UA | Mental Health Week- Day 1

Mental Health Week- Day 1

15 May 2023

Let’s talk Mental Health!

Today marks the start of Mental Health Awareness Week. Every day for the next week, we will be talking about all things mental health.

The last few years have been tough on all of us, with a global pandemic, cost-of-living crisis, energy crisis, war, and environmental disasters. We must take care of ourselves and those around us.

At Utility Aid, our work is focused on supporting not-for-profits and charity organisations. These sectors have been hit hard in recent years, and many of our customers are on the front line of providing crucial services to help people in need. We see so many wonderful people going above and beyond to help others in their communities, and we feel privileged to support them in their work.

However, it's important to remember that we can't help others if we don't take care of ourselves first. If you're working for an organisation that is supporting people in this way, it's crucial to look after your own mental and physical health. It's understandable to feel like you can't say no or take a break when there are people in need, but it's essential to take time for yourself. By doing things that relax you, you'll be able to perform better in your work and help others to the best of your ability. We'll be discussing burnout later this week, which is a real risk when we don't take time for ourselves. Let's remember that by taking care of ourselves, we're also taking care of others.

In 2022, the World Health Organistion reported a 25% increase in anxiety and depression worldwide and is likely to rise again in 2023. (Click here to read the WHO article.) One way to try to help reduce these feelings is to practice mindfulness. We appreciate that this is not a cure for anxiety or depression, however, Mindfulness-based therapies are recommended by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) as a way to treat less severe depression. The NHS website describes mindfulness as;

Mindfulness involves paying attention to what is going on inside and outside ourselves, moment by moment.

It's easy to stop noticing the world around us. It's also easy to lose touch with the way our bodies are feeling and to end up living "in our heads" – caught up in our thoughts without stopping to notice how those thoughts are driving our emotions and behaviour.

An important part of mindfulness is reconnecting with our bodies and the sensations they experience. This means paying attention to the sights, sounds, smells and tastes of the present moment. That might be something as simple as the feel of a bannister as we walk upstairs.

Another important part of mindfulness is an awareness of our thoughts and feelings as they happen from moment to moment.”

To read more about Mindful practices, we have listed a few helpful websites below.

Why not join in our mental health challenge and commit yourself today, on the first day of Mental Health Awareness week, to do something for you, and only you, every day this week? This would be a great time to practise mindfulness! Why not put your feet up for 5 minutes and listen to your favourite song? Have a relaxing bath, watch a film or go for a walk. Whether you decide to grab a quick five minutes for yourself or dedicate a whole evening, we hope that by taking time out, you can benefit from just taking time for yourself. The best part about this is that the possibilities of what you could do today to relax are completely endless. Nobody knows you better than you know yourself! We’d love for you to join us on this journey and pledge to ensure you are looking after yourself and those around you.

If you are struggling with your mental health, it is important to reach out to talk about how you are feeling. Reach out to friends and family if you feel able to. If you don’t feel comfortable speaking to those around you, there are plenty of services out there that provide services to anyone in a mental health crisis.