Wellbeing Bulletin - May 2020

What is Mental Health Awareness Week?

We all have mental health – good or not so good – and around one in four people in the UK will experience a mental health problem each year, so it’s not something we should brush under the carpet. Mental Health Awareness Week aims to get people talking about their mental health and reduce the stigma that can stop people from getting help. In light of the ongoing worldwide COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s campaign focuses on ‘kindness’ and our mental health. The aim is to raise awareness and “inspire action to promote the message of good mental health for all.”

Mental health and kindness

Due to the ways in which the pandemic has affected our daily lives, the Mental Health Foundation is using Mental Health Awareness Week to celebrate the acts of kindness that have emerged while the world faces the COVID-19 challenge. We have learnt that amid the anxiety, there is also community, support and hope.

By focusing on the importance of kindness and the role that it plays in our mental health, the goal of the campaign is to help shape our society’s outlook on mental health when we return to normality.

We all have so much going on in our lives, lots of strains and stresses, and we are currently living in a unique time. Being kind can get pushed to one side, in favour of what is urgent or what is ‘trending’ now. But taking time to be kind to other people and ourselves can make us feel good, help reduce stress and be beneficial for our own emotional wellbeing.

 What is kindness really?

Kindness is simply a positive action that leaves someone in a better situation than before. There are many ways that you can help others as part of your everyday life; carrying out good deeds doesn’t need to take a lot of time or cost money and small changes can make a big difference. Literally, it can be anything: a smile, bringing food to someone, connecting with an old friend online or over the phone. Even treating yourself to a long soak in the bath or listening to your favourite music on replay – these are all acts of kindness. That’s right, you can, and should, be kind to yourself too!

So often we hold back from being kind because we don’t know what to do or we don’t think our actions will make an impact, but they do! The research proves this. What’s important is to just take action no matter how small.

Benefits of kindness

Kindness not only benefits others, but it also improves our own life as much or sometimes more. It helps make the world a happier place – it’s contagious! Kindness Guru David Hamilton PhD has spent years looking at the effects of kindness and the science has found that an act of kindness can improve feelings of confidence, being in control, happiness and optimism. It may also encourage others to repeat the good deed that they’ve experienced themselves – contributing to a more positive community. Some of the other benefits of kindness are:

• Improves immune system functioning
• Boosts serotonin and dopamine levels in your brain – these are known as the ‘feel good, happy hormones’
• Decreases stress levels
• Builds feelings of meaning, purpose and self-worth
• Helps you connect with other people and reduces isolation

Simply put, being kinder and helping others in our daily lives can reduce stress and improve our emotional wellbeing and physical health.

How do I do this during lockdown? 

With the COVID-19 outbreak causing much distress and concern around the world, it’s the ideal time for us all to show ourselves and each other more kindness and compassion.

From residents singing on their balconies in Italy, to people clapping in their doorways for the NHS and key workers in the UK, there has been an inspiring amount of kindness seen around the world during these uncertain times.

Before you start thinking about your act of kindness, please remember the tips below:

• Keep others in mind. Although carrying out good deeds for other people can make you feel good, don’t forget to keep in mind why you’re doing it – for their benefit not yours.
• Don’t overdo it. If you find that you are giving too much of yourself or have gone beyond your personal resources, think about taking a step back. We recommend starting small so that you don’t become overwhelmed or give more than you are emotionally or in other ways able to give.

Here are a few ideas on how you can get involved with Mental Health Awareness Week:

• Random acts of kindness. Use the time we have at home to make the world a happier place by carrying out random acts of kindness. These can be as big or small as you would like, as long as they come from a place of sincerity and compassion. For example, you could; reach out to friend who you haven’t spoken too in a long time, make a cup of tea for someone you live with or make a donation to a charity close to your heart. The possibilities are endless!

• Be kind to yourself. It can be easy to forget about yourself while practising kindness, however, self-care is essential in maintaining healthy general wellbeing. Treat yourself to something you enjoy, such as watching your favourite film or spending an evening relaxing with a bath and a book. We also understand that you and others in your household may be feeling particularly worried or sad during this time, making it hard to be productive. It is important to look after our wellbeing and our relationships. Speak with your manager and colleagues to let them know how you are and if you need support and we also have our Mental Health First Aiders  and an Employee Assistance Programme (EAP). The COVID-19 Wellbeing intranet pages also has a range of topics and information to help us during this time.

• Spread the word. Use the hashtag #WorldMentalHealthWeek on social media and share in the SCC Facebook group any stories or acts that you have found inspiring or undertaken during these times. The more positivity and kindness that we can spread via our social channels, the better.

• Call a friend that you haven’t spoken to for a while
• Tell a family member how much you love and appreciate them
• Arrange to have a cup of tea and virtual catch up with someone you know
• Arrange to watch a film at the same time as a friend and video call
• Tell someone you know that you are proud of them
• Tell someone you know why you are thankful for them
• Send a motivational text to a friend who is struggling
• Send someone you know a joke to cheer them up
• Send someone you know a picture of a cute animal
• Send an interesting article to a friend
• Contact someone you haven’t seen in a while and arrange a virtual catch up
• Send a card to someone to tell them you are thinking of them

Home  

• Make a cup of tea for someone you live with
• Say thank-you more
• Help with a household chore
• Spend time playing with your child or pet
• Take time to yourself when you feel stressed – go for a short walk or have a coffee-break
• And be kind to the planet
  • Turn off electrical items at the plug socket
  • Put clothes to one side to donate to a charity shop (once they are open!) or offer them to friends instead of throwing them out

Community

• Offer to buy and send someone a takeaway or a meal
• Make yourself known to anyone elderly or vulnerable in your community or neighbours so they have somewhere to turn if they need help
• Call and chat to someone you think might be lonely
• Promote or support charities and good causes on your social media pages

Work

• Take the time to get to know your colleagues – just adding a minute to a work call to ask them how they are can help
• Lend your ear – call a colleague and ask how they’re finding the change in routine and listen to their concerns fully
• Give praise to your colleague for something they’ve done well
• Arrange to have a video lunch or coffee break with a colleague
• Arrange something fun like a team quiz, reading book group or film club

Do some of these and you’ll soon see how powerful kindness actually is and how simple it is to do. Once you start, you’ll create a ripple effect that’ll inspire people all around you to spread kindness too. What’s one kind act you plan to do today?

An act of kindness, well done Lewis!

We want to give a big shout out to Lewis. Lewis is 13 years old and the son of Emily Davis and nephew of Sarah Lou, both of whom work within the 0-19 Integrated Early Help and Prevention West Team (SureStart). Lewis has Trisomy 8 Mosaic Syndrome which means he has weak muscles, stiff joints and global development delay which is why he cannot ride a traditional bike.

Lewis has been on the vulnerable list during the COVID-19 pandemic and had been thinking of ways to give back to the community. When his mum told him about the work FareShare do to help families, he knew they were the charity that he wanted to raise money for. Using a specially designed bike from his ‘wonderful school’, he cycled around a track close to his home where he managed 30 laps instead of the 10 he aimed for. Lewis raised an amazing £1,115 (+ gift aid) for FareShare. What an amazing act of kindness; a massive well done to Lewis!!