PLEASE NOTE: The following information is for the use of qualified Mental Health First Aiders, Mental Health Champions and Managers only

Back in March, the CEO of MHFA England put out a call to all Mental Health First Aid Instructors to mobilise their teams of Mental Health First Aiders, Mental Health Champions and Managers in order that they use their skills and knowledge to support colleagues during the Pandemic and the restrictions that came with it. We knew that the times ahead would be challenging, what we didn’t know of course, was exactly how challenging and how we would all be affected in some way by what was happening worldwide. This is a Global incident which was given Pandemic status as the R number increased.

Care first have ran webinars focussing on how the teams of Mental Health First Aiders, Champions and Managers could help by using their skills to support those working at home and who may be struggling with poor Mental Health – perhaps for the very first time. We may have anticipated that this way of offering support would be in some cases, different and a challenge.

Almost a full 8 months on we have been through the highs and lows associated with the Pandemic and, for many there was a belief that things were slowly returning to normal, even if that “normal” was very different. However, the constantly changing rules and restrictions have caused chaos, uncertainty and anxiety.

We know that for many with Mental Illness and/or poor Mental Health, there has been an increase in the levels of anxiety, fear, depression and the suicide risk has also increased. It is time again for us to revisit how we can continue to support those who are struggling and are again working from home, Also support is needed for those who either have, or are about to return to the workplace

So how can we once again step up our level of support? Initially we need to be OK ourselves before supporting others, so we need to make sure that we all do the following –

• Set a workable routine
• Build in breaks
• Make sure when you finish for the day your “work” is put away
• Make sure you keep hydrated
• Get some fresh air and exercise
• Keep in touch with friends and family
• Learn something new or reinvent a hobby you have not done for a while
• Do something nice for yourself
• Set working and personal goals and reward yourself when you achieve them
• Be kind to yourself (and others)
• Laugh!!

It is important to remember we know about the importance of boundaries within the MHFA role.

The boundaries are there for a reason so ensure to keep to them –

• Make sure you are contactable and check that you are happy to be contacted.
• Remind managers that you are there and can help with staff support.
• Consider your method, for example will you wait for someone to contact you or will you approach them
• What do you already know about the person (if anything)
• How would you feel about setting up a “virtual meeting”
• Consider the skills you have and think about putting together a mental health wellbeing event
• Revisit the ALGEE model and decide how it can be used in terms of supporting those in lockdown
• Apply the tips above to yourself in terms of your wellbeing
• Remember that everyone, whilst experiencing the same thing, will experience it differently depending on their unique window on the world

Think too about how feelings may be influenced by things such as

• Your personal situation
• What lockdown has been like for you?
• Your own views about what’s happened so far, and what should happen next?
• Things that may be outside of your control.
• How resilient are you/they feeling?
• What do you know about yours and others reaction to change?

As restrictions are implemented within the UK, and others may be following different rules to you. Your general mood may feel quite different to how they would be if everyone was going through lockdown at the same time, with everyone following the same rules.

The role of a Wellbeing Champion or Mental Health First aider can on occasion be challenging; with this is mind, Care first can offer support in a one off call. This is not counselling, but rather a one off stand-alone conversation to briefly explore the possible impact of what you may have been supporting an individual with and will enable you to put in to perspective how you may be feeling. Following this exploration the Care first Counsellor will provide you with any necessary support to help you to move forwards and continue in your role.

Equally, Managers are also able to access the Care first Management Support service. All Care first Counsellors are Management trained and are able to provide Management consultancy to support you within your role. For some, the combination of workplace difficulties with personal concerns can lead to a deterioration of performance at work. Change can be a major source of pressure and can provoke negative reactions among employees. For some individuals it will not be possible to contain their anxiety and work effectively. As a Manager, you may be the first to identify those who are not coping well and the Care first Management support service can help and guide you to support employees appropriately whilst still maintaining your managerial boundaries.

If you would like to view the Webinar on ‘Information for MHFA’s, MH Champions and Managers on supporting teams during Lockdown’, this is being delivered live today at 12pm. To register you will need to use the below link :

https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/3074297594198781197

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

With second lockdowns happening across the UK we are having to adapt once again to the new restrictions and with it being a second lockdown for most of us, we know the drill. These lockdown restrictions affect many things, but most noticeably it affects not only our social life, but also our relationships with family and loved ones whether you are living with them or not.

Looking after your closest relationships during lockdown can be difficult; using technology to replace physical meet ups with friends or family does not come naturally to us all, nor is it easy to be locked in with loved ones without getting on each other’s nerves.

Whatever the scenario, nurturing your relationships during lockdown is important to us all, below are some things to consider to help you do just that

Try to understand and be patient

The stress and anxiety caused by lockdown affects us all differently, but it is common for these stresses and frustrations from lockdown to make us and others easily irritable. With this in mind we may find ourselves being more snappy than usual, or having less patience with others and vice versa. To avoid this putting strain on your relationships, it is best to consider that this frustration is heightened by the situation and perhaps not a true representation of how you or they feel. By understanding this it will help you recognise a situation before it becomes something bigger than it is.

Ways to maintain good relationships

Below are some small things we can all do to help maintain good relationships during lockdown, but also are good to do in everyday life post lockdown too.

Make time for people – Everyone’s schedules are a bit up in the air with lockdown, but always try to keep some time aside to catch up with friends and family. Whether that’s a phone or video call, or spending some quality time with the ones you live with.

Be engaged – Pay attention to people, make sure you’re properly listening and not distracted by your phone, or work, or anything else. This is greatly appreciated by others and this will often be reciprocated.

Be open and honest – Allow yourself to open up and share if there is anything bothering you, give others the chance to listen and offer support. Opening up helps to build and maintain trust in relationships.

Use technology to stay connected

In the age of technology there is no shortage of ways to stay in touch during lockdown. You have the ability to instant message friends and family on a range of platforms, social media, messaging apps, texting etc. You can also video call people, or even group calls using your phone or web applications, actually seeing the person you’re connecting with brings a bit more of a personal touch. There are plenty of options out there, make sure you utilise them to maintain relationships. If you are savvy with this tech, make sure you help those that aren’t get setup so they too can keep in touch.

You can also use these platforms, web forums and social media to connect with new people. Whether you connect with a group that focusses on some shared interests, or a friendly group you can chat to, it is often nice to mix it up and build new friendships.

Maintaining relationships at home

It is intense to be in lockdown with friends and loved ones, frustrations can build and put strain on relationships, taking a proactive step to avoid tensions rising can make all the difference. Create some house rules, taking into account the above to help mitigate building tensions. Setting a time for spending quality time together on a regular basis can help maintain relationships, others may find everyone chipping in to help around the house might give others a sense of use when they feel there is nothing else to do. Create a place where people can share how they are feeling without being scrutinised, a place where people can share if they are struggling with anything and work out a solution. Each household may benefit from different things, so assess the situation and make some suggestions that could work for yours.

More information

If you would like to view the Webinar on ‘Nurturing relationships during lockdown’ this is being delivered live today at 12:00pm, please use the following link to register for this session –

https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/7189565107757163278

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 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 join our webinar on Monday 16th November at 12.30pm using the details below –

https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/6583147061642562061

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.

Most people understand bullying as behaviour by an individual or group, repeated over time that is intended to hurt another individual, or group either physically or emotionally. If you are struggling with bullying, harassment, cyberbullying or anti-social behaviour issues, we hope this article and webinar will enable you to identify solutions and remedies along with practical help.

All bullying, whatever the motivation or method is unacceptable and should not be tolerated. It can affect anyone and we are all potential targets – whether we are an adult, child or the bullying is at school, in the community, at work, online or at home.

Types of Cyberbullying

There are many ways of bullying someone online and for some it can take shape in more ways than one.

Some of the types of cyberbullying are:

Harassment – This is the act of sending offensive, rude, and insulting messages and being abusive. Nasty or humiliating comments on posts, photos and in chat rooms. Being explicitly offensive.
Denigration – This is when someone may send information about another person that is fake, damaging and untrue. Sharing photos of someone for the purpose to ridicule, spreading fake rumours and gossip. This can be on any site online or on apps. We even hear about people altering photos of others and posting it online for the purpose of bullying.
Flaming – This is when someone is purposely using really extreme and offensive language and getting into online arguments and fights. They do this to cause reactions and enjoy the fact it causes someone to get distressed.
Impersonation – This is when someone will hack into someone’s email or social networking account and use the person’s online identity to send or post vicious or embarrassing material to/about others. The making up of fake profiles on social
network sites, apps and online are common place and it can be really difficult to get them closed down.
Outing and Trickery – This is when someone may share personal information about another or trick someone into revealing secrets and forward it to others. They may also do this with private images and videos too.
Cyber Stalking – This is the act of repeatedly sending messages that include threats of harm, harassment, intimidating messages, or engaging in other online activities that make a person afraid for his or her safety. The actions may be illegal too depending on what they are doing.
Exclusion – This is when others intentionally leave someone out of a group such as group messages, online apps, gaming sites and other online engagement. This is also a form of social bullying and very common.

Bullying by spreading rumours and gossip

The worst thing about social networking sites and messaging apps, is that anything nasty posted about you can be seen by lots of people and these posts can go viral very fast and be shared by so many people within minutes in some cases.

According to a study by bullying.co.uk. People who have been bullied online, gossip and rumours are often spread by people who were once friends or work colleagues. Posting false and malicious details about people on the internet can be classed as harassment.

Threatening behaviour

Anyone who makes threats to you on the internet could be committing a criminal offence. It is against the law in the UK to use the phone system, which includes the internet, to cause alarm or distress. It could also be against the 1997 Harassment Act. If threats are made against you then it is essential you make a complaint to the police. If you can’t print
out the threats use the “print screen” button or snipping tool to take a snapshot of the computer screen and then save that somewhere safe. Or if you have a phone or tablet, use the screenshot function and keep these images safe.

Tips and advice

• If an individual posts abuse or sends threats, they can be traced by the police without any difficulty. Every time an individual visits a website or makes a posting, your internet service provider should have an electronic note of your activity. Even if you create an anonymous email.
• Keep safe by using unusual passwords. Use a combination of letters, lowercase, uppercase, symbols and numbers. Don’t use any part of your name or email address and don’t use your birth date either because that’s easy for people who know you to guess. Don’t let anyone see you signing in and if they do, change the password as soon as you can.
• If you are using a public computer such as one in a library, computer shop, or even a shared family computer, be sure to sign out of any web service you are using before leaving the computer so that you can protect your privacy.
• Think twice before you post anything online because once it’s out there you can’t take it back. It is easy for any comments or posts you make online to be taken out of context and these could be damaging to you in the long term. Consider reading more about digital footprints and how this can affect your life both online and offline.

For many, cyberbullying affects their everyday lives and is a constant source of distress and worry. With mobile technology being so freely available it is an ongoing issue and one that is relentless. Not only does it go on after school, college or work has finished, but it then carries through into the next day and the cycle continues. It has been well documented that cyberbullying has resulted in tragic events including suicide, and self-harm.

If you are worried that your loved one might be the victim of cyberbullying, below are some tell-tale signs:

• Low self-esteem
• Withdrawal from family and spending a lot of time alone
• Reluctance to let parents or other family members anywhere near their mobiles, laptops etc
• Finding excuses to stay away from school or work including school refusal
• Friends disappearing or being excluded from social events
• Losing weight or changing appearance to try and fit in
• A change in personality i.e. anger, depression, crying, withdrawn

If you would like to view the Webinar on ‘Cyberbullying’ this is being delivered live on Friday 13th November at 12pm, join us on the day or register now by clicking on the link below to ensure your place:

https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/3508786106412169486

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 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.

As the COVID-19 situation is progressing with another National lockdown announced and all the 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.

Counselling is often considered an effective tool to help support with stress, low mood, anxiety and depression. Counselling can also be used to support a variety of day-to-day issues including; relationship problems, family issues, bereavement, work related issues, difficult life events and many more. Care first employ BACP accredited Counsellors
who are all Management trained and qualified with the minimum of a Diploma. Everyone has very individual needs for support, Care first provides short term focused 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 it could be that you may benefit from a few more sessions.

How counselling can have a positive impact on your mental wellbeing

• See your thoughts from a different point of view – Speaking to someone else, especially a Counsellor who is impartial and independent away from the situation can help to give you a different view point and may help you to think about things in a different way.
• Feel less alone in your problems – Sharing any issues you may have with a Counsellor may help you to feel better because you have discussed it with someone else. A Counsellor can often be a good person to share your problems or worries with as they are impartial and non judgmental. It may also help by getting “everything off your chest” and talking about your feelings may help you to feel less burdened by them.
• Increased level of self-awareness – Looking at yourself by speaking to a Counsellor can help by seeing yourself from the outside looking in. This can be very beneficial at making you more content with yourself and may benefit your overall self-esteem.
• Help you to take control – Counselling can help by identifying the elements in your life to focus on that you can control. This can help you to move forward.
• Talking is good for you – Talking about issues may help you to start dealing with them. By not talking about issues, we tend to go over and over them in our mind which is not good for our mental wellbeing and can also affect other aspects of our overall wellbeing such as our sleep patterns for example.
• Challenge your mind – By speaking with a Counsellor you may think about things from a different perspective and challenge your own mind to why you feel the way you do, how you might approach things differently, or what might be causing
  you to feel the way you do.
• Can empower you – Talking therapies involve the individual and the Counsellor playing active roles. By you having to play an active part in the counselling may help you to feel empowered at a time when you may feel like you have lost control of your life or parts of your life.
• Different Emotions – Counselling can help you to cope and manage with a variety of different emotions from grief, guilt, anger, sadness, confusion and low self-esteem to name a few.

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.

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 ‘How counselling can have a positive impact on your mental wellbeing’ this is being delivered live on Thursday 12th November at 12pm please use the below link to register for this session –

https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/342621427949352207

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.

With the events that have unfolded during 2020 we have all been a bit preoccupied with dealing with the global pandemic of COVID-19, which for many has meant that other topics took a back seat, one of those topics is Brexit and how that will affect our lives.

There are many things that are likely to change as a knock on affect from Brexit, including how we can travel to European countries for our holidays. Considering the new lockdown measures and restrictions on travelling abroad due to COVID-19, we may not be travelling all that much anyway.

However, it is good to know what (if anything) will change for us when travelling after January 1st 2021.

Things that will change:

• Your passport validity – Currently we can travel to EU countries up until the very expiry of our passports, this will no longer be the case after Jan 1st 2021. You must now have at least 6 months left before expiry on your passport and your passport must be less than 10 years old. So, if you are planning a quick getaway in the New Year if the COVID-19 restrictions allow, you may want to take this in to consideration!
• Being allowed in – Currently when travelling to an EU country, at border control it is only usually our passports that are checked. From January 1st 2021 this may not be the case. We may be asked to show that we have a return ticket, or have enough money for our stay. We will also no longer be allowed to queue in the EU lane when arriving at border control.
• Mobile roaming – This is something to be wary of to avoid racking up any unwanted bills. Many of us will have free EU data roaming included in our phone deals; which means we can use data, call and text anywhere within the EU. Although this is not a guaranteed change across the board, it is advised that you check with your provider before travelling.
• European health insurance (EHIC) – It has always been important to ensure you have some form of health insurance when travelling abroad. Most people have historically used the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) which covered them for traveling within the EU. The EHIC is unfortunately coming to an end from January 1st 2021. This means we will now need to seek other options for travel insurance before travelling.
• Driving – Many of us like to rent a car, or use our own when travelling within the EU for ease of getting around to sites from our accommodation, but driving abroad may be getting a bit harder. Currently our UK driving licenses are valid in EU countries, but this may change. Depending on where you are going you may be required to obtain specific driving documents, otherwise you could face a fine or a seizure of your car. If you are driving your own car form the UK, you will need to put a GB sticker on the back or you could face a fine.
• Taking your pets on holiday – If you are wanting to take your fury friends on holiday with you, you will now have to get in touch with your vets at least 4 months prior to travelling to make sure your pet has the right vaccinations
  and travel documents. If you do not have these then you will not be able to take your pet with you. This also applies for assistance dogs. Bear this in mind as the last thing you want before jetting off on holiday is to get stuck at the airport with nowhere for your pet to go.

Future changes

A lot of us are chomping at the bit to go away on holiday once COVID-19 has settled down, so we will all be snapping up the last minute deals to go away. But please do bear the above points in mind. With the new UK lockdown and Christmas coming up, it is unlikely many of us will be travelling before these changes come in to effect, so consider this before booking a last minute deal and finding your passport will no longer be valid. You can keep up to date if there are any additional changes on the government website. You can
access this information by using the following link – https://www.gov.uk/visit-europe-1-january-2021

More information

If you would like to view the Webinar on ‘Changes for travelling to Europe from 1st January’ this is being delivered live on Wednesday 11th November at 12:00pm, please use the following link to register for this session –
https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/9015877011102095885

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 many areas in the UK have recently experienced differing local lockdowns, our  collective sense of wellbeing may have decreased for many. Now is a good time to consider the things that worked well for us, or that we found beneficial during the previous lockdown and to remind ourselves of the things that didn’t. For many, reminding ourselves that we have been through this once before and whilst it may have been challenging we came through it, can help to give us an element and sense of control which we can apply to this lockdown.

To help you find some positives during our second national lockdown, Care first has compiled the below tips…

Pursue a hobby

Focus on the enjoyable things you can do, rather than those you temporarily cannot. Find a hobby, such as learning a new language, trying a new recipe or craft that you can do from home, perhaps utilising apps, online materials or books.

Listen to music

It sounds simple to say, but listening to music can provide a sense of escapism for many who may be feeling overwhelmed by the second national lockdown. A recent study by Spotify and CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably) found that 88% of people listened to music to enhance their mood and wellbeing.

Keep a gratitude journal

Research in positive psychology – the scientific study of happiness – suggests that practicing gratitude can help increase overall feelings of happiness and positivity. The format of the journal is not important – the most important thing is to record the good things that happened to you that day.

Limit your news consumption

If you are anxious about the state of the World and are feeling overwhelmed by the news at the moment, resist the temptation to continually check your newsfeed. In times of uncertainty or crisis, it is normal to want to have as much relevant information as possible. However, constantly looking at a news app, or watching the news on TV can
overwhelm us, so try and limit your time spent watching or reading news updates.

Find time to exercise

The positive impact of exercise on both our physical and mental health is well documented. During times of uncertainty it can be tempting to temporarily give-up our regular routines, including time for exercise. So try and allow time for some exercise each day, whether it be a home workout or a walk around the block. It is important to
understand that maintaining these routines can be beneficial to our overall wellbeing.

Seek support when needed

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

Useful Sources & Information

If you would like to access this information in more detail please follow the links below –
https://www.thecalmzone.net/2020/06/spotify-x-calm/

For further tips on ‘Finding positives during Lockdown’, please join our live webinar on Tuesday 10 November 2020 at 12pm. To register your attendance please follow the link:

https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/7008134693926370316

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

How Care First Can Support You & An Update On Their Services

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 join their weekly webinar on a Monday at 12pm by logging in to their website and registering.

The details needed to log in are:

Username: uokent Password: university

You can access the website here.

If you are unable to join the webinar live, a recording of the session can be accessed afterwards.

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.