Take a breath... Take a second...
By Nicola Reynolds
UK MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS WEEK 14th-20th MAY 2018
This year the UK supported and promoted Mental Health Week in a number of ways - one large topic of
communication was about STRESS.
Stress can and does affect us all, NOT just adults but children also.
‘Stress is a function of the demands placed on us and our ability to meet them’ kids.org
There are lots of myths about mental health and we as a community all need to take action and break down the
barriers, dispel the myths and support each other. ‘Stigma and judgement comes from the fear of the unknown’.
Let’s all do something to educate each other and ourselves about mental health. Let’s all use the world’s largest
book, the internet, and source ways in which we can help reduce our stress levels.
Mental health isn’t a disorder; we should openly discuss our problems just as much as we would a physical
problem.
As practitioners we need to make sure we look after ourselves. The job we do is very stressful, and having such
an important role as educating, safeguarding and supporting our children’s individual needs can take its toll on
our mental health. Please make sure you are taking the time to prioritise your tasks, taking the time to step
away from the classroom for your breaks, talking to colleagues about any concerns.
TOP TIPS for reducing stress for adults and children… GET ENOUGH REST, plenty of rest does reduce stress
levels, you need to give your mind a break. Get the recommended amount of WATER, studies show that this has
a huge impact on your mental health. Grab a pencil and ORGANISE/PRIORTISE, writing down a problem or a set
of tasks makes it easier to tackle. COMMUNICATION, talking to children, colleagues, friends and others around
you does reduce anxiety. EXERCISE, the body releases more endorphins (happy chemicals) in the brain when
you exercise. These endorphins make you feel happier - that’s a fact. TAKING THE TIME to ask those around you if
they are ok. Make time to SOCIALISE, get a HOBBY. Keep a POSITIVE ATTITUDE.
If you feel under high levels of stress, talk to someone. The saying goes ‘a problem shared is a problem halved’.
There are plenty of organisations who specialise in listening and supporting individuals with mental health
questions and concerns. Here are a few based in the UAE: lighthousearabia.com, priorygroup.ae, better-
help.com
DID YOU KNOW…..1 in 10 children between the age of 5-16 years old has suffered from a mental health
problem, this claim is from a study carried out in 2016.