World Mental Health Day - 10th October 2020

The 10th of October is World Mental Health Day. This aims to increase awareness of mental health issues around the world and improve access to support for anyone who needs it. With the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting effects on young peoples’ mental health, there is a need for this more than ever.

This blog is focused on how we can help our young people to be kind to themselves throughout this difficult and uncertain year. Whilst in lock-down, there was a real emphasis on self-care. Young people might have spent more time doing their hobbies or things they like. However, now that pupils have returned to school, it can be easy for them to forget about themselves, and become focused on their busy lives again.

Also, young people might be experiencing increased anxiety due to returning to school. They might be feeling worried about being around teachers and pupils again, anxious about the new restrictions in school or fearful of catching COVID-19, to name a few. Therefore, maintaining their self-care for their well-being is very important.

We have 5 self-care tips to help your young people look after themselves.

1) Encourage your young person to do something they enjoy:

As pupils return to school, it can be easy to forget about doing something they like. This doesn’t have to be something big. A trip to the park or spending time playing a game can help our young people de-stress. Allocating time for this in the week can ensure they have time for themselves.

2) Reflect about how difficult the last year has been:

Young people have experienced a lot of change this year and as the restrictions are constantly changing, also face a great deal of uncertainty around what will happen next. Listen to how they are feeling and validate these emotions. Just talking about how they are feeling or have felt within the past six months can help young people make sense of this and know that these feelings are normal.

3) Check in with how they are feeling about the COVID-19 pandemic:

Young people might have several different worries and concerns around going back to school and COVID-19. Understanding how they are feeling at the moment and how they would like you to support them can be helpful in maintaining their well-being.

4) Stay present:

COVID-19 and its effects on our lives can make it very easy to think about the past and also worry about what the future might hold. It is important to try and stay present and encourage your young person to do the same. Focusing on the present moment, a day or week at a time, can help reduce stress and anxiety. Apps such as Headspace and Calm offer free meditations that can help you and your young person stay grounded and present.

5) Keep connected:

In a world where restrictions and social distancing have become the norm, our young people need to keep contact with their friends and family. This will help distract them from any worries they may have and improve their well-being. As a parent or carer, if your young person is experiencing difficulties, it is important to keep in contact with their school or GP , in order to access any additional support they might need.

At One-Eighty, we have been helping our young people to focus on their self-care as they return to school. Over the summer holidays N was worried about going to his new school in September, specifically about catching the virus and also making new friends. We practiced some ways for him to stay present, such as using calm jars and bubble breathing, to help distract him from his worries.

He is now in school and is enjoying it. He still feels anxious from time to time, but knows what he needs to do to help reduce his worries. This is a great example of how self-care tips can improve young people’s mental health.

If you would like to support One-Eighty in recognition of World Mental Health Day, please consider a small donation towards the purchase of mental health resources for our young people.

You can donate here