Focus on you for Mental Health Awareness Week
Mental Health Awareness Week from May 10 to 16 is an ideal time to focus on our psychological wellbeing, and that of our families.
Emotional literacy means knowing how to talk about mental health and how to improve it, and how best to intervene when a loved one is struggling.
Former primary school teacher and qualified play therapist Catherine Lynch of education resource experts PlanBee recommends a whole-family approach.
Nature has more benefits than providing food and cleaning our air. Time spent connected to nature helps us feel grounded, it lowers stress levels and can give us perspective on our lives.
Slowing down and appreciating nature aids our ability to concentrate and improves powers of observation.
Spending time walking during lockdowns has given us all the opportunity to appreciate nature in new ways.
You must prioritise your own mental health. When you are struggling it makes it hard to support others. Spend time getting to know what makes you tick, so you can recognise triggers and act on them before you flip your lid.
When finding something difficult don’t be afraid to talk to people around you. Don’t take it for granted that they have noticed or feel the same way.
Make time for yourself. Some days, five minutes of peace will be enough. Other days, you might need more time. Listen to yourself.
Try not to make arguments into a battle with winners and losers. Apologise if you react badly to something, and explain what happened.
Talk about your feelings and name flash points. Do your best to give yourself and others an insight into your reactions.
Make time as a family when you can connect. Turn screens off and tune into each other. You could go on a walk, play a board game, draw together. Often it’s the free, simple things that are best. When working as a
team you will all feel more heard, supported and appreciated.
Play lowers stress levels, relaxes us and helps us to connect. Be spontaneous wherever possible and make the mundane fun. Take time to catch falling blossoms, blow dandelions, or watch ants marching.
Try to hold on to those moments of calm stillness we experienced during lockdown. When lives are overly scheduled we lose the time to pause and think: this is so important for our mental health and general wellbeing.
Model the behaviour you would like your children to copy. The more you practice naming and explaining feelings the better you and your children will become at regulating your emotions.
Give your children the vocabulary and skills to name, recognise and understand
their emotions.
Set boundaries you all understand. If trips out are stressful, try to work out why. If getting your children out of the front door leaves you exhausted, help them to feel excited about the trip and enlist their help with the planning and preparation.
Don’t be afraid to learn together. Learn regulation techniques, learn synonyms for emotions, try, fail and succeed together and develop a growth mindset. Teach your children one of life’s most important lessons: no one knows everything and that is ok.
If you just make one lasting change this Mental Health Awareness Week, become more empathic.
Respond to your own emotions, and the emotions of others, with understanding. Take as many calming breaths in the great outdoors as you need.