For many of us, with the recent Government announcements, the thought of coming out of our bubbles of isolation to return to the workplace may now be playing on our mind, some may have already returned. For many working from home, or being on furlough has been the reality for the last few months. With the unpredictability of COVID-19 and ever changing guidelines the idea of returning to work can be a daunting one.

It is natural to be concerned about this return to work, you may find yourself questioning; will it be safe? What measures have been put in place? Will my colleagues be considerate of social distancing? Will my employer make me come in? These anxieties are understandable, below are some tips to consider to help ease some of them.

Speak with your manager

Speak with your manager and share your anxieties around your return to work. Make them aware that you’re feeling anxious and tell them what about.

If it is a concern about social distancing in the workplace, ask about measures taken to ensure social distancing can be adhered to. If it is about the commute in, speak about it as options may be available to explore with your manager to help.

Most of us are feeling the same so don’t be afraid to share these anxieties, speak up!

Be prepared for return to routine

Routine for a lot of us has gone out the window since the pandemic began, but with many returning to work we need to ease our way back in to our old routines to avoid a complete shock to the system.

This means getting your sleep pattern back to where it should be, planning your travel, food etc. ahead of time. Be as productive as you can be at home; complete tasks and do chores to get back in to the swing of being task driven and this will help you structure your days. This will help to ease you back in to your old routine and will help to reduce any anxieties of feeling unprepared.

Look after your general wellbeing

Getting back in to the workplace and back to your usual routine will be strangely disruptive as although it means going back to the norm, we have become adjusted to a new way of life for a considerable period of time.

Try to make time for yourself to exercise either physically or with mindfulness. Eat healthy, drink lots of water and try to ensure you’re getting enough sleep. These things are tips which can help to reduce anxieties in general, including returning to work anxieties. It can also help you establish a routine again.

Know what is available to you

Alongside speaking with your manager, it is important to gain a full understanding of your organisations wellbeing and COVID-19 policies and procedures that are in place. This will help to know your rights when working during a global pandemic.

Be aware of support that is available to you, your company has made the Care first EAP service available to you for support 24/7. You can call the support line at any time if you have anxieties you want to discuss with a counsellor. Alternatively, if you are in need of advice from a more practical standpoint then you can call Care first and speak with an Information Specialist who are available 8am-8pm Mon-Fri. Find out what else is available in terms of support from your company which may help you to overcome any anxieties you may experience.

More 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 ‘Things to consider when returning to the workplace’ this is being delivered live on Friday 21^st May at 12pm, please use the following link to register for this session –

https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/161805645448723215

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.

How can nature benefit my mental health?

Spending time outdoors or bringing nature into your everyday life can benefit both your mental and physical health and wellbeing. For example, doing things like growing food or flowers, exercising outdoors or being around animals can have lots of positive effects. It can:

• improve your mood,
• reduce feelings of stress or anger,
• help you take time out and feel more relaxed,
• improve your physical health
• improve your confidence and self-esteem,
• help you be more active,
• help you make new connections,
• provide peer support.

It has been medically proven that fresh air, doing things to nurture something else as well as yourself helps wellbeing, and provides a focus on something other than ourselves. For example, things like gardening, the act of physically helping something to grow and develop helps us. It gives a sense of purpose and the act of growing means that some type of routine has to be set and worked to. You may not have a large garden and you may even think gardening isn’t for you, but should that initial feeling stop you from trying?

We all have different experiences of nature, and different reasons for wanting to connect with it more – or feeling unsure about whether to try. You might find you get something completely different from one activity compared to someone else.

Nature and mental health problems

Spending time in nature has been found to help with mental health problems including anxiety and depression.

Being outside in natural light can also be helpful if you experience seasonal affective disorder (SAD), a type of depression that affects people during particular seasons or times of the year.

Does Being in Nature Impact Our Wellbeing?

Research reveals that environments can increase or reduce our stress levels, which in turn impacts our bodies. What you are seeing, hearing, experiencing at any moment is changing not only your mood, but how your nervous, endocrine, and immune systems are working.

So, thinking about it and how this could help with so many things, try to answer the questions below:

• Nature heals. How, how could this work for you?
• Nature soothes. How? Maybe this is a place you know like a country walk or sitting on a beach and watching the waves?
• Nature restores. One of the most intriguing areas of current research is the impact of nature on general wellbeing. In one study in “Mind,” 95% of those interviewed said their mood improved after spending time outside, changing from depressed, stressed, and anxious to more calm and balanced
• Nature connects. This experience of connection may be explained by studies that used MRI to measure brain activity. When participants viewed nature scenes, the parts of the brain associated with empathy and love lit up, but when they viewed urban scenes, the parts of the brain associated with fear and anxiety were activated.

This is really a topic that takes time to explore and understand as each person’s experience of it will be individual and will be a personal experience for everyone.

Useful sources & Information:

Some of the information sourced for this article was originally published by Mind. If you would like to access this and further information in more detail please follow the links below –

https://www.mind.org.uk/get-involved/mental-health-awareness-week/

© Mind. This information is published in full at mind.org.uk

How can Care first help?

If you feel you may need some emotional or practical support, you can contact Care first on the Freephone number. Care first is a leading provider of confidential, professional counselling, information and advice services. Whilst our BACP accredited Counsellors are available 24/7 to provide support with emotional issues, our expertly trained Information Specialists are also available 8am-8pm Monday-Friday to provide advice on any practical issues that may be causing you a stress or worry and help you feel more in control of a situation.

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 ‘The benefits of Nature on our Mental Health’ is being delivered live on Thursday 20^th May at 12pm, please use the below link to register for this session –

https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/2648037830852041232

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.

Has Lockdown lifting got you more scared and anxious than excited?

Jamie Windust (editor) spoke to the Independent saying “I think what a lot of people will be feeling, myself included, is a fear of not just getting back to the way we used to live, but the mental struggles that come with working at such a fast pace. In the real world there’s the pressure to work constantly, to exercise, to be seen to be having fun.” Considering this, I guess we need to ask ourselves will some of the new freedoms we found in 2020-2021 be lost again as we jump back onto the roller coaster of “real life”?

For many millions of people, the thought of coming out of lockdown and joining the world again, can be as scary and anxiety provoking than going into our first lockdown in March 2020. Why might this be? Well, consider the “unknown” of the very first lockdown. Questions such as “Is this serious, can I catch it, how can I keep myself and my family safe, how long will it last, I am worried about working from home, will I be able to see my family, what is going to happen longer term?” Now, as we approach the next stage of lockdown lifting and the possibility of the lifting of lockdown completely in June, one could argue that those questions apply again and for many people remain very real concerns.

Fear and anxiety are possibly the most common emotional responses any of us will feel as we approach the release from lockdown. Finding a way to pull ourselves through lockdown took a lot of our emotional energy and we may have found a place that lets us cope, and that we don’t want to leave behind just yet.

Just as it took us time to find ways of coping during the first lockdowns, we should also expect that it will take time to find our way back, and to reconnect with life when at each stage of restriction lifting. Things are very unlikely be the same as they were before. How might they be and how can we prepare and “manage” yet another transition?

The Mental Health Foundation say “mental health tips: about finding routines, staying connected, eating well, and taking exercise apply just as much now as they did at the start of lockdown – arguably even more so as we remain in a period of high stress but with more demands on us.”

Some tips to help us prepare –

Recognise you have choices

Although it might not feel this way, the pandemic has in many ways created more choices, by forcing us all to realise that the established ways of working could be upturned in an instant. “Now there is even more change to consider,” says Cooper-Dickson (accredited coach and founder of mental wealth consultancy, CHAMPS) who believes that we shouldn’t see post-lockdown as a case of automatically and unquestioningly adapting back to our old realities but moving to new ones if the old ways weren’t working. Many organisations may be looking to adopt a more person focussed way to working where people are in the office only two-three days a week, rather than five. Talk with your manager/employer re any concerns you have in relation in return to the office environment. Try to be as honest with them as possible.

Give yourself time

The speed at which each of us adapts will vary from person to person. Cooper-Dickson advises “taking it at your own pace and focusing on what you can control”. Even if the country is on track for all restrictions to be dropped by 21 June, doesn’t mean you have to jump right into social commitments.

“Even though we might be really excited to meet up with friends, we could feel a little out of our comfort zone for a while as we get used to it again.”

Take it at your own pace and focus on what you can control.

Take small steps

Those with continued uncertainty can “look at the small steps you can take to create your own mini routines or structures at home,” when lockdown restrictions are eased,”

The 9-5 may no longer be the norm, but hopefully we will take positives from the pandemic and we can slowly relearn to converse face-to-face, build our confidence back up and return to the “new normal” whatever that may be.

Remember you are not alone

It’s important to remember that you won’t be alone in feeling end-of-lockdown anxiety. There are so many other people who feel exactly as you do. And so try not to be hard on yourself if you are struggling – the pandemic has been, and continues to be, a really significant and disruptive, challenging and “life altering” time of our lives.

How can Care first help?

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.

Useful sources & Information:

Some of the information sourced for this article was originally published by the below links. If you would like to access this and further information in more detail please follow the links below –

• https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/coronavirus/mental-health-tips
• https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/covid-lockdown-anxiety-roadmap-b1808173.html

If you would like to view the Webinar on ‘Easing of Lockdown Anxiety’ this is being delivered live on Wednesday 19th May at 12:00pm, please use the following link to register for this session –

https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/3821907230972324624

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.

Throughout the COVID-19 Pandemic we have endured a sustained period of uncertainty and restrictions which have affected us all. As the COVID-19 cases are reducing the Government has set out a timeline of when restrictions on certain things can be eased which has given many of us hope.

The next easing of restrictions in England is set for May 17^th but what restrictions are being eased? What does it mean and what should we consider as we adjust again to returning to some form of normality?

Up to 6 people from two households indoors

We will now be able to move in from the garden or the park with our group of 6 to the warmth and comfort of our homes. This is a big step as it opens up our ability to resume some normal socialising such as dinners with family or friends and the option to let people stay the night. It may be tempting to allow more than 6 into your home but it is important that you stick with Government guidelines to avoid the spread of COVID-19 so always bear this in mind and plan ahead.

Seating indoors at pubs and restaurants

We can finally come in from eating out in the cold and enjoy a meal in a pub/restaurant’s atmosphere. Although coming into the summer it won’t be long before we are wanting to sit outside again. You will be expected to wear a mask still to get to your table or go to the toilet so be conscious of this – it might be easy to forget the rules after a drink or two and everything may seem like it’s back to normal.

Indoor entertainment can resume

Venues like theatres and cinemas can resume operations. There will still be safety measures in place such as having to wear a mask and abide to social distancing guidelines where possible. There will also probably be spacing between seats so if you’re desperate to go and see an event or a movie make sure you book in advance as it may sell out quicker than usual.

Indoor sports can resume

Sport centres and gyms can now fully open to allow for indoor sports. Although outdoor sports has been allowed for some time, they have been very weather dependant so expect indoor sports to pick back up again quickly.

Consider other people

For many people the prospect of restrictions easing is very exciting and they will be straight out doing the new things they’re now allowed to do. However, not everyone will feel the same. Others will be far more anxious about venturing out and doing these things and some may even opt not to. It is important that we all are considerate of this. Yes, the Government have said we are allowed to do these things and you may be ecstatic to be there, but bear in mind others there may be feeling very cautious and anxious. Maintain distancing boundaries wherever they are, wear a mask where instructed and continue to stick with the restrictions and safety measures that are left in place.

Useful links

There are far many more changes that affect certain events etc. than what has been listed here. If you are unsure on the changes in your area then please do use some of the below links for clarity:

• https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus
• https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2021/05/12/covid-lockdown-roadmap-new-rulesmay-17-dates-when-end/
• https://news.sky.com/story/covid-19-whats-allowed-from-12-april-as-lockdown-easesin-england-12225770

More information

If you would like to view the Webinar on ‘Understanding the new COVID-19 guidelines and things to consider’ is being delivered live on Tuesday 18^th May at 12:00pm, please use the following link to register for this session –

https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/5021384256923815180

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.

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 17^th May 2021 at 12pm using the details below –

https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/7433423596702875404

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.

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:

• https://www.childline.org.uk/
• https://www.place2be.org.uk/
• https://youngminds.org.uk/
• https://www.headstogether.org.uk/partners/charity-partners/
• ttps://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 14^th May at 12pm, please use the below link to register for this session –

https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/7883117255262073612

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.

May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month.

Cancer Research UK – Oxford Centre

In recognition of May being Skin Cancer Awareness Month the Cancer Research UK Oxford Centre will be posting a series of blog posts highlighting the contribution of Oxford researchers to global efforts to tackle Melanoma.

Melanoma is the 5^th most common cancer in the UK, and although it is more common in older people, it is relatively common in younger people. In 2015 about 16,000 people in the UK were diagnosed with melanoma, and within the last decade this number has increased by almost 50%. Over 2,500 of these people will develop advanced disease. Treatment of Advanced Melanoma has recently been transformed by introducing immunotherapies and targeted inhibitors in the treatment of patients who are not cured by surgery.

The British Association Of Dermatologists

The British Association of Dermatologists (BAD) currently runs a national campaign around skin cancer called Sun Awareness, which includes national Sun Awareness Week in May. This campaign is overseen by the BAD’s Skin Cancer Prevention Committee, comprised of leading medical professionals with expertise in skin cancer, vitamin D and public health messaging.

Sun Awareness is the British Association of Dermatologists’ annual campaign to raise awareness of skin cancer. The campaign runs from April to September annually and includes Sun Awareness Week in May. The campaign is two-pronged and combines prevention and detection advice. The first aim is to encourage people to regularly self-examine for skin cancer. The second is to teach people about the dangers of sunburn and excessive tanning, and to discourage people from using sunbeds, in light of the associated risks of skin cancer. In addition to public education about the dangers of sunbed use, the BAD has also been involved in campaigning for legislation to regulate the sunbed industry and is continuing to push towards further and improved regulation.

Useful Resources:

• A Guide To Checking Your Skin
• Are You At Risk
• Know The Facts About Common Skin Cancers
• Save Our Skin
• Sk-index
• Sunscreen and Sun Safety Factsheet
• The ABCDEasy Way To Check Moles

Photo by Luke Braswell on Unsplash

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected millions of people around the world. As the virus spread and people became ill restrictions were put into place to recduce the spread of the virus. This meant all of our lives have been majory disrupted, our social lives restricted, living in isolation or within an intense living situation, with constant reminders of the devastation going on outside.

Since the vaccine rollout it is looking hopeful that we can begin returning to some form of normaility, but what has over a year of this done for our mental health? It is likely that the focus will soon need to shift from our physical health onto our mental health, but how exactly have we been affected?

How is mental health affected by the pandemic?

In a survey it was found that in the UK 69% of surveyed adults were feeling some worry about the effect the pandemic is having on their life, with the main concerns being worried about the future (53%), feeling generally stressed or anxious (56%) and feeling bored (49%).

It has been shown that mental health has worsened from pre-pandemic levels, with different demographic groups being affected differently with young adults and women being hit the hardest. However, mental health symptoms fell in early June when lockdown measures were eased, but for some groups levels of anxiety and depression remained high despite this.

Reaosns for worsening mental health during the pandemic

Social isolation

Social isolation has been a major factor in the pandemic, but surprisingly it has been reported that the levels of people claiming to feel loneliness has not increased all that much since pre-pandemic. However, this is a subjective measure as social isolation can affect people in different ways aside from loneliness. One of those ways is domestic abuse, calls to the national helpline for domestic abuse were 49% higher than usual during the first 3 weeks of lockdown. The social isolation and lockdown also meant that many people didn’t have their usual friends/family that they would usually rely on as coping mechanisms.

Jobs and finances

There has been a huge amount of uncertainty surrounding jobs during the pandemic; as many were furloughed and businesses struggling to stay afloat withouth being open, resulting in over a third of full-time workers surveyed saying they were concerned about losing their job and thus being unable to keep up with rent payments, food etc. The financial stresses causes were just one factor of the affects on mental health. Work can also be a stimulating factor for many and being furloughed or losing a job could put an individual’s mental health at an additional risk.

What will happen moving forwards?

Above are some of the main effects on mental health which many individuals have experienced over the last year, but there are many more that will be felt by different people across the world. The longer lasting knock on effects of the mental health issues experienced during this pandemic will need careful monitoring.

What if you are struggling with your mental health?

As previously mentioned, there are a huge range of consequential effects being felt from the pandemic. If you feel that your mental health has been affected and you would like to speak with a Counsellor for some support, please do make the most of your access to Care first and the support available to you, Counsellors are available 24/7 and they will be able to offer support and provide useful resources that could help you to cope better with the strain from the past year.

More information

If you would like to view the Webinar on ‘How COVID-19 has affected our Mental Health’ this is being delivered live on Thursday 13^th May at 12:00pm, please use the following link to register for this session –

https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/6189437240419049740

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.

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.