mental health

Is this a good or bad thing? – Mental Health under 18s at NHS A&E

Jane JamesLeave a comment

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2019/dec/04/mental-health-young-people-in-crisis-waiting-hours-for-ae-help?dm_i=52KI,4EIF,1OHPLR,FT3K,1

 

The above feature in The Guardian by Young Minds shows 13,567 under 18s accessed A&E departments in England alone over the previous year.

 

This suggests a number of things to me:

 

Stigma – the core reason people didn’t reach out for help when they needed it seems to be rescinding.  People – especially young people see mental health on a par with physical health.  This is surely a good thing as they are no longer suffering alone in silence.

England only – the 13,000+ quoted by Young Minds of under 18s is for England only.  I find this startling thinking of what the overall figures would be for the entire Union of Britain.

Right place? – is a busy, noisy A&E environment the right place for someone with mental health issues?  Especially if they experience an average of four hour wait time as the feature states.

 

Overall, I believe the rising stats show people who are suffering are no longer holding back on seeking help due to stigma.  This shows how far we have come as part of humanity is busting the myths and stigma surrounding mental health.

 

There are a growing number of dedicated charities with bespoke experience in supporting all ages, backgrounds and cultures.  Some have 24/7 services including text lines or phone lines.  I think one of the key missing pieces of information is a knowledge of the applicable charities available.  These should be advertised everywhere – schools, colleges, doctors, dentists, opticians, supermarkets, job centre plus offices absolutely everywhere people go.  Giving people a menu of options enables them to select what might be the most suitable for them and reduce the pressure on A&E hospital services.

Some charities I know that might help you/those you know are below.  Why not keep a few in your mobile ? – you never know when you might need them:

 

Give Us a Shout – 24/7 Crisis Text time – text Shout to 85258

Young Minds – website with signposting resources for young people and their parents – http://www.youngminds.org

Place 2 Be – website – resources for school children – http://www.place2be.org.uk

Campaign Against Living Miserably – web chat and helpline manned 5pm-midnight http://www.thecalmzone.net

 

 

 

 

 

Mental Health – when do we start teaching it?

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The conversation has been getting bolder and louder over the part decade or so on Mental Health.  Businesses are now putting in place some training around starting and managing a conversation when a change is noticed.  We know a lot about self-care and the importance of observing our self-care techniques as ‘non-negotiable’.

 

However, with the report published below, we can see how earlier intervention is essential. Check out the link below… the stats are shameful.

 

https://news.sky.com/story/teachers-to-work-with-nhs-to-support-mental-health-of-young-people-in-schools-11761403

 

1 in 9 of children in full-time education aged 5 to 15  has a diagnosable mental health condition.  Maybe read that again.

 

In 2017 there were 226 recorded suicides of people in full-time education including primary schools.  Again – shocking.

 

We know education about road safety has reduced road deaths.  We know regular brushing of our teeth reduces teeth decay.  We start learning these things at home before we’ve event gone to school.

 

Shouldn’t parents be talking openly to their children about feelings, kindness to others, it’s ok not to feel ok and it’s a strength to alway talk about our feelings?  Surely this would start to normalise mental health.

 

Of course not every parent is equipped to provide this guidance.

 

Schools have a lot on their curriculum.  Considering the huge cost to society, business, NHS, communities, families etc, isn’t it now worth making part of Ofsted’s school inspection look at the provision of mental health resources in our schools to nourish the future generations making them more robust in dealing with life issues?

 

The earlier the intervention the better the recovery.

 

Do we make a difference now or wait for the time bomb to stop ticking and just explode?

 

Doing the right thing or risking a lawsuit? Food for thought?

Jane James1 Comment

As a Mental Health Instructor for over 10 years, I am enthused to see the growth towards seeing and respecting mental health in in the same way we see and respect physical health.  Everyone is comfortable enquiring if a cold is better – not quite so comfortable asking how someone is feeling on their return to work after say depression.

 

The internet is full of well intentioned plans and events to raise the bar in talking about mental health and I see more employers supporting events like #MHAW2019 – Mental Health Awareness Week which starts 13 May.  Really great intentions.

 

But is there a risk of being sued under the Equalities Act 2010 and taken to Employment Tribunal?

 

Some of the employers I know allow all staff, regardless of screening to see if they are equipped to listen to someone else’s pain, to be a ‘listening ear’.

 

You don’t know what you are going to hear when you sit down to listen to someone struggling.  It can be an emotive area the listener has strong views on – such as self-harm.  Even if they can listen without judging – are they knowledgeable on how to signpost someone on? do they know how to take care of themselves after listening to someone’s pain?

 

I feel very strongly that we should be talking more openly in every day conversations about all human issues especially mental health.  But I feel just as strongly that we need to train those listeners how to listen, signpost and look after themselves.

 

Why not have a #MHAAT (Mental Health Aware And Trained) badge for trained employees to wear all year – not just one week.  Wouldn’t we make more of an impact and reduce the risk of a challenge under the Equalities Act at Employment Tribunal?

 

What do you think?

London Chamber of Commerce – what to expect?

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After four years of running my business delivering Growing Talent and Mental Health/Wellbeing programmes, I felt the time was right to increase my business awareness, network with like-minded organisations and ultimately grow Growing Talent to get even more people into work from diverse backgrounds.

 

Quite a big membership fee for a ‘one man band’ organisation but the events and knowledge LCC showcase they deliver on their website should make this cost-effective.

 

I guess you only get out what you put in!

 

My first networking event is on 6 June 2018 so not long to wait to see if the proof is in the pudding or not!

 

If there are any fellow members out there – I’d appreciate your top tips!

 

Update – 8.6.18 – for the first half hour I wondered what I was doing there!  There was no staff to direct, no kind of instruction manual – although I now understand there is an introduction session for new members which kicks in a couple of weeks joining!  So we were all in a large room with team/coffee etc and left to our own devices with colour coded badges – although not everyone had been given the key to the colour coding.  Equally, I was wrongly coded as a PR company! How many others were wrongly coded as well?  A couple of people I spoke with told me they were not renewing, others said they had grown strong client relationships.  I guess more than one event is needed to form a true opinion!

 

 

Challenging The Mindset – WiFM 2018

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British Institute of Facilities Management (BIFM) run an annual event for women in FM.  This year’s was focussed on Mental Health in the Workplace – Challenging The Mindset.

 

It was my first time.  The day was well structured  with diverse speakers with plenty of networking opportunities.

 

Unfortunately, I could only stay for the morning session. Opened by the Chair of Women in FM, Jackie Furey, the scene was set for an intensive learning session with over 100 delegates in the room.

 

Of course the AV gremlins were in force and every speaker had the test of dealing with rogue sound and spinning slides – which they all did with excellent grace.  I wondered if this was deliberate as it certainly broke the ice!

 

Jackie introduced Louise Ashton, Wellbeing Director from BiTC.  Louise fired off a lot of stats, policy etc but a disappointment for me was no mention of signposting for suicide.  People don’t need to know the stats they need to know what to do.  So in the Q&A session, I shared the excellent free add #StayAlive which gives step by step guidance and signposting.

 

Next was Asa Bjornberg who uses horses in her unique and interesting work.  Asa shared her journey from being an expert at McKinsey & Company to becoming a clinical psychologist and coach using horses in her leadership and development programmes. Asa also shared some of her personal exposure t mental health and recovery.  Hugely innovative and interesting session.

 

Bianca Angelico followed Asa.  She is Deputy Chair of Women in FM and an exec manager at Sodexo.  She shared a heart rendering experience made all the more human and poignant by her dad in the audience who had travelled from the family home in South Africa to support Bianca.

 

Karen Shaw – passionate Employer Programme Manager from the excellent Time To Change spoke about their role, their work in removing stigma at work and encouraging all to sign the Time to Change Pledge.

 

Lauren Trent a recruitment consultant with Trust in SODA made some in the audience reach for the Kleenex again.  She was one of the people involved in the acid throwing by Arthur Collins.  Her visible concern for her friend who was with her on the night and more disfigured was permeable.  Lauren enabled the audience to know what the life long journey is for someone affected by this horrendous trend to use corrosive substances as weapons and the confusion on the night with a lack of help from the nightclub, the horror of having her family over an hour away and the pain for them.  Lauren spoke about the training needed for everyone on what to do in an acid attack.

 

Graham Bird, Workplace Director at Where we Work gave a funny, presentation on how to look after ourselves in the workplace which held the interest and resulted in much note taking.

 

The final speaker of the morning session was Lucy Jeynes, MD of Larch Consulting and Co-Founder of Women in FM.  The reaction of Lucy’s colleagues and peers in the audience was most startling as she revealed the mental health issue that had impacted her family, the pressure of holding it together in the workplace and supporting everyone around which no one knew about.  For me this illustrated the often hidden impact of Mental Health – trying to carry on at work as though everything was ok.  Her talk started off with a member of her family experiencing cyber bullying – a 24/7 issue that never stops…. Various stages of Mental Health decline followed until ultimately the worst case scenario was attempted but luckily unsuccessful.  Lucy shared some interesting stats – 40% of bullying is via social media, 30% is in on-line gaming platforms and 30% on instant messaging.  It’s more subtle in the workplace with ‘Frenenemies’ – pretending to be your friend but in reality they are your enemy – these offer advice and then exclude totally undermining self confidence.  Cyber bullying continues even when schools, work, location is changed.  There is a campaign to stand-up to this ‘Stop, Speak, Support’

 

An incredibly interesting event.

 

 

Businesses – want to multiple your profits by 3?

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The link below – which you’ll need to cut and paste into your browser – features some interesting research from Soma Analytics.

 

HRH Prince Harry asked in a radio broadcast what affect mental health had on business. The financial cost has been well known for years as has the human cost on individuals, colleagues, families, line management etc.

 

Soma Analytics research showed  two out of three UK large businesses do not publish their mental health strategy and support for their staff in their Annual Reports.  More startling was businesses that did publish this information saw their profits increase by three times!

 

It’s well known if you look after your staff, your staff will look after your customers and business with grow and profits increase.  So why is business so reluctant to publish what they do in their Annual Reports?

 

There is no health without good mental health…….

 

Check out the feature for yourself.  What do you think?

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-42512723

 

 

The ‘Internal Supervisor’……

Jane JamesLeave a comment

I heard this term for the first time on the ASIST 2 day workshop in Brighton.  A fellow delegate was a psychotherapist and used it to explain a technique used professionally.

 

When speaking with a client, she uses her ‘Internal Supervisor’ to highlight the occasions to dig deeper.  If she found herself getting bored, was her client getting monotone and repetitive.  Often people do this when they are trying to avoid the real issue.  As she explained this, I realised we all have an ‘Internal Supervisor’ or ‘gut instinct’.

 

I must admit, I had never questioned my moods when listening to someone else but I will from now on.  It’s a logical tool to use in supporting people to ensure we dig deep enough to get the entire story out.

 

Are you intone with your ‘Internal Supervisor’?

The Belfast Experience!

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My first visit to Belfast – home of Titanic came on 26 July 2017 ready for delivering a MHFALite course the following day.

 

It was a ‘first’ for quiet a few things.  The first time I used the automatic bag drop – with a little help from the assistant!  A great idea but I wasn’t convinced until I saw my case role off the singular baggage carousel at George Best Belfast City Airport – phew, what a relief.

 

The next first was staying in a global brand hotel where the ‘exclusive’ experience I was expecting didn’t come to fruition.  The room was very dark with no central light.  Great if you want to work at the desk with the desk spotlight but not if, like me, preference is to sprawl on the bed with laptop, books, pens etc!  Stuffiness eventually prompted me to check out the air con – which was so noisy.  This was quickly turned off and the small window opened.  Unfortunately this overlooked the metro line and main road!  After deciding to have a cup of tea – I tried fishing the large hair out of the cup – it was a crack!  Unfortunately there were several guests who decided to have a late conversation in the corridor outside my room on the way back from the bar at midnight!!!  It seemed I’d only got to sleep when the alarm clock went off!  Good job I know how to manage stress from the training I deliver on Mental Health First Aid courses!  Breakfast was a vast improvement even if the placemat was stained!

 

MHFA Lite is a three hour course to raise awareness of mental health conditions.  It’s a light touch course.  With a room full of managers from this global financial client, what would their reaction be – did they learn anything?……

 

‘Learning that different conditions manifest themselves in different ways and how having a conversation can help highlight issues’.

‘Coping strategies to suggest to others and use myself.  I have a much better awareness of the different types of mental health problems and most importantly the scale we are all on.’

‘Being mindful of my own well-being.  There is so much help available – I hadn’t realised.  Being aware of changes in others’

‘Even though I’ve done these sort of workshops before, it refreshed and added to my knowledge’

‘Listening unconditionally and being aware of small changes’

‘I feel like I could listen and provide suitable signposting’

‘It’s important to always ask even if only a small change is noticed’

 

As an Instructor it’s always great to see the learning gained from the evaluations – part of which is about the Instructor’s delivery and knowledge!  So what were the thoughts on me….. I’m glad to say a full house of top scores!

 

‘Really really enjoyable course.  Not only excellent from a line manager’s perspective but also for my own personal experience – fantastic trainer’

 

‘Instructor was very informative with lots of examples’

 

‘Very confident Instructor who encouraged participation.  An enjoyable course, well delivered’.

 

‘A straight talking Instructor’

So overall………..

 

‘A very useful course, thank you!’

‘Excellent course – useful inside and outside work’.

 

For me, the last comment is the most important.  Mental Health affects us and those closest to us both at home and work.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Spreading the knowledge……..

Jane JamesLeave a comment

Friday 23 June saw the delivery on the third in a series of MHFALite workshops for a global financial services organisation in London.  Places for a total of 60 people over the three workshops were well received.

 

MHFALite is the 3hour introduction to mental health first aid.  It is a short introduction to a big subject!  The course involves a lot of interaction, films and group work.  Having a table to work from is essential.

 

First potential pressure point – no table in the room!  The organiser had assumed all training rooms had tables in.  Unfortunately this room is used for non-interactive sessions!

 

Good humour was my tool of choice in ensuring the experience for the delegates was not diluted because of this.  Despite this hiccup, there was a lot of sharing experiences, issues at work and even some laughter.

 

A great session.  But what did the delegates think?

 

‘I will be more confident in knowing what to do.  I will also be more vocal when discussion the implementation of company policy in this area with senior management’.

 

‘Jane was authentic – added a real human touch’

 

‘I now have a list of resources handy and will be open minded when having conversations’

 

‘Helpful in identifying initial changes, language to use and addressing stigma’.

 

‘I now know what resources to access’.

 

‘Interesting to learn the link between physical and mental health’.

 

‘Jane was really passionate, pragmatic, realistic and knowledgeable’.

 

‘Really good course.  I would recommend it being made more available’.

 

‘An enormous amount of information to improve the business units approach in this area’.

 

‘One of the things I learnt was it’s ok to not get involved if I don’t feel comfortable’.

 

‘Jane was approachable, encouraging and knowledgable’.

 

‘Great course – wish everyone had the chance to do it’.

 

‘I learnt to focus on the small things – subtle changes – rather than be solution focussed’.

 

‘Brilliant course, well worth the investment in time.  Jane is great – makes this topic very accessible and has a great delivery.’

 

‘I loved the ALGEE framework which is easy to remember.’

MHFA Lite – Introduction to Mental Health

Jane JamesLeave a comment

This is a three-hour workshop comprising a foundation of knowledge on the area of Mental Health First Aid.

 

Key areas covered in this comprehensive course include:

 

  • Language & Stigma
  • What is Mental Health?
  • Some common Mental Health issues
  • Supporting people in distress
  • Personal wellbeing

 

The 17 delegates were from all levels of staff at a global professional services Firm based close to London Bridge.

 

Interaction flowed as knowledge was shared through the Graffiti Wall, Stress Container, personal experience films and colleague discussion.

 

It’s always a ‘wait with baited breath’ moment until the evaluation forms have been analysed to see how well the course and me, the instructor, were received……

 

Firstly a few thoughts on the course:

‘Amazing course, felt very emotional during the training.  Feeling more optimistic about how to approach mental health and well being’

‘A good course  which brought home the importance of caring for yourself whilst caring for others’

‘Fantastic training’

 

& The Instructor:

”Well delivered, good level of audience participation’

‘Clear and approachable, created a comfortable environment for questions’

‘Passionate & easy to follow’

Rated  very good (top mark) by 12 of the 17 and Good (second highest) by the remaining 5.

 

I look forward to the next course on 9 June 2017

 

Get in touch for more information on mental health & wellbeing training available…..