem have not had appropriate interventions at a sufficiently early age. And this could be to do with being afraid to speak out, to express or understand their feelings and also not to appear “different” to those around them. Children’s mental health like adults should be given the same importance as their physical health.

In schools, children and young people are taught about a healthy lifestyle that includes; good nutrition, exercise, social contact etc. all vital to our physical wellbeing. It is equally as important for them to be taught also about “difference”, about speaking out, expressing their feelings and of course being kind – not just to others, but to themselves. Thankfully, this is now being recognised more widely within schools. There is however, stigma around mental health so it is useful to encourage youngsters to speak out, to be heard and to talk about their feelings.

Common issues which can impact a child or young person’s mental health:

• Having a long-term physical illness
• Having a parent who has had mental health problems, problems with alcohol or has been in trouble with the law
• Experiencing the death of someone close to them
• Having parents who separate or divorce
• Having been severely bullied, or physically or sexually abused
• Living in poverty or being homeless
• Experiencing discrimination, perhaps because of their race, sexuality or religion
• Acting as a carer for a relative, taking on adult responsibilities
• Having long-standing educational difficulties.

Things that can help children and young people’s mental wellbeing include:

• Being in good physical health, eating a balanced diet and getting regular exercise
• Having time and the freedom to play, indoors and outdoors
• Being part of a family that gets along well most of the time
• Going to a school that looks after the wellbeing of all its pupils
• Taking part in local activities for young people.

Other factors are also important, including:

• Feeling loved, trusted, understood, valued and safe
• Being interested in life and having opportunities to enjoy themselves
• Being hopeful and optimistic
• Being able to learn and having opportunities to succeed
• Accepting who they are and recognising what they are good at
• Having a sense of belonging in their family, school and community
• Feeling they have some control over their own life

There is help available to children and young people and this includes:

• Help and support from professionals
• Schools
• Parents
• GP advice
• Being able to talk through their thoughts and feelings in a safe and confidential setting
• Child focused organisations
• Clubs and groups

Organisations and supportive information that can help:

• www.childline.org.uk
• www.place2be.org.uk
• youngminds.org.uk
• www.headstogether.org.uk/partners/charity-partners/
• www.nhs.uk/mental-health/nhs-voluntary-charity-services/nhs-services/children-youngpeople-
• mental-health-services-cypmhs-parents-carers-information/

If you feel you may need some support, you can contact Care first. Care first is a leading provider of confidential professional counselling, information and advice services. All employees are eligible to use Care first and our services include; telephone counselling, information services and online support. Call Care first on the Freephone number provided by your organisation and you can speak to a professional in confidence.

If you would like to view the Webinar on ‘Children, Teenager and Young People’s Mental Health Awareness’ this is being delivered live on Friday 17th September at 12pm, please use the below link to register for this session –

https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/1290624758257704203

If you are unable to join the webinar live, a recording of the session can be accessed using the same link above after the webinar has taken place.

As the COVID-19 guidance continues to change, individuals may be feeling anxious, particularly about their finances. Many of us are facing uncertain times and may be worried with Christmas fast approaching. Mental Health support during times like these are paramount, which is why Care first have worked tirelessly to ensure our services remain available 24/7 throughout the pandemic to provide emotional and practical support and ensure we have every aspect of your overall wellbeing covered.

Financial tips in the run up to Christmas

• Try not to plan the perfect Christmas – Work out what you can afford and then plan Christmas with your budget in mind. You could use the budgeting tool that is on page 2 of this article to help you with this. Sometimes it may be easy to think about having a brilliant Christmas and worrying about how much it costs next year. This could lead to trouble. After all Christmas is one day and you could end up paying for that one day for the whole of next year for example.
• Make a list – Impulse buying can add up and become expensive. Once you have your budget make a list and stick to it. This way you will get everything you need and you should stay within the budget you have set yourself.
• Avoid buying unnecessary gifts if you can – You could suggest not doing Christmas presents this year with friends and extended family members for example. Sometimes by you buying a gift for someone else they feel obligated to buy something back for around the same value. This could put a burden on them as well because they may be struggling financially.
• Think outside of the box – If you do still want to exchange presents with friends and extended family maybe there is another way of doing it, such as a secret Santa with a £10 limit on what you buy for example. Then everyone will only have to buy one gift and everyone will each receive a gift too.
• Utilise presents from last year – Maybe you received a present last year or a gift during the year that you did not really want or need. You could re-give this to someone else who may really appreciate it.

• Use cashback websites – You could shop via cashback websites to buy gifts from for Christmas. These websites usually give you a small percentage back just for going through their website. Make sure you do your reading on these first and be careful of scams. For more information on Cashback websites visit: https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/shopping/cashback-websites/

The Care first Budgeting Calculator
(Available at https://carefirst-lifestyle.co.uk/extranet/at-home/finances/budgeting-calculator)

How to use the Care first budgeting tool:

If you would like to try the Care first budgeting calculator this can be accessed using the link at the top of this page.
You will then need to enter your organisations unique login details, if you are unsure of your organisations login
details then check with your HR team or line manager. Once you have logged in then you can complete your details
on the above forms (all information is held confidentially). Once you have completed this your results will then appear
on the below form, helping you to budget your finances to a weekly, 4 weekly or monthly amount. You could use this
tool to help you to start to take control of your own finances.

Understand your current thoughts towards your finances

There are no right or wrong answers to the five questions below. Instead, use them as an indicator of whether you need to change something in your life or if you feel they are spiralling out of control.

1. Do you ever feel guilty about spending money? If so, think about why that could be.
2. Are you often worried about the amount of money that you have?
3. Do you feel comfortable talking about money with loved ones?
4. How happy are you to open a bill, or would you hide it and put it off?
5. If you are struggling to make repayments, how does it make you feel to speak to a professional to get help?

If you are experiencing problems with finances or dealing with debt, you can also contact Care first. Care first are an independent, leading provider of professional employee support services. Care first employ professionally qualified Counsellors and Information Specialists, who are experienced in helping people to deal with all kinds of practical and emotional issues. We recognise that having money worries and/ or being in debt can make you feel isolated, scared and anxious. It has a negative effect on your work, your health and your family. Making that initial request for help is always the most difficult – but once you have made that initial call you have taken the first step towards getting the right help to a better quality of life. Care first Counsellors are available 24/7 to support you with the emotional impact of financial difficulties.

Most people delay dealing with their money problems longer than they should. Finances are a core part of our lives and can be the root of many issues. Asking for help early on may help prevent problems later down the line. A good starting point would be to talk it all through confidentially with an Information Specialist at Care first, who will help you make informed choices about what to do and how to do it. Care first Information Specialists are not Financial Advisors but are money trained experts, so whether you are at breaking point and need ongoing guidance to resolve debts, or just have a simple question – our Information Specialists are here to help with a range of issues, some of which include; debt, budgeting, rent/mortgage arrears, reduced income, tax, benefits and many more.

All employees are eligible to use Care first, our services include; telephone counselling, information services and online support. Call Care first on the Freephone number provided by your organisation and you can speak to a professional in confidence.

If you would like to view the Webinar on ‘Budgeting for Christmas’ this is being delivered live on Thursday 16th September at 12pm, please use the below link to register for this session –

https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/4957681854398206477

If you are unable to join the webinar live, a recording of the session can be accessed using the same link
above after the webinar has taken place.

Good quality sleep is critical to both our physical and mental health and the effective functioning of our immune system. It also aids our emotional wellness and can have positive impacts on stress, depression, and anxiety.

You may have suffered from Insomnia or had sleeping problems before the COVID-19 pandemic, or this may be the first time you are experiencing difficulty with sleeping. Unfortunately the pandemic may have created a variety of new challenges for us, which in turn can affect our anxiety levels, our sleeping patterns and the quality of sleep we are able to get.

The Sleep Foundation advises that the challenges which may cause an adverse effect to our sleep include:

• Disruption to our daily life and usual routines
• Anxiety and worry
• Depression and Isolation
• Family and Work stress
• Excess screen time
• Stress-related fatigue

Understanding Sleep:

Sleep expert Dr Lindsay Browning explains that sleep is controlled by our circadian rhythm, which is our internal 24 hour clock. This helps us be alert during the day and sleepy at night. It is usually regulated by daily cues such as exposure to daylight, when we eat our meals, when we exercise and other things. When we stay indoors for a long period of time, we lose many of these cues. For example, especially due to social distancing and isolation we may not go outside to get daylight, making our circadian rhythm less robust. Also, if we are not as physically active during the day and eating our meals at different times, our circadian rhythm may not know the difference between day and night as clearly. In addition, when we experience depression (as many people may be feeling low due to the current COVID-19 situation), this can be associated with insomnia (not sleeping well) or hypersomnia (sleeping too much).

It is therefore really important to ensure that we establish a routine at home to give our bodies a sense of normality, which in turn can promote a consistent sleep schedule. Sleep-specific aspects of your daily schedule should include:

• Wake-Up Time: Set your alarm, avoid using the snooze button and have a fixed time to start each day.
• Wind-Down Time: This is an important time to relax and get ready for bed. It can involve things like light reading, stretching, and meditating along with preparations for bed like putting on pyjamas and brushing your teeth. Given the stress of the coronavirus pandemic, it is wise to give yourself a little extra wind-down time each night.
• Bedtime: Pick a consistent time to actually turn out the lights and try to fall asleep.

In addition to time spent sleeping and getting ready for bed, it can be helpful to incorporate steady routines that provide us with cues throughout the day, including:

• Showering and getting dressed even if you aren’t leaving the house.
• Eating meals at the same time each day.
• Blocking off specific time periods for work, breaks and exercise.

Follow these basic tips for getting a good night’s sleep:

• Keep regular hours – Going to bed and getting up at roughly the same time, all the time, will programme your body to sleep better.
• Create a restful sleeping environment – Your bedroom should be kept for rest and sleep. It should be neither too hot, nor
• too cold, and as quiet and dark as possible.
• Make sure your bed is comfortable – It’s difficult to get deep, restful sleep on one that’s too soft, too hard, too small or too old.
• Take more exercise (where possible) – Regular exercise such as walking or home workouts can help relieve the day’s
• stresses and strains. But not too close to bedtime or it may keep you awake!
• Cut down on stimulants – such as caffeine in tea or coffee, especially in the evening. They interfere with falling asleep and prevent deep sleep. Have a hot milky drink or herbal tea instead.
• Don’t over-indulge – Too much food or alcohol, especially late at night just before bedtime, can play havoc with sleep
• patterns.
• Avoid smoking – Yes, it’s bad for sleep, too! Smokers take longer to fall asleep, wake more often and often experience
• more sleep disruption.
• Try to relax before going to bed – Have a warm bath, listen to some quiet music or do some yoga to help relax your mind
• and body.
• Make jobs lists – Deal with worries or a heavy workload by making lists of things to be tackled the next day.
• Switch off devices at least an hour before bed – Many people are also affected by the blue light emitted from laptops,
• tablets and smartphones and can be addicted to playing games, scrolling through social media, or watching videos close to bedtime.
• If you can’t sleep – don’t spend more than 20 minutes trying to get to sleep; get up and do something relaxing until you
• feel sleepy again – then go back to bed.

If you are experiencing problems sleeping and feel you may need some support, you can contact Care first. Care first is a leading provider of confidential, professional counselling, information and advice services. All employees are eligible to use Care first, our services include; telephone counselling, information services and online support. Call Care first on the Freephone number provided by your organisation and you can speak to a professional in confidence.

Useful Links for more tips and information:

• www.carefirst-lifestyle.co.uk
• https://www.sleepfoundation.org/sleep-guidelines-covid-19-isolation
• https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/sleep-and-tiredness/how-to-get-to-sleep/
• https://troublesleeping.co.uk/

If you would like to view the Webinar on ‘Benefits of a good night’s sleep’ it is being delivered live on Tuesday 14th September at 12pm, please use the following link to register for this session –

https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/4292320089430757899

If you are unable to join the webinar live, a recording of the session can be accessed using the same link above after the webinar has taken place.

As the COVID-19 situation is progressing and the Government guidance continues to change, individuals may be feeling anxious. Mental Health support during times like these are paramount, which is why Care first have worked tirelessly to ensure our services remain available 24/7 throughout the pandemic to provide emotional and practical support and ensure we have every aspect of your overall wellbeing covered. Where clinically appropriate Care first are continuing to offer structured counselling through phone and virtual software. At Care first the health and safety of both you the employee and our counselling team are absolutely paramount, any changes to our structured counselling process will be made in line with government guidance.

These services include:

Counselling support

Our team of professionally trained, qualified and BACP Accredited Counsellors are available 24/7 to offer support for personal or workplace related issues. As well as the headline issues surrounding mental health, our Care first counsellors are also trained in dealing with both work and home grievances, bullying & harassment issues, domestic violence, relationships at both home and at work and much more. No matter how big or small the problem may be, our counsellors are here for you to provide you with unbiased support away from the situation. Everyone has very individual needs for support, Care first provides short term focussed counselling, so the Care first Counsellor will assess your circumstances when you call to establish what the most appropriate form of support will be for  you. It might be that you just need a brief conversation with the Counsellor that day, or you may benefit from a few more sessions.

Information Specialists

As control, or the lack of it, can be an influencing factor on the impact of stress. Many individuals identify stress as emotional, however, a lack of control around practical issues can be just as impactful. We have expert advisors that have been trained by Citizens Advice who can provide you with comprehensive answers and assistance on a wide range of practical issues which can affect our daily life, these include but are not limited to; redundancy, advice on funerals and probate, legal information, housing and tenancy issues, childcare, eldercare, health, consumer issues, employment, travel and education. Our Information Specialists are also money trained experts and can provide support with a variety of financial queries such as help with budgeting finances and advice with benefits. You can speak with one of our Information Specialists confidentially Monday-Friday between 8am-8pm.

Management Support

If you are a manager, have leadership responsibilities, or look after a team within your organisation, it is as important as ever that your colleagues are made aware of the range of support available from Care first. As well as supporting you to signpost your colleagues to the Care first service effectively to maintain your managerial boundaries, Care first can also provide you with support within your role as a manager. Care first Counsellors are all management trained and can provide support with issues such as if the organisation is going through a period of redundancy, managing change and difficult conversations, workplace performance, remote working, absence management and disciplinary.

Care first Lifestyle

Through the Care first lifestyle site you can access a wide range of supportive information, read helpful articles published by our team, view Webinars covering a variety of well-being topics and even speak with a Care first Counsellor in real-time via our online counselling facility. You can log into your account by visiting www.carefirstlifestyle. co.uk and logging in using your organisation’s unique log in details. If you are unsure what these details are then please contact your line manager or HR department. The Care first Lifestyle website is great place to go to learn more about Care first and the different areas that we can support in.

How all of these above services link together

As you can see from the above table, all the services that we offer complement each other to ultimately encompass an individual’s overall mental and physical wellbeing, which enables individuals to access professional and clinically proven support.

Our counselling support is available 24/7 to help individuals with any emotional issues that they may have. Our Information Specialists can help individuals with practical information and advice. This practical support is so important because if an individual is concerned about a practical issue, then this can cause detrimental effects to their emotional wellbeing. By getting some support from an Information Specialist this will provide the individual with some clarity on that particular issue, which may help them to feel more in control of a situation and relieve some anxiety.

The Care first Lifestyle site can help individuals who are concerned about an issue. The individual may not know where to start and they can have a look at the resources on our Lifestyle website which may be enough to help them. The Lifestyle website is a great starting place to learn about the types of issues that Care first can support with. The individual can also access our online counselling tool through the Lifestyle website which is an alternative way to access support from a counsellor. By an individual looking through all the resources on our Lifestyle website this can help them to get answers about an issue they may be having. Again by getting some clarity on their issue this may have a positive effect on their mental wellbeing.

If you would like to learn more about ‘How Care first can support you’ then please join our webinar on Monday 13 th September at 12pm using the details below –

https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/8452072743936286736

If you are unable to join the webinar live, a recording of the session can be accessed using the same link above after the webinar has taken place.

If you wish to contact the Care first telephone counselling and information line then please don’t hesitate to call the Freephone number provided by your organisation and you can speak to a professional in confidence.

World Suicide Prevention Day takes place on Friday, 10th September 2021 and this year the international theme is ‘Creating hope through action’. The focus will be on the complicated idea of ‘hope’ in suicide prevention.

There will be a social media toolkit for members and anyone else interested

With 5,691 suicides registered in England and Wales in 2019 (provisional figures), this day is not just important, it is crucial. United, we can all work to reduce shame, stigma and silence and help with not just awareness but also have an impact on the rate of suicides.

The International Association for Suicide Prevention gives everyone, globally, the chance to help raise suicide awareness and prevention.

We observe World Suicide Prevention Day each year on September 10. It’s a growing problem and the numbers tell a grim story. Every 40 seconds someone takes their own life according to the World Health Organization (WHO). That’s about 800,000 people worldwide every year — although some estimates put that number closer to 1 million. Suicide is the leading cause of death for people aged 15 to 29 and for every suicide that results in death, there are as many as 40 attempted suicides.

Creating Hope Through Action’ is a reminder that there is an alternative to suicide and aims to inspire confidence and light in all of us; that our actions, no matter how big or small, may provide hope to those who are struggling. Preventing suicide is often possible and we are all key player in its prevention. Through action, you can make a difference to someone in their darkest moments – as a member of society, as a child, as a parent, as a friend, as a colleague or as a neighbour. We can all play a role in supporting those experiencing a suicidal crisis or those bereaved by suicide.

With the growing awareness of Mental Health and Mental Illness MHFA (England) are keen to promote the work of Mental Health First Aiders and establish their role within the working organisations, the aim being to raise awareness of Mental Illness and reduce stigma which surrounds this sensitive subject. MHFAiders are trained to Approach, Assess and Assist until professional help arrives (if appropriate). They are training to listen and give support in crisis and this often relates to those experience thoughts of suicide where they are feeling desperate and despairing.

The factors and causes that lead to suicide are complex and many. No single approach works for everyone. What we do know is that there are certain factors and life events that may make someone more vulnerable to suicide and mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression can also be a contributing factor. People who are suicidal may feel trapped or like a burden to their friends, family and those around them and feel as if they are alone and have no other options. The COVID-19 Pandemic has contributed to increased feelings of isolation and vulnerability. By creating hope through action, we can enable people experiencing suicidal thoughts that there is hope and that we care and want to support them.

All of us can play a role, no matter how small. We may never know what we do that makes a difference. We all can reach in and ask somebody. You do not need to tell them what to do or have solutions, but simply making the time and space to listen to someone about their experiences of distress or suicidal thoughts can help

If you would like to view the Webinar on “World Suicide Prevention Day” this is being delivered live on Friday 10th September at 12pm, please use the below link to register for this session –

https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/4319813377526968847

If you are unable to join the webinar live, a recording of the session can be accessed via your organisations Lifestyle site on www.carefirst-lifestyle.co.uk and entering your organisations username and password

World Suicide Prevention Day is an awareness day observed on 10th September every year. This year’s theme is ‘Creating Hope Through Action’.

‘Creating Hope Through Action’ is a reminder that there is an alternative to suicide and aims to inspire confidence and light in all of us. To remind us that our actions, no matter how big or small, may provide hope to those who are struggling.

Preventing suicide is often possible and through action, you can make a difference to someone in their darkest moments – as a member of society, as a child, as a parent, as a friend, as a colleague or as a neighbour. We can all play a role in supporting those experiencing a suicidal crisis or those bereaved by suicide.

Over 703,000 people worldwide die from suicide each year yet there is still stigma and uncertainty around suicide. Take Time To Reach Out – World Suicide Prevention Day is a really useful document highlighting the warning signs to look for and how you can help. Taking time to reach out to someone in your community – A family member, friend, colleague or even a stranger – Could change the course of another’s life.

Remember, you don’t have to have all the answers, just being there can be enough.

If you or someone you know is struggling there are various resources available through the University:

• Mental Health One Stop Shop – As the name suggests it is a place where staff can go to find lots of resources for Mental Health Support
• Occupational Health’s Health & Wellbeing Website – Again there are a lot of resources available here with links to the various others we have. We have a Did You Know? news page sharing information as well as a wellbeing blog.
• University Staff Wellbeing Yammer Community – A place for all staff to share resources and provide support. It also has all our support pages pinned for handy convenience.
• Employee Assistance Programme – This is provided for us by Care First. They offer support across a wide variety of issues whether it be financial, stress, loss, etc. The support is also available both on the phone or online.

The University also has a group of Mental Health Allies.

For support outside of the University:

• Samaritans – https://www.samaritans.org/
• Mental Health Matters – https://www.mhm.org.uk/
• Mind – https://www.mind.org.uk/
• Rethink – https://www.rethink.org/

According to the UK Government’s statistics, almost 43 million people have now been fully vaccinated and 91 million people have had their first dose of the Covid-19 vaccination. However, it has since been shared in the media that there may be the need for a third booster in order for the vaccination to remain effective.

Phase 3: Who will need a third booster and when?

The most vulnerable people to Covid-19 could be offered a third booster of the vaccination from September 2021, this is known as ‘Phase 3’ of the vaccination programme. This is to protect people at the beginning of winter from any new variants that could spread, following the advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation. This programme will take place alongside the flu vaccination programme that occurs before the winter months.

Stage 1. The following people should be offered a third COVID-19 booster vaccine and the annual influenza vaccine as soon as possible from September 2021:

• Adults aged 16 years and over who are immunosuppressed.
• Those living in residential care homes for older adults.
• All adults aged 70 years or over.
• Adults aged 16 years and over who are considered clinically extremely vulnerable.
• Frontline health and social care workers.

Stage 2. The following people should be offered a third COVID-19 booster vaccine as soon as practicable after stage 1 with equal emphasis on deployment of the influenza vaccine where eligible:

• All adults aged 50 years and over.
• All adults aged 16 to 49 years who are in an influenza or COVID-19 at-risk group as outlined in the Green Book.
• Adult household contacts of immunosuppressed individuals.

Should you feel anxious about getting the vaccine?

The Covid-19 vaccine seems to be the topic of a lot of conversations across the world right now. With these discussions, comes fake news, varied opinions and anxiety. Here are some tips to help reduce anxiety when booking and attending your vaccination booster:

1. Focus on and remember why you are choosing to get the Covid-19 vaccine. COVID-19: Vaccine Booster Anxiety The vaccine could save lives and could save your own. It has been rigorously tested and has been had by millions of others across the UK for these reasons. Getting the vaccine could benefit your friends, family and the wider community in remaining safe from Covid-19.
2. If you are feeling anxious, use breathing techniques to calm down.
3. Talk to your GP about the vaccine. A GP will know exactly about the production process of the vaccine and any side effects that may occur. They can also explain how to book your vaccine and what to expect when you attend your appointment.
4. Remember that having the vaccine is your choice and is not compulsory, you can take your time with your decision.

Care first can help support you

If you are feeling anxious and in need of support, you can call the Care first Freephone line as much as you like, at any time. The line is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, every day of the year. Our Lifestyle website can also provide support and can provide access to our online counselling service. In addition to this, the website has a Covid-19 section full of useful webinars and articles for you to explore.

More information

If you would like to hear more about this topic, please join our live Webinar on ‘Covid-19: Vaccination Booster Anxiety’ on Thursday 9th September at 12:00pm-12:30pm. To register, please use the following link –

https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/7592687858485884688

If you are unable to join the webinar live, a recording of the session can be accessed using the same link above after the webinar has taken place.

If you feel you may need some support, you can contact Care first. Care first is a leading provider of confidential, professional counselling, information and advice services. All employees are eligible to use Care first, our services include; telephone counselling, information services and online support. Call Care first on the Freephone number provided by your organisation and you can speak to a professional in confidence.