Health and Wellbeing News

With the uncertainty the pandemic brings, many children and young people are spending more time outside of their normal routines, with social media being a common go to for many to ‘pass the time’. This article will explore some considerations around social media use in young people for you to be mindful of to ensure it does not impact their physical or mental wellbeing adversely. The end of this article will focus particularly on online grooming.

Why is social media use in children and young people such an important topic to talk about? Well, many data sources suggest that more than 2.8 million children in the UK own a smart device, with the usage of children on social media tripling in recent years, with use to increase greatly during the Coronavirus lockdown. Gaming is the most common smart device activity in children aged between 8-15 years old and young people are accessing online content in private instead of amongst company like friends or family.

You may be surprised to hear that the average age a child receives their first smart phone is 10. With the average age a child starts their first social media account 12. To provide some context the minimum age for a Facebook profile is 13.

During times like the current situation we find ourselves in now as a result of COVID-19, the average use of social media and technology by children and young people is likely to increase dramatically, so it is going to be really helpful to recognise that and be mindful of how we can maintain positive mental and physical wellbeing for all at this time, whilst safeguarding the young people in our lives against things like online grooming and receiving/viewing disturbing content.

Before we look at the potential adverse impacts social media, or shall we say, overuse of social media has, let’s look at some of the many positives. Social media and technology can be a useful tool for our children:

• Contact during emergencies
• Track location
• Maintaining social contact with friends and family during lockdown
• Monitor what content they are accessing
• Access information for studies and learning

Though there are many positives to social media and technology, there can be worries or impacts to our child’s wellbeing and safety if we use social media or technology too much, or use it for the wrong reasons, or in the wrong ways. Some of these worries or impacts can be:

• Online grooming
• Cyber Bullying
• Addiction (such as social media or gaming addiction)
• Social isolation
• Accessing or being sent inappropriate or distressing content
• Poor physical health
• Costs of replacing expensive devices

Since our first release of this article there have been various charities and police forces throughout the UK who have seen an increase in online grooming cases of young people, which they attribute to the increased time spent online by children during lockdown. You may find the following BBC video interesting to watch which highlights the extent of what online grooming can look like. Please note that there is a disclaimer on the video warning of potential disturbing scenes;

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-52999552/coronavirus-fears-over-online-grooming-of-children-in-lockdown.

Some of the signs you can look out for if you suspect that your child is engaging in contact with someone they shouldn’t be and are potentially being exploited are things like:

• Talking about older/new friends they have met online
• Talking about gifts or money they have received
• Becoming withdrawn or secretive
• Having a new phone or more than one phone
• Receiving a large number of calls or messages
• Worried about being away from their phone

Here are some top tips for you to consider to help manage and monitor your child’s time spent accessing social media and technology during lock down:

• Set WIFI limits or exclusion times at home
• Speak to your network provider about setting age restrictions when accessing content
• Speak to your network provider about setting data use limits
• Be mindful that filters and parental controls can differ from WIFI to WIFI as well as when using Data
• Encourage physical activity and exercise breaks
• Openly talk to your child about who they speak to online and encourage blocking or reporting of accounts or messages they receive
• Depending on your device, there are Apps which can monitor what your child is accessing and often set permissions for app purchases and downloads. For example on Android devices there is an App called “Android Parental Control”

You may find the following resources useful in obtaining additional information from this article. Many have their own dedicated section around online grooming along with a site where you can learn about apps and what they do:

• https://www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/online-safety/
• https://www.thinkuknow.co.uk/parents/Support-tools/home-activity-worksheets/
• https://www.ceop.police.uk/safety-centre/
• https://www.net-aware.org.uk/
• www.childrenssociety.org.uk

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.

We will be discussing this topic further via webinar on Thursday 8th April at 12pm. Please feel free to join the live session by registering at this link https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/6471846801214446091.

If you cannot make the session live you can watch it back at your convenience afterwards using the same link.

COVID-19 has severely disrupted many aspects of our usual way of life, creating an air of uncertainty for everyone. With restrictions being changed dynamically across the UK many of us are still left with a cloud of uncertainty effecting various parts of our lives as we know things can change quickly. With plans in place to ease restrictions across the UK many are left wondering whether this is final, or whether this too will change again.

Anxieties are often linked to lack of control, uncertainty is a key factor as to why many of us are experiencing heightened anxieties and stresses during the pandemic. We all have different tolerances of uncertainty and it affects us all differently but either way, it is important to manage uncertainty to help alleviate associated stresses.

Here are some tips to help below which can help you to reduce your anxiety and stress levels by learning to cope with uncertainty better, improve your tolerance of uncertainty and challenge your need for certainty.

Work on things you CAN control

Focus on things that are within your control rather than worrying about things that are not. We often use worrying as a tool to try and prepare for future scenarios but this is often a waste of your energy and an unnecessary cause of stress.

By focusing on things we can control we become more of a pro-active problem solver rather than being a worrier. For example, COVID-19 is out of your control but you can be proactive and take control of your hygiene, clean surfaces etc. and do various things to protect yourself and others from it. How COVID could continue to affect the easing of restrictions in the future, or how we can travel abroad is out of your control but you can have a plan A and a plan B so you are prepared for whatever the situation is.

Take charge of what you can and make the most out of whatever happens. This will ease anxieties stemming from uncertainty.

Question your need for certainty overall

Certainty is something that brings us security in life, but when you think about it, how certain are most things? Do we ever have a job for life? Good health for life? Certainty of what tomorrow may bring? Constantly striving for certainty can only bring us worry and anxiety as nothing will ever really be truly certain.

We often have a habit of assuming the worst in situations of uncertainty, but how often does this worse case scenario actually play out? Rarely if at all? We live day to day with the slim chance of losing a job, having an accident, falling ill so why do we struggle to live with the small chance that the worst case scenario will actually play out in certain situations when the likelihood is just as slim?

Accept the uncertainty. When you feel yourself begin to worry remind yourself of the above and try to let the worry go. Uncertainty is a part of life, it is how people deal with it which affects them the most.

More tips and articles on how to help cope with uncertainty

https://www.ccl.org/articles/leading-effectively-articles/9-tips-for-dealing-with-uncertainty-and-anxiety/
https://www.helpguide.org/articles/anxiety/dealing-with-uncertainty.htm#:~:text=Allow%20yourself%20to%20feel%20the%20uncertainty.&text=Focus%20on%20the%20present%20moment,you%20anchored%20in%20the%20present.
https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/seven_ways_to_cope_with_uncertainty
https://www.bupa.co.uk/newsroom/ourviews/cope-with-uncertainty

More information

If you would like to view the Webinar on ‘Coping with uncertainty during the pandemic’ this is being delivered live on Wednesday 7th April at 12pm, please use the following link to register for this session –

https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/5910585697635079695

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.carefirst-lifestyle.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.

Care first Zest

With clinically proven intrinsic links between our physical and mental health, Care first Zest provides an interactive health and wellbeing management tool that can help individuals manage and improve all aspects of their mental and physical health. Care first Zest is also an effective means of pro-actively supporting the wellbeing of your team. You can complete the Care first Zest wellbeing assessment which looks at factors including exercise, healthy eating, sleep, smoking, caffeine intake and the amount of water you drink to name a few. The assessment then gives you a score on the different areas and you can see which areas you need to improve on. The idea is that if you can improve the areas you did not score well on then this will have a positive effect on your physical and mental wellbeing.

How all of these above services link together

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.

The Care first Zest platform is great for improving physical as well as emotional wellbeing. So if an individual takes the wellbeing assessment and then works on the areas that may need some focus. This can then improve their overall wellbeing. Many studies show a link between physical and mental wellbeing, so giving individuals access to this platform enables them to make positive changes.

If you would like to learn more about ‘How Care first can support you’ then please join our webinar on Tuesday 6th April at 12pm using the details below –

https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/8259831928375524623

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.

Monday 5th April  – Bank Holiday

Tuesday 6th April – How Care First Can Support You

Wednesday 7th April – Coping With Uncertainty During The Pandemic

Thursday 8th April – Social Media, Tech & Young People

Friday 9th April – Tips For Managers and Leaders

For full details and the links to register for the webinars click here: Care First Webinars and Links W/C 5th April 2021

Stress can be a misused word. In our busy working day we often refer to the day to day working environment and all that it entails, as stress, when we actually mean pressure. We are under pressure to do our job well, to deliver on our commitments, to meet deadlines and to cope with the ever changing demands on us. This is normal within the working environment and the working day. We need a certain amount of pressure to energise and motivate us. It helps us get things done!

This has been a year unlike anything we’ve seen before – and we’ve been forced to make some major lifestyle changes incredibly quickly. The restrictions placed on social contact have been more difficult for some of us to deal with than for others, and the same is likely to be true as the measures are eased over the coming months.

Managing Stress and Pressure

Stress is different from pressure. Stress is an on-going pressure that keeps building to a level where day to day work may become unmanageable. This can result in increased absenteeism which in turn may add pressure to those still working. When you feel you are struggling and under pressure, it is important to speak to your manager and explain how you are feeling, and together, look at ways of improving where possible, your working pattern, your planning and organisation. There are many ways in which your manager can help and support you and so do speak with them and give them the opportunity to help.

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, what can we do about it? The key is to help people examine the factors that make them vulnerable and encouraging them to look for positive ways to change them.

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 in some way 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, but we need to manage our healthy levels of pressure effectively to prevent it having a detrimental impact on our wellbeing by turning in to Stress. Stress is real and should not be ignored. It can however, “be managed”.

The Care first Lifestyle website has a section on stress as shown in the above screenshot. If you would like to learn more then please visit the Care first Lifestyle website. Your login details will be available through your HR team.

For further information please join our live webinar on 1st April at Midday by registering at the below link:

https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/1127614459163546891

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.carefirst-lifestyle.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.

Care first Zest

With clinically proven intrinsic links between our physical and mental health, Care first Zest provides an interactive health and wellbeing management tool that can help individuals manage and improve all aspects of their mental and physical health. Care first Zest is also an effective means of pro-actively supporting the wellbeing of your team. You can complete the Care first Zest wellbeing assessment which looks at factors including exercise, healthy eating, sleep, smoking, caffeine intake and the amount of water you drink to name a few. The assessment then gives you a score on the different areas and you can see which areas you need to improve on. The idea is that if you can improve the areas you did not score well on then this will have a positive effect on your physical and mental wellbeing.

Care First Service How it supports?

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.

The Care first Zest platform is great for improving physical as well as emotional wellbeing. So if an individual takes the wellbeing assessment and then works on the areas that may need some focus. This can then improve their overall wellbeing. Many studies show a link between physical and mental wellbeing, so giving individuals access to this platform enables them to make positive changes.

If you would like to learn more about ‘How Care first can support you’ then please join our webinar on Wednesday 31st March at 12pm using the details below –

https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/2043829802003880463

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.