Mon Nov 30th, 2020 at 12pm

‘How Care First Can Support You’ https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/557185625000163084

Tues Dec 1st, 2020 at 12pm

‘Coping with Vaccine Anxiety’

https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/447250954936325389

Weds Dec 2nd 2020 at 1pm

‘Coping With Change As Restrictions Are Adjusted’ https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/6917989034565992463

Thurs Dec 3rd at 12pm 2020

‘Festive Wellbeing’

https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/7996099768011211275

Fri Dec 4th 2020 at 12pm

‘Care First Management Support Service’

https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/2917064133182169867

When lowering the links to register to take part you will be asked to supply your name and email address.

As the COVID-19 situation is progressing and the Government guidance continues to change, individuals may be feeling anxious. Many employees are facing uncertain times as some organisations announce redundancies. 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 disciplinaries.

Care First Lifestyle Site

Through the Care first lifestyle you can access a wide range of supportive information, read helpful articles published by our team, view Webinars covering a variety of wellCounsellor in real lifestyle.co.uktime via our online counselling facility. You can being topics and even speak with a Care first 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 man ager 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 proactively supporting the wellbeing of yo ur 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 diff erent 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.

To find out more about Care first Zest ple ase view the webinar which can be found via the link below:

https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/2558790467075481100

Care First Woebot

For some people, picking up the tele phone to talk with a counsellor is a terrifying experience. Sometimes, when we most need it, we find it the most difficult time to talk with another human. Finding support earlier rather than later is often the best way to manage issues of low mood. Woebot is an AI tool which provides a truly unique way to help identify issues and learn new strategies to cope and reduce the possibilities of those issues escalating into something bigger, without the need to pick up the phone. Woebot works by programmatically impactful content at the m ost impactful time to optimise positive c learning how to deliver the most linical outcomes for its user.

To find out more about Care first Woebot please view the webinar which can be found via the link below:

https://youtu.be/3oFyFclUEWU

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.

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.

The Care first AI tool Woebot is a great way for individuals to get support around low mood and anxiety. If Woebot does not detect a positive clinical outcome then Woebot will suggest that the individual speaks to a Care first counsellor if they would like to. Not every individual will feel confident enough to pick up the phone and speak to a counsellor so it is an alternative option for individuals to access support.

If you would like to learn more about ‘How Care first can support you’ then please join our webinar on Monday 30th November at 12pm using the details below –

https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/557185625000163084

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.

Coping With Uncertainty In The Months Ahead

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. On the run up to Christmas we are all hoping for the best but we won’t know for sure until closer to the time; this uncertainty around what is such a special family orientated time of year for so many may be difficult.

Anxieties are often linked to a lack of control around a situation, uncertainty is a key factor which is why many of us may be 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 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 the 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-19 could affect Christmas and New Year is out of your control but you might find it beneficial to have a plan A and a plan B, so that 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?

Try to 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 information on how to help cope with uncertainty

https://www.ccl.org/articles/leading-effectively-articles/9-tips-for-dealing-with-uncertaintyand-anxiety/
https://www.helpguide.org/articles/anxiety/dealing-withuncertainty
Dealing with Uncertainty During the Coronavirus Pandemic – HelpGuide.org
https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/seven_ways_to_cope_with_uncertainty
https://www.bupa.co.uk/newsroom/ourviews/cope-with-uncertainty

If you would like to view the Webinar on ‘Coping with uncertainty in the months ahead’ this is being delivered live on Friday 27th November at 12pm, please use the following link to register for this session – https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/2518992545234726158

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.

Budgeting For Christmas

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

Financial tips in the run up to Christmas

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

The Care first Budgeting Calculator

(Available at https://carefirst-lifestyle.co.uk/extranet/at-home/finances/budgeting-calculator)

How to use the Care first budgeting tool:

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

Understand your current thoughts towards your finances

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

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

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

Care first Counsellors are available 24/7 to support you with the emotional impact of financial difficulties. Most people delay dealing with their money problems longer than they should. Finances are a core part of our lives and can be the root of many issues. Asking for help early on may help prevent problems later down the line. A good starting point would be to talk it all through confidentially with an Information Specialist at Care first, who will help you make informed choices about what to do and how to do it. Care first Information Specialists are not Financial Advisors but are money trained experts, so whether you are at breaking point and need ongoing guidance to resolve debts, or just have a simple question – our Information Specialists are here to help with a range of issues, some of which include; debt, budgeting, rent/mortgage arrears, reduced income, tax, benefits and many more.

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

If you would like to view the Webinar on ‘Budgeting for Christmas’ this is being delivered live on Thursday 26th November at 12pm, please use the below link to register for this session – https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/8052936822416319247

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.

Tips To Be More Productive Whilst Working From Home

With most of the World online and working at home, many of us have taken to the change like a duck to water however, many have found it difficult to adjust to this new way of working and to remain productive whilst working in our own homes. This article will explore tips and ideas to help with our productivity at work whilst working from home; which will enable us to stay on top of things and not become overwhelmed by mounting tasks, whilst also improving our mental wellbeing during this period of uncertainty.

Your Workstation – Try to create a specific area in your home to work from, so your job doesn’t impact others in your household and so that you can concentrate too. Try to avoid common areas that you relax in like your living room. Try to ensure that your work station is a stress-free and quiet one. If it is difficult to find an area like this in your house, or if you don’t have a separate room to work from, find an area with the least foot fall of others in your household.

Noise – There are many distractions working from home which we cannot control such as traffic, the bin lorry, dogs barking or noise from household members and neighbours. Try to block out these noisy distractions with noise cancelling head phones or ear buds.

Stay in one place – Try to work in the same work space on a regular basis to avoid distractions and maintain your focus to increase your productivity. Establishing boundaries between work tasks and personal tasks can be effective, so you’re not constantly reminded of temptations around you.

Boundaries – Setting boundaries around your work space and communicating with others in your household can ensure you are interrupted and distracted as little as possible. Ask others in your household to avoid interrupting you during working hours. You can also avoid your designated work space outside of working hours to help separate work and home life as much as possible.

Start and end your day – After finishing your working day remember to pack up your things and store them away. Keeping work reminders out of sight keeps them out of mind and helps you to switch off, relax and recharge your batteries, but mainly helps to define your work and personal life. Furthermore by setting up your work devices and paperwork at the start of your working day can help to focus your mind for the day.

Target setting – Setting clear and concise goals or targets with your work gives you the ability to focus on your priorities and work through tasks in an organised way. Think about your work tasks and list them, now arrange them into priority tasks and non-priority tasks and set yourself the goal of working through them. These can be set and reviewed daily, weekly or monthly.

Cabin fever – Now that we are spending a lot more time at home it is important to remember to take breaks and venture outside as much as possible. This could be taking a break in the garden (weather permitting), gardening or physical exercise such as walking, jogging or cycling. Spending time outside and around nature helps to reduce stress, relax, refocus and clear your mind. When the working day has finished try to spend time in other areas of your home and remember to continue with activities that can help us unwind such as connecting with others, mindfulness, cooking, reading or watching films or TV programmes.

We will discuss this topic in more detail during the ‘Tips to be more productive whilst working from home’ webinar on Wednesday 25th November 2020 at 12pm. You can register to join the webinar at https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/4164041160783138572.

If you are unable to attend the live webinar it will be available to watch afterwards, using the same link.

If you feel you may need some support, Care first is available 24/7 to provide confidential,
impartial support. You can contact Care first 24/7 using the Freephone number provided by your Organisation.

Celebrating Festivals And Occasions During The Pandemic

2020 has been like no other year, it has been full of the unexpected and things have happened that no one would have ever expected. England are now in their second lockdown of the year and the rules and regulations across England, Scotland and Wales differ so much it’s making everything that little bit trickier.

However, no matter what the COVID-19 pandemic throws at us people still celebrate. We celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, religious celebrations and even right down to friendships and milestones throughout the pandemic. It’s easy to downplay the importance of a special event in such extra ordinary circumstances, but it’s important that we aren’t left feeling like our lives have been put on hold again. What’s more, a good party or focusing on a celebration can provide a few hours of light relief during a pretty stressful time for us all.

Even the preparation and the process of discovering something new (e.g. zoom parties) can provide that much needed break and can be a lot of fun. For some it can be a daunting experience the thought of having to plan the unknown, for the unknown, using the unknown. But, with some creative thinking and some technological solutions, you can ensure those special days are still marked in style.

Not only are families struggling with challenging times financially and physically,  companies are trying their best to boost staff morale for home workers who may be feeling isolated. With more uncertain times ahead and not knowing when and how we will be allowed to celebrate in person, it can be helpful to plan and organise as much as you can.

For many of us, this time of year is a time for finding joy in the planning and celebrating of various festivals and celebrations that bring families and friends together over the winter months. We need to consider that this year we may still be required to follow the Rule of Six – or even be in lockdown – so it’s more important than ever to prepare for all eventualities. Make a list of three different scenarios and plan accordingly for each one.

For some of us, the formal parts of religious festivals may change – with Places of Worship operating to different rules. For others, the informal gatherings and family traditions that accompany times of celebration may be affected. Most of the religious festivals at this time of year celebrate prosperity, hope and light – and it is important that we hold onto the meaning of these celebrations all the more if we cannot mark them in the way we might have in the past.

Coping with the disappointment that you may not be able to mark an occasion in the usual way, particularly events which have special meaning, can be challenging. You may feel a range of emotions similar to grief and sadness, which is completely understandable. Accepting the reality of our situation without holding on to the hope that maybe things will return to ‘normal’ in time, can help. If you can reduce the gap between your expectations of the ‘perfect holiday’ and the reality of what’s possible, you can plan how to balance safety and celebration.

We will have to be more creative in how we join in the festivities but, in years to come, talking about how we celebrated in 2020 may well become one of our most cherished memories – precisely because we were asked to strip back and focus on the meaning.

Try and enjoy the festivities as much as you can. While it’s natural to want to be with your loved ones in person, ensuring they are as protected as possible from coronavirus may be the greatest gift you can give this year!

Here are some simple and practical tips to help you plan and enjoy any celebration, use as many or as few as you find useful –

• Shop online in plenty of time
• Organise a virtual party – entertainment hire (budget depending)
• Produce a very special video for family and friends
• Throw a gaming party
• Send cards through online delivery services or make your own as early as possible (remember, to send in plenty of time as services will be busy! Especially if it needs to go abroad). The final posting dates for delivery from the Royal Mail can be found here (both UK and International postage):  https://www.royalmail.com/christmas/last-posting-dates
• Order a special takeaway
• Attend an interactive work shop
• Use a cook-along service
• Share ideas or join groups with similar interests online
• Join a religious ceremony/worship group online
• Plan another celebration for when this is all over

Below are some considerations to focus on so that we are still able to celebrate should restrictions still be in place –

• Focus on kindness – try to divert your attention away from what you can’t have and instead focus on what kind things you can do for others and for yourself.
• Be there for each other – try to have conversations with family and friends about how you’re feeling, listen to how others are coping and act with empathy and understanding.
• Take time to be grateful – appreciate the joyful little moments. Reflecting on all you have to be grateful for can really lift your mood.
• Gift giving – if you feel the need to buy more gifts than usual – perhaps to compensate for celebrations being different this year – remember that this is a normal feeling, but not something you need to do. We’re all in this together and you and your gifts are enough. You don’t need to compensate for things beyond your control. If money is tight this year, remember not to stretch beyond your means and consider doing something creative or thoughtful rather than spending more money.
• Be aware of overindulging – regardless of whether we can have large celebrations or not, it’s important to keep an eye on what you’re drinking, eating and spending. Some people may turn to alcohol, food, shopping and illegal drugs to help cope with stress.
• Celebrating with children – why not start a ‘living history’ scrapbooking project to commemorate how you celebrated in 2020? Explain that in years to come this will be an important document of how we lived. Similarly, older children and adults may want to journal their thoughts and feelings at this time. Additionally, this may be a time your children usually get together with cousins or their friends. You could try to keep them connected through video calls, so they feel included.
• Maintain traditions – you could try to stick to the traditions that you have in place. Whether it’s making a particular meal, or decorating your home on a certain day, by maintaining these traditions you can create a sense of normality.
• Stick to the rules – if you’re feeling under pressure from friends or family to break the rules, remember why restrictions may be in place. It is for the safety of everyone, including ourselves, to stick to government guidelines. By following the rules, we all contribute to a healthier society.

It is important to highlight that other pressures such as concerns about job and financial security, worries about the health of family and friends, or feeling low because you can’t be physically near people who are important to you, can often be heightened during the festive season. Similarly, if you are dealing with grief or bereavement, celebrations can be particularly challenging.

It’s good to keep in mind that while preparing a celebration can be a happy and exciting time for many, some people can feel under a lot of pressure to create the perfect experience for their loved ones. This can cause increased stress, anxiety and feelings of inadequacy which may be heightened this year with the additional barriers in place. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the extra demands of the season, try to balance your sense of obligation against your need for self-care.

Going for a walk, doing something you enjoy or mindfulness techniques like yoga, meditation or breathing exercises can help.

If you are feeling down, talking to people can lighten your load. Likewise, if you notice that someone you care about is showing signs of distress, ask them how they are feeling and what they need. 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.

Some of the information sourced for this article was originally published by the Mental Health Foundation. If you would like to access this and further information in more detail please follow the link below – https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/coronavirus/celebrating-festivals-and-occasions-during-lockdown

If you would like to hear more in depth advice or have any top tips you would like to share please join us for our webinar on Tuesday 24th November at 12pm
https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/2069750785846570508

Week 36 Webinars from Care First

Mon 23rd Nov 2020 at 12pm ‘How Care first can support you’
https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/4153802508527753744

Tues 24th Nov 2020 at 12pm ‘Celebrating Festivals & Occasions during the pandemic’ https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/2069750785846570508

Weds 25th Nov 2020 at 12pm ‘Tips to be more productive whilst working from Home’ https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/4164041160783138572

Thurs 26th Nov 2020 at 12pm ‘Budgeting for Christmas’
https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/8052936822416319247

Fri 27th Nov 2020 at 12pm ‘Coping with Uncertainty in the months ahead’
https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/2518992545234726158

Follow any of the links to register with your name and email address to participate in the webinars.

For further information and access to the Care First services you can visit their website. You will need the following to log in:

User name: uokent

Password: university

As the COVID-19 situation is progressing and the Government guidance continues to change as lockdown restrictions are eased, individuals may be feeling anxious about going out and whether it safe to do so. Many employees are facing uncertain times as some organisations announce redundancies. 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 they 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 their counselling team are absolutely paramount, any changes to their structured counselling process will be made in line with government guidance.

These services include:

Counselling support

Their 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, the 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, their 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. They 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. Their 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 the 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 disciplinaries.

Care first Lifestyle

Through the Care first lifestyle site you can access a wide range of supportive information, read helpful articles published by their 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.

To find out more about any of the above services please view the webinar link below:
https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/4557681714721925899

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.

To find out more about Care first Zest please view the webinar which can be found via the link below:

https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/4557681714721925899

Care first Woebot

For some people, picking up the telephone to talk with a counsellor is a terrifying experience. Sometimes, when we most need it, we find it the most difficult time to talk with another human. Finding support earlier rather than later is often the best way to manage issues of low mood. Woebot is an AI tool which provides a truly unique way to help identify issues and learn new strategies to cope and reduce the possibilities of those issues escalating into something bigger, without the need to pick up the phone. Woebot works by programmatically learning how to deliver the most impactful content at the most impactful time to optimise clinical outcomes for its user.

To find out more about Care first Woebot please view the webinar which can be found via the following link: https://youtu.be/3oFyFclUEWU

How all of these above services link together

As you can see from the above table, all the services that they 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.

Their counselling support is available 24/7 to help individuals with any emotional issues that they may have.

The 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 the 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 the 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.

The Care first AI tool Woebot is a great way for individuals to get support around low mood and anxiety. If Woebot does not detect a positive clinical outcome then Woebot will suggest that the individual speaks to a Care first counsellor if they would like to. Not every individual will feel confident enough to pick up the phone and speak to a counsellor so it
is an alternative option for individuals to access support.

If you would like to learn more about ‘How Care first can support you’ then please visit the Care First website. You can also access today’s webinar by clicking here.

To log in you need the following details:

User name: uokent

Password: university

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.

As the COVID-19 situation is progressing with England being in another lockdown and with all other restrictions faced by the rest of the United Kingdom, 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.

Resilience is a term used to look at how well we may cope with different situations. Resilience is the body’s natural defence against Stress. Developing our resilience to handle stress effectively can help manage the impacts of stress, allowing us to ‘get back on our feet’ and to ‘bounce back’ quicker.

To be emotionally resilient means to be able to adapt to stressful situations. More resilient people are more likely to adapt to stressful situations, taking events much more ‘in their stride’. They are also less likely to suffer lasting difficulties. Less resilient people find it much more difficult to adapt to stressful situations and will find it harder to bounce back to their normal emotional state.

The idea being that if we can build our resilience up then we will be more able to handle situations that may be unfamiliar to us, or situations that we may struggle with. Resilience is also about knowing how to cope when we have setbacks, or barriers, or limited resources. This article looks at ways that may help you to build resilience.

How can you build resilience?

From experience – The experiences that you may have already had in your life are likely to have an influence on how resilient you may be when a certain situation arises. For example if you think of the current situation in England with everyone being in lockdown, you may draw back on your experience from the first lockdown back in March to help you this time around. It may be that you found a new hobby or something different that really helped you and you can now draw on that experience to help this time around. Another example could be, if you feel that presenting to a room of people is very stressful, but you have already done this before then you may be able to draw back on that experience to help you if you are put in this situation again.

From practice – If you think about the example above around presenting to a room of people, this may make you feel under pressure but putting yourself in this situation more often by practicing may help to build your resilience in the future as you will have more experience of presenting to people. Now of course there are events that none of us can practice for but we may be able to try and practice for some things in our lives.

Forgive yourself – Everybody makes mistakes and gets things wrong in life. It is part of the way we learn and improve. It is really important to remember when you do make mistakes or get things wrong that you do not dwell on them and that you can forgive yourself. Try and focus on a positive outcome instead and reward yourself for your achievements.

Expand your interests – Making sure you find the time to enjoy your hobbies and to try new things can really help by distancing you from other stressful factors in your life. It is important to have balance in your life.

Talking is good for you – Talking about issues may help you to start dealing with them. By not talking about things, we tend to go over and over them in our mind which is not good for our mental wellbeing. By talking about the things that are worrying us can help us to learn from others about how they may have handled similar situations. Although we are all different in the way we handle different situations, it may be that by speaking to someone else could help you develop your resilience around a particular issue.

Look after your physical health – Try to have a good sleep routine, regular exercise and a healthy diet. There are proven intrinsic links between our physical and mental wellbeing, so by looking after your physical health it may help you to take emotional challenges in your stride.

Change of scenery – Make sure you take a lunch break whether you’re at work, or working remotely from home. Try spending some time outside or exercising.

Try to resolve conflicts – This may be difficult but try talking to a manager, colleague or family member to diffuse the situation. It is important to work together to find a way forward.

Be straightforward and assertive – If somebody is making unrealistic demands of you, let them know and explain why. Try to do this in a polite and civil way. It is okay to say no.

Find some time to relax – It is vital to find some time for yourself to relax and to unwind. This could be from having a soak in the bath to doing some yoga or maybe even just going for a walk.

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 ‘Building Resilience during Lockdown’ this is being delivered live today at 12pm, please use the below link to register for this session –

https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/5504641603516464909

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.

This month ‘ Movember ’ – a global initiative to raise awareness and tackle the issues of men’s health.

In recent years this has expanded from growing a moustache to raise awareness of men’s addressing many physical and mental health topics including health, to prostate cancer, testicular cancer, mental health issues and suicide prevention among men. This awareness Wales, where suicide rates are higher for men than in other part Prostate Cancer s has been particularly welcome of the United Kingdom

Prostate Cancer

According to Prostate Cancer UK; in the UK, about 1 in 8 men will get prostate cancer in their lifetime. Prostate cancer mainly affects men over 50, and your risk increases with age. The risk is even higher for black men and men with a family history of prostate cancer.

Prostate cancer can develop when cells in the prostate start to grow in an uncontrolled way. Some prostate cancer grows too slowly to cause any problems or affect how long you live. Because of this, many men with prostate cancer will never need any treatment. But some prostate cancer grows quickly and is more likely to spread. This is more likely to cause problems and needs treatment to stop it spreading.

Prostate cancer that’s contained inside the prostate (called localised prostate cancer or early prostate cancer) doesn’t usually cause any symptoms. That’s why it’s important to know about your risk. But some men might have some urinary problems. These can be mild and happen over many years and may be a sign of a benign prostate problem, rather than prostate cancer. If you think you might be at risk of prostate cancer or are experiencing any symptoms, visit your GP.

Testicular Cancer

According to Cancer Research UK; in the UK around 2,300 men are diagnosed with testicular cancer each year. That’s about 1 out of every 100 cancers (1%) diagnosed in men. Younger men are more likely to get testicular cancer. Men in their early 30s are the most likely to get it. It then becomes less common as men get older.

Testicles are responsible for the production of male hormones (mostly testosterone) and sperm. Testicular cancer starts as an abnormal growth or tumour that develops in one or both testicles. There are several types of testicular cancer, but the most common is the germ cell tumour. Testicular cancer is a highly treatable cancer and can be effectively treated, and often cured, if diagnosed and treated early.

Testicular cancer symptoms can be similar to other conditions that affect the testicles, such as infections. Read about the symptoms of testicular cancer and when you should see your doctor here:

https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/testicular-cancer/symptoms

Men’s Mental Health

Part of the stigma that still exists about men’s mental health is that men have greater difficulty talking about their own issues than women do. Following a survey conducted by The Priory in 2015 they found that 40% of men won’t talk about their own mental health.

Furthermore in a 2016 survey of 1,112 employed men conducted by Opinion Leader for the Men’s Health Forum:

• 34% would be embarrassed or ashamed to take time off work for mental health concern such as anxiety or depression, compared to 13% for a physical injury. (Amongst men with mental health concerns, 46% are embarrassed or ashamed.)
• 38% would be concerned that their employer would think badly of them if they took time off work for a mental health concern – compared to 26% for a physical injury. (Amongst men with mental health concerns, 52% are concerned.)

While mental illnesses affect both men and women, the prevalence of mental illnesses in men is often lower than women. According to many studies and surveys men with mental illnesses are also less likely to have received mental health support than women.

Recognising the signs that you or someone you know may be experiencing a mental health issue is the first step toward getting support.

Some of these signs could be:

• Anger, irritability, or aggressiveness
• Changes in mood, energy level, or appetite
• Problems sleeping or sleeping too much
• Difficulty concentrating, feeling restless, or on edge
• Increased worry or feeling stressed
• Misuse of alcohol and/or drugs
• Sadness or hopelessness
• Suicidal thoughts
• Feeling flat or having trouble feeling positive emotions
• Engaging in high-risk activities
• Physical symptoms like aches, headaches, digestive problems without a clear cause
• Obsessive thinking or compulsive behaviour
• Thoughts or behaviours that interfere with work, family, or social life

Where can you access support?

Care first can support you with free and confidential support, counselling and information and our counselling helpline is available 24/7. A caller to the service can remain completely anonymous. We just need to know who you work for so that we can identify exactly what support options are available to you.

If you are seeking support elsewhere or for a friend, or family member who does not have access to the Care first service, you can find a list of organisations that may be able to support here –

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/stress-anxiety-depression/mental-health-helplines/.

As part of ‘Movember’ and to raise awareness of men’s mental health more, Care first are running a Webinar ‘Movember – Men’s Health Awareness’ on Thursday 19th November 2020 at 12pm, please use the below link to register for this session –

https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/699647147313704720

This session will talk about men’s mental health further with the aim of raising awareness of the support available to you and your colleagues as well as other means of support for friends and family. We also hope to help strip away some of the stigma around men’s mental health which may be effecting someone’s motivation to access support.

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

Useful sources & Information:

Some of the information sourced for this article was originally published on the links below.

If you would like to access this and further information in more detail please follow the links below –

https://prostatecanceruk.org/ https://prostatecanceruk.org/prostate-information/about-prostate-cancer https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/testicular-cancer/about https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/testicular-cancer/symptoms https://www.priorygroup.com/blog/40-of-men-wont-talk-to-anyone-about-their-mental-health https://www.menshealthforum.org.uk/key-data-mental-health https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/stress-anxiety-depression/mental-health-helplines/.