Health and Wellbeing News

Mental Health Awareness Week will take place from 10-16 May 2021. It is an annual event when there is an opportunity for the whole of the UK to focus on achieving good mental health.

The Mental Health Foundation started the event 21 years ago. Each year the Foundation continues to set the theme, organise and host the Week. The event has grown to become one of the biggest awareness weeks across the UK and globally.

Mental Health Awareness Week is open to everyone. It is all about starting conversations about mental health and the things in our daily lives that can affect it. The Week is an opportunity for people to talk about all aspects of mental health, with a focus on providing help and advice.

We all deserve to feel safe and supported when talking about our mental health. However, mental health stigma leaves people feeling isolated and ashamed. People feel that they will be treated differently if they are known to be living with a mental illness and, as a result, many keep themselves to themselves because of the fear and at worst, this fear often prevents people getting support, finding employment or having open conversations. One person in every four people will be affected by a mental disorder at some stage of their lives and this is only on reported and diagnosed cases which means, the actual numbers could be so much higher.

It can be beneficial to help understand the term “mental health” to consider the following questions:

• What is mental health?
• What are “mental health problems?”
• What is good mental health?

It is important to take care of ourselves and keep both our bodies and are minds well and healthy and be able to function well especially during all the concerns surrounding the Pandemic.

Making simple changes can help you manage more effectively, but like anything else, we need to practice so think of some simple steps which would help and support your mental health, we have outlined some below to consider –

• Talk about your feelings
• Keep active
• Eat well
• Drink sensibly
• Keep in touch
• Ask for help
• Take a break
• Do something you’re good at
• Accept who you are
• Care for others

How many of the things in the list do you do? Remember that it is good to talk about our mental health. 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 links for information:

If you would like to access further information about Mental Health Awareness week 2021 in more detail please follow the links listed here –

• https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/campaigns/mental-health-awareness-week
• https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/campaigns/mental-health-awareness-week/faqs
• https://www.mind.org.uk/get-involved/mental-health-awareness-week/

If you would like to watch the Webinar on ‘Mental Health Awareness’ this is being delivered live during Mental Health Awareness Week on Wednesday 12th May at 12pm, please use the below link to register for this session –

https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/8779374262287014928

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 are pleased to welcome Bee Mahimkar from our EAP Partner based in India as a guest speaker for our webinar ‘COVID-19: Breaking the silence – an Indian perspective’ which is being delivered live on Tuesday 11^th May at 12pm.

During this session Bee will explore:

• COVID-19- Impact on Indian population
• Social, political & financial issues arising during this crisis
• Locus of control
• Stories we tell ourselves
• How our brain works
• Experiencing Loss
• Coping Strategies
• Accessing help
• What gets in the way of accessing help
• What are the options of help available

COVID-19: India Crisis

Stories of pain, death and loss; India is currently going through a crisis with a lack of medicines, oxygen tanks and hospital beds. Culturally many may feel there is absolutely no social security system, and most people in India have learnt to fend for themselves and their family. Their neurological and psychological perspective is to be silent and continue looking at life as glass half full or glass quarter full perspective and focus on their day to day work and family commitments.

However, with the COVID-19 pandemic the wounds and deep ruptures in the social and economic fabric of the country has brought tears, anguish and numbness.

During this live session Bee aims to bring to life the idea of cognitive flexibility and shift peoples focus towards creating an open safe space for all to explore the numbness they may be feeling within.

Bee will explore an aspect of personality psychology. The reality in India is that many family members may have no control over what happens to their loved ones.

Dealing with Death, Grief and Loss:

Bee will explore how culturally people are dealing with different kinds of grief and how we feel the World has changed for all of us.

To manage the range of grief we need to understand the stages of grief. During this session Bee will explain the Kubler-Ross grief cycle.

Bee will also explore the Psychologist J. W. Worden’s stage-based model for coping with the death of a loved one known as ‘the tasks of grief’, as well as Margaret Stroebe and Hank Schut’s dual process model of bereavement.

Bee will refer to the Stress and Emotional Resilience Cycle and help attendees to consider some positive coping strategies.

How can Care first help?

This session will also provide a reminder of the support available from Care first during what continues to be a challenging and traumatic time for many. 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.

If you would like to view the Webinar on ‘COVID-19 Internationally: The India crisis’ this is being delivered live on Tuesday 11^th May at 12:00pm (GMT), please use the following link to register for this session –

https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/9020013377894557456

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.

During the COVID-19 Pandemic many of us have had to either work from home, or adhere to social distancing guidelines and wear personal protective equipment to protect us and our colleagues from the virus. When our working routine is affected with change it can bring a whole new range of challenges that you wouldn’t necessarily have had when working your normal routine before the COVID-19 pandemic hit. It may be now that restrictions are starting to ease that the way we work may start to change again. Looking after your mental wellbeing has never been more important.

Below are a number of tips to help you look after your mental wellbeing while working during the COVID-19 pandemic:

Look at what support is available to you

Have a look to see what support is available to you through your work place. For example if you are reading this then you more than likely have access to the Care first Employee Assistance Programme through your employer. Visit the Care first Lifestyle site to find out more about the support you have access to and speak with HR to find out about any other support that may be available to you through your employer.

Use your annual leave effectively

It is important to take annual leave to give yourself a chance to recharge and relax. Spreading your annual leave out throughout the year can help by giving you regular breaks from work as well as giving yourself something to look forward to.

Look after your general wellbeing

This may seem like an obvious one, if you’re working longer and later, you then roll out of bed in the morning and start again. This is not good for your routine or your wellbeing. If you’re not getting enough sleep then it’s no surprise you’re not feeling great. Try to stay healthy and active as much as possible, this will help you to keep motivated at work.

Be aware of your emotions

This isn’t such an obvious one. Try and be aware of the emotions you’re feeling around certain tasks. Your lack of motivation may be coming from your anxiety around a particularly challenging or lengthy task. Once you recognise this, try to accept the fact you’re going to have to face it sooner or later. By doing this it’ll make starting on a task less stressful, but also remind yourself as you go how good you’ll feel once it’s finally done!

Understand that change happens

Things will always be changing, whether that’s the current COVID-19 restrictions, or things in general life once we return to a sense of normality. By accepting that it happens it can make it easier to cope with, whereas trying to avoid change only inspires anxiety when it does happen.

Make simple changes

Making simple changes can help you to manage more effectively, but like anything else, we need to practice; so think
of some simple steps which would help and support your mental health, we have outlined some below to consider –

• Talk about your feelings
• Keep active
• Eat well
• Drink sensibly
• Keep in touch
• Ask for help
• Take a break
• Do something you’re good at
• Accept who you are
• Care for others

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 ‘Looking after your mental health whilst working during the COVID-19 pandemic’ this is being delivered live on Monday 10^th May at 12pm, please use the following link to register for this session –

https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/5814617025043021579

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.

What can I do to protect myself and others from COVID-19?

The following actions help prevent the spread of COVID-19, as well as other coronaviruses and influenza:

• Wear a face mask.
• Maintain at least six feet/2 metres of distance between yourself and others.
• Avoid large gatherings.
• Socialize outdoors.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Minimize touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
• Stay home when you are sick.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the bin.
• Clean frequently touched objects and surfaces regularly.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water.
• Get vaccinated as soon as you are eligible.

Do the protective measures work?

The chart above illustrates how protective measures such as limiting travel, avoiding crowds, social distancing, and thorough and frequent handwashing can slow down the development of new COVID-19 cases and reduce the risk of overwhelming the health care system.

What do I need to know about washing my hands effectively?

Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing; and after handling anything that’s come from outside your home.

• If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol, covering all surfaces of your hands and rubbing them together until they feel dry.
• Always wash hands with soap and water if hands are visibly dirty.
• The CDC’s handwashing website has detailed instructions and a video about effective handwashing procedures.

How does coronavirus spread?

Coronavirus spreads mainly from person to person. This can happen between people who are in close contact with one another. Droplets that are produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes may land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby, or possibly be inhaled into their lungs.

A person infected with coronavirus — even one with no symptoms — may emit aerosols when they talk or breathe. Aerosols are infectious viral particles that can float or drift around in the air for up to three hours. Another person can breathe in these aerosols and become infected with the coronavirus. This is why everyone should wear a mask when they go out in public.

If I want to visit friends and family, does it matter whether we meet indoors or outdoors?

You are better off meeting friends and family outdoors. We know that coronavirus spreads when someone breathes in virus that an infected person emits through coughs or sneezes, or when they talk or breathe. Research has shown that in a confined, laboratory setting, droplets containing viral particles can remain afloat for 8 to 14 minutes. Smaller infectious viral particles, called aerosols, can drift around in the air even longer.

Outdoors, air currents are more likely to scatter and dilute the virus, making transmission less likely than in a home, office, or other confined space with limited air circulation. Even outdoors, however, it’s important to maintain a physical distance of at least six feet (2 meters) and wear a mask, to reduce the risk even further.

Coronavirus also spreads when a person touches a contaminated surface and then touches their eyes, nose, or mouth. If you are participating in an outdoor gathering, bring your own foods, drinks, plates, cups and utensils.

Useful sources & Information:

Some of the information sourced for this article was originally published by Harvard and the CDC. If you would like to access this and further information in more detail please follow the links below and for the latest information about the COVID-19 guidelines in your area always refer to the .Gov site –

https://www.health.harvard.edu/diseases-and-conditions/preventing-the-spread-of-the-coronavirus

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/index.html

https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus

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 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.

You can join our live webinar titled ‘The Importance of adhering to COVID guidelines’ on Friday 7^th May at 12pm. Please use the following link to register your attendance:

https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/2044127770433595152

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.

Sun safety is important for everyone; we must all practice this to avoid damage to our eyes and skin. Sun damage to our skin can cause skin cancer so it is vitally important to know how to protect yourself.

The risks of sun damage

It can be very tempting and easy to get excited when we start getting sunshine to just head out and soak up as much sun as possible, but doing so in an unsafe way can cause eye damage and skin damage which can also lead to skin cancer in people as early as their twenties. Skin cancer is the most common of all cancers.

Over years of exposure and potential damage to your skin from sun exposure your skin may also age by gaining more wrinkles, become dryer and you will eventually start bruising easier.

Practice the 5 S’s for personal sun safety

An easy way to remember ways to protect yourself is by practicing the 5 S’s:

1. Slip on a t-shirt/top to cover your skin
2. Slop on SPF 30+ sunscreen to protect your exposed skin
3. Slap on a hat to protect your head and face
4. Slide on some quality sunglasses to protect your eyes
5. Shade from the sun when you can to give yourself breaks

Things to consider:

• The sun is strongest in the UK from March until October between the times of 11:00 and 15:00 each day
• Make sure any children you’re responsible for are also well protected and hydrated
• Make sure the sunscreen has not passed its expiry date
• If you’re going out, take sunscreen with you but also apply twice. 30 minutes before you go out and again just before you leave
• Apply sunscreen again straight after you’ve been in water even if it is “water resistant” as after sweating or drying with a towel may have rubbed it off

If you burn

You should be protecting your skin from burning at all times when exposed to the sun but if you do you should:

• Treat the burnt areas with cool water and then apply after sun cream
• If sore take painkillers such as ibuprofen or paracetamol to help ease the pain and discomfort
• Stay out of the sun until all signs of redness are gone

Other useful links

If you would like to access further information about sun safety in more detail please follow the links listed here:

• NHS Website for Sun Safety
• Dangers of Prolonged Sun Exposure
• UV Radiation and Your Skin
• 10 Tips for Protecting Your Skin from the Sun

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, 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 ‘Sun Safety’ this is being delivered live on Thursday 6^th May at 12:00pm, please use the following link to register for this session –

https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/2981322894670410255

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.

It’s all about raising public and professional awareness of perinatal mental health problems, advocating for women and families affected by it, changing attitudes and helping families access the information, care and support they need to recover.

The week is organised and led by the Perinatal Mental Health Partnership UK (PMHP UK), who launched the first-ever UK Maternal Mental Health Matters Awareness Week in 2014.

Perinatal depression refers to depression that can occur in a woman at a time around the birth of a child. The depression can either occur before the birth (antenatal depression) of after the birth (postnatal or postpartum depression)

It’s a common problem, affecting more than 1 in every 10 women within a year of giving birth. It can also affect fathers and partners.

Feeling a bit down and low following the birth of a baby is very common and often referred to as the “baby blues”. The mother may feel weepy and cry at the slightest thing. This is caused by the dramatic change in hormones that occurs. Often women say they have no idea what is causing them to weep, but they do whether it’s about something happy or sad. They have no control over it. This usually occurs a few days after the birth. Women know that this is supposed to be a happy time so often feel guilty about both the way they are feeling and the tears! When these feelings last more than two weeks it may be the sign of the beginning of a depressive illness.

The symptoms don’t initially differ from depression at other times. However, this type of depression has an impact not only on the mother but also on the relationship she may have with the baby. This can affect the child’s development and, it is for this reason, it is important that she gets good support and an early medical intervention.

Factors that may contribute to perinatal depression are the hormonal and physical change which result from the pregnancy, the childbirth and the sudden responsibilities of caring for a new born.

Postpartum psychosis is a serious but rare mental health problem which develops after you give birth. It is sometimes called puerperal psychosis.

Postpartum psychosis can be an overwhelming and frightening experience, and it is important to seek help as soon as possible if you experience symptoms. With the right support, most people fully recover.

Signs that you or someone you know might be depressed include:

• A persistent feeling of sadness and low mood
• Lack of enjoyment and loss of interest in the wider world
• Lack of energy and feeling tired all the time
• Trouble sleeping at night and feeling sleepy during the day
• Difficulty bonding with your baby
• Withdrawing from contact with other people
• Problems concentrating and making decisions
• Frightening thoughts – for example, about hurting your baby

Many women do not realise they have postnatal depression, because it can develop gradually.

Postnatal depression can be lonely, distressing and frightening, but support and effective treatments are available.

Speak to a GP or your Health Visitor if you think you may be depressed –

• Many Health Visitors have been trained to recognise postnatal depression and have techniques that can help.
• If they cannot help, they’ll know someone in your area who can.
• Encourage your partner to seek help if you think they might be having problems.
• Do not struggle alone hoping that the problem will go away.

As with other types of Mental Illness, with early intervention recovery is both possible and very likely.

If you feel you may need some support you can contact Care first. Care first is a leading provider of confidential, professional counselling, inormation 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:

If you would like to access further information about Maternal Mental Health awareness week in more detail please follow the links listed here:

https://maternalmentalhealthalliance.org/news/maternal-mental-health-awareness-week-2021/#more-7831

https://perinatalmhpartnership.com/

If you would like to view the Webinar on ‘Post-partum mental illness’ this is being delivered live on Wednesday 5^th May at 12pm, please use the below link to register for this session –

https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/5892106206370719503

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.

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 Tuesday 4^th May at 12pm using the details below –

https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/5934304363128330254

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.

Some of us may be worried about the return to whatever normality might look like post lockdown and are likely to already be having thoughts about whether we will be able to re-adjust to life, when the easing of lockdown has commenced. Just as it was OK to be worried about coping with lockdown, it’s equally OK to worry about the next ‘adjustment’ phase and whatever this may bring for you – this is in fact evidence of your brain having detected a potential threat and alerting you to this. It is important to remember that it will take time for you to get used to the new version of life in this next phase of the pandemic and that things like being outside again, getting used to increased noise levels and everywhere being generally busier, is understandably, going to take time.

As with all things, it is about taking one step at a time. We will need to become used to outside stimulation and quite frankly, what might initially feel like ‘sensory overload’. Gradually, becoming accustomed to this by slowly coming back to work or socialisation and not expecting too much of yourself too soon, is critically important. Being kind, and patient with ourselves is key as we learn to adjust again. We may too have found a sense of safety and comfort in staying at home; reconnecting with our families in new ways and spending ‘quality time’ – something that in our formerly packed lifestyles was a rarity. Equally, we might have managed to ‘slow down’ and really live our lives in the present and in doing so, have adopted a more mindful way of living – something we know is key to maintaining our wellbeing.

So, if you are one of those people that are worrying that you’re not going to be able to go back to how things were before, or you are worried about the effects of things returning to how they were, then remember to be gentle and kind to yourself and to show yourself some self-compassion. Understand that it is going to take some time to readjust to life following lockdown – just as it took time to adjust to lockdown in the first instance – and that doing this in a slow, step-by-step manner, just like a phased return to work adjustment in the workplace, might be just what you need in your personal life too.

If you feel you may need some support you can also 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.

If you would like to view the Webinar on ‘Reintroducing social interaction’ this is being delivered live on Friday 30th April at 12pm, please use the below link to register for this session

https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/763623334429722384

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.

April is Stress Awareness Month and looking forward, we will be able to reflect on this past year as the year the world we knew quite literally changed. We have all been forced to take on the challenges of change and have had to learn to adjust and adapt very quickly.

These sudden and “forced” changes have impacted all aspects of our lives and have caused many of us to feel under immense pressure and in some cases, this has led to stress.

Sudden and unplanned change brings pressure in all manner of ways. It is hard to keep up with what is happening sometimes and this can lead to feeling out of control. Too much of a drain on our emotional and physical wellbeing can cause too much added pressure. In order to manage, we need to feel as if we have some control over what is happening to us.

Too much placed on an individual where there is no room for “let up” can cause feelings and emotions to build until, like a pressure cooker, there is a breaking point. This leads from normal every day pressures to something more and to the point we think “just one more thing and I will explode” Dramatic yes, but we all have an idea of what that may feel like. This is stress, and we need to think about and identify the sources of our stress. There are many factors that affect us –

• Physical Stress
• Environmental Stress
• Emotional Stress
• Key life events
• Chronic Stress

Existing mental health issues can also become a source of stress in themselves, for example, those living with an anxiety disorder and/or depression can be more prone to stress as they try to manage their day-to-day conditions.

Those who are perhaps more vulnerable are more likely to develop mental health issues and illnesses when high stress levels are present.

So, given that, how can we help ourselves? The key is by taking time to examine the factors that cause us to feel “stressed” and consider that this “stress” may actually be pressure, but pressure to the point we struggle to manage. We need to be able to look for positive ways to change the way we view what is happening to us.

Helpful coping strategies

• Make time for yourself for positive experiences
• Get enough rest
• Talk to someone
• Take exercise and get fresh air
• Keep hydrated
• Remember you are not alone
• Think about how resourceful and adaptable you have had to be during the Pandemic
• Be kind to yourself

All these things appear so simple, but when one feels overwhelmed it is difficult to see a clear way forward. There is one, we just need to believe that.

What might stop you from moving forward? Is it fear or uncertainty? Can you give it a name?

The Pandemic has changed things for us all and, those changes for many have been dramatic. It is okay to ask for help, and, it is okay not to be okay!

Pressure is part of our usual everyday lives. We need to release that pressure to prevent it turning to Stress.

Stress is real and should not be ignored. It can however, be managed.

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 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 ‘Stress Awareness’ this is being delivered live on Thursday 29^th April at 12pm, please use the below link to register for this session –

https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/3853497299105646860

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.