Western Community Primary School
Mental Health Day Newsletter
Today marks World Mental Health Day - Tuesday 10th October 2023.
The theme for 2023, set by the World Foundation of Mental Health, is ‘Mental health is a universal human right’.
World Mental Health Day is about raising awareness of mental health and driving positive change for everyone’s mental health.
This newsletter is designed to give some useful hints and tips on how to look after your mental health and wellbeing and also signpost to local organisations that are available to all.
Mental Health is a Universal Human Right
Mental health is a basic human right for all people. Everyone, whoever and wherever they are, has a right to the highest attainable standard of mental health. This includes the right to be protected from mental health risks, the right to available, accessible, acceptable, and good quality care, and the right to liberty, independence and inclusion in the community.
Good mental health is vital to our overall health and well-being. Yet one in eight people globally are living with mental health conditions, which can impact their physical health, their well-being, how they connect with others, and their livelihoods.
In the UK, our human rights are protected by the Human Rights Act 1998. It means all public authorities – including the government, police, NHS and local authorities – must treat everyone equally, with dignity, fairness and respect.
How do we maintain good mental health and wellbeing?
According to the NHS, Evidence suggests there are 5 steps you can take to improve your mental health and wellbeing. Trying these things could help you feel more positive and able to get the most out of life.
1. Connect with other people
Good relationships are important for your mental wellbeing. They can:
- Help you to build a sense of belonging and self-worth
- Give you an opportunity to share positive experiences
- Provide emotional support and allow you to support others
2. Be physically active
Being active is not only great for your physical health and fitness. Evidence also shows it can also improve your mental wellbeing by:
raising your self-esteem
helping you to set goals or challenges and achieve them
causing chemical changes in your brain which can help to positively change your mood
3. Learn new skills
Research shows that learning new skills can also improve your mental wellbeing by:
boosting self-confidence and raising self-esteem
helping you to build a sense of purpose
helping you to connect with others
Even if you feel like you do not have enough time, or you may not need to learn new things, there are lots of different ways to bring learning into your life.
4. Give to others
Research suggests that acts of giving and kindness can help improve your mental wellbeing by:
creating positive feelings and a sense of reward
giving you a feeling of purpose and self-worth
helping you connect with other people
It could be small acts of kindness towards other people, or larger ones like volunteering in your local community.
5. Pay attention to the present moment (mindfulness)
Paying more attention to the present moment can improve your mental wellbeing. This includes your thoughts and feelings, your body and the world around you.
Some people call this awareness "mindfulness". Mindfulness can help you enjoy life more and understand yourself better. It can positively change the way you feel about life and how you approach challenges.
For further information on the 5 ways to mental health and wellbeing, please see the following links:
Managing our mental health as a parent/carer
It can be hard to seek help as a parent. You might worry about being judged or tell yourself you have to keep going on your own. Try not to put pressure on yourself to be a ‘perfect parent’. Remember, all parents have hard times, and there’s no shame in needing extra support.
Some of these ideas may help:
Take care of your mental health
This could mean eating well, making time for physical activity, giving up smoking, getting better sleep or talking to your GP about different treatment options.
Build a support network
Find people you can rely on for practical and emotional support. Tell them when you’re starting to find things difficult and tell them what you need, whether that’s help getting the children to school or booking a GP appointment.
Have a routine and stay organised
Sticking to regular times for mealtimes and bedtimes can help you feel more grounded and help your children feel more secure.
Write down your family routines so other people supporting your family can provide continuity and a sense of security. As well as your children’s daily and weekly routines, you could include their likes and dislikes. This can help you feel more in control if there are times you can’t be as hands-on.
Ask your employer about flexible working
Having a better work-life balance can help you manage working and parenting in a healthier way.
Seek help from your local authority
Your local authority has a duty to provide social care if your mental health means it’s hard to care for yourself or for your children. They can also support your children if they’re caring for you
As a parent, you’ve always got a to-do list. But it’s also important that you look after your own mental health and wellbeing. Taking care of your mental health needs will help you feel more able to deal with the tricky moments when they arise.
Make time to do things that give you energy and make you feel good!!
For further advice and tips on how to manage your mental health as a parent/carer please see the following links:
https://parents.actionforchildren.org.uk/mental-health-wellbeing/stress/parents-self-care/
https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/tips-for-everyday-living/parenting-and-mental-health/
What should I do if I am worried about my own mental health and wellbeing?
There are a number of different resources online that can help give advice and support if you find you are experiencing a difficult time with your own mental health and wellbeing.
The first thing you should do though is – know it is okay to not be okay!
The second thing you should do is ask for help! Seeking help is often the first step towards getting and staying well, but it can be hard to know how to start or where to turn to. It's common to feel unsure, and to wonder whether you should try to handle things on your own. But it's always ok to ask for help – even if you're not sure you are experiencing a specific mental health problem.
The third thing you should do is talk about it! Let a loved one such as a partner/ family member or close friend know that you are struggling. They could: help you to find information, discuss your options with you come with you to appointments ,help out with everyday tasks, give encouragement and support.
Please see the list below of both local and national organisations that offer all types of help, support and advice on mental health and wellbeing.
National
Local – Newcastle and North Tyneside
https://www.everyturn.org/community-wellbeing/community-mental-health-support/
https://www.northumbria.nhs.uk/talkingtherapies#16adc6a5