About Mighty Oak Training
Wellbeing
My name is Holly and I work with Julie here at Mighty Oak Training.Please find below some links to some interesting Mental Health and Wellbeing reading. Mighty Oak will be communicating with you throughout your apprenticeship, giving updates on specific Mental Health and Well-being awareness topics.
Please reach out to us if you have any questions or perhaps want information on specific topic areas to help you, we’d be really happy to hear from you.
Health Wellbeing (November/December) 2024)
The festive season can be a joyful but challenging time for many, especially when it comes to managing stress, expectations, and mental health. Here are some tips and resources to help you maintain your well-being during this busy period.
Why November and December Can Be Stressful
- Holiday Pressures: Financial concerns, gift-giving, and social obligations can lead to feelings of overwhelm.
- Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD): Shorter days and less sunlight can impact mood and energy levels.
- Loneliness or Grief: This season may remind some of lost loved ones or feelings of isolation.
- Workload: there can be lots to balance, and it is important to have a good work-life balance. This can be hard but there are lots of resources to help you. Please reach out if you are struggling.
Practical Tips for Managing Mental Health
- Set Boundaries
Learn to say no to events or commitments that don’t serve your well-being. Focus on what matters most to you.
- Create a Budget
Financial pressures are common during the holidays. Plan ahead to avoid overspending. Thoughtful, handmade gifts or agreements with loved ones to limit expenses can alleviate stress.
- Get Outdoors
Natural light helps regulate mood. Even a short walk outside during daylight hours can make a big difference.
- Acknowledge Your Feelings
It’s okay to feel a range of emotions during the holidays. Reflect on what you need, and don’t hesitate to seek support if needed.
- Practice Mindfulness
Mindfulness exercises, such as guided meditation, can help you stay grounded. Try free apps like Headspace or Calm, or explore beginner resources like the Mind website. - Stay Active
Incorporate movement into your routine to boost endorphins. Try yoga, a brisk walk, or an online workout video. There are thousands of fun and free exercise videos online.
- Yoga with Adriene offers beginner-friendly sessions for relaxation and mindfulness.
- NHS Fitness Studio includes free workout videos tailored for all fitness levels.
Support and Resources
- Mind UK: Offers advice on coping with holiday stress and mental health support. Visit their holiday coping tips page
- Purple House Clinic: Provides guidance on dealing with grief, financial pressures, and self-care during Christmas. More at their holiday mental health resources
- Local Mind Groups: Explore support tailored to your area through HFEH Mind
For urgent help or crisis support, consider reaching out to:
- Samaritans: Free 24/7 helpline at 116 123.
- Shout: Text "SHOUT" to 85258 for confidential support.
Stay Connected
Remember, the holiday season is what you make of it. If traditional celebrations aren’t for you, consider volunteering or connecting virtually with loved ones. These simple acts can foster a sense of community and fulfilment.
By planning ahead, seeking support, and focusing on self-care, you can manage stress and enjoy a healthier, more balanced holiday season.
Health Wellbeing (August 2024)
Nature and Mental Health
As we approach the end of British Summertime in August, it's the perfect time to explore the profound impact that nature can have on our mental health.
Getting in touch with nature has been proven to be very beneficial to mental well-being. This can be as simple as going out for a walk, doing some gardening or simply spending time with pets. Even just spending time looking out the window and admiring nature can help boost mood and decrease stress and anxiety.
Nature has a broad definition, especially when it comes to our mental health. It includes green spaces such as parks, woodlands, and forests, as well as blue spaces like rivers, wetlands, beaches, and canals. Urban elements like street trees, private gardens, and verges, along with indoor plants and window boxes, also count. Surprisingly, even watching nature documentaries can improve our mental health. This is encouraging news because it means that the mental health benefits of nature are accessible to nearly everyone, regardless of where they live.
Some ideas for outside activities to improve mental wellbeing:
1. Gardening
2. Hiking
3. Biking
4. Yoga or meditation
5. Rock climbing
6. Punting
7. Wildlife observing
8. Outside art
Resources:
https://www.wwf.org.uk/5-ways-connect-nature-help-our-wellbeing
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fd-rd12wXCk
Health Wellbeing (April 2024)
April is National Stress Awareness Month, so this quarter’s update focusses on how to combat the adverse effects of stress.
What is stress?
According to the World Health Organization, stress is a state of worry or tension caused by a problematic situation. It can have different levels of severity and effects.
Stress is a natural human response that can happen in everyday life and can be experienced by anyone. Scientists say that stress is part of the flight or fright reaction. Situations that are seen as stressful, such as a deadline quickly approaching, increase the level of cortisol, which causes stress. Stress can be encountered in everyday life, but there are certain situations where there are higher risks.
What effect does stress have?
Stress affects people in different ways, and its symptoms can be physical or psychological. Stress can make people irritable, overwhelmed, anxious, low, and lonely, and the severity of psychological symptoms varies from person to person. Stress and the correlating psychological symptoms can also affect a person's physical health. Physical symptoms can include panic attacks, sleep problems, headaches and sudden changes in weight.
It is essential to be aware of these symptoms to allow people to address them correctly; if you start to spot any of these symptoms, it is vital that you talk about them and try to fixate on what is causing them. Click here for more information on the signs and symptoms of stress.
What can we do to lower stress levels?
There are lots of ways to reduce stress levels. It is essential to talk to someone about how you are feeling and see if there is a way to limit stress factors in your life; this is not always possible, so it is good to know how to control stress levels.
An excellent way to alleviate stress and its symptoms is to get active; even 10 minutes of exercise a day can have great benefits. Another helpful tip is to set aside ‘me time’ for yourself regularly. This can be different for many people, but some examples may be having a bath, reading a book, or cooking. It doesn't matter what this activity is as long as it is something you enjoy.
This NHS site gives details of 10 Stress Busters
If you are feeling stressed or overwhelmed, why not try some medication?
Here is a link to a quick 10-minute meditation for stress reduction.
Resources
Health Wellbeing (December 2023)
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), also known as seasonal depression, is a type of depressive disorder that can affect people at certain times of the year or during a particular season.
Although it can affect people during any season, it is most common during winter.
SAD can make people lack energy, have difficulty concentrating, and feel sad/low and anxious.
More information about SAD can be found on the MIND website
Mindfulness is a type of meditation which can be a useful tool to help deal with negative emotions such as stress and worry. For more information about how mindfulness may be helpful to you, please see more information on the Mind website.
Free Meditation resources
https://www.headspace.com/mindfulness
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZToicYcHIOU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=syx3a1_LeFo
More useful links (December 2023)
Health & Wellbeing (February 2023)
Health & Wellbeing (December 2022)
Health & Wellbeing (November 2022)
Awareness Days for this month (November 2022)
Health & Wellbeing (October 2022)
Awareness Days for this month (October 2022)
Health & Wellbeing (September 2022)
Health & Wellbeing (August 2022)
Awareness Days for this month (August 2022)
There are no awareness day in August (generally a bit quiet because of the summer)
Health & Wellbeing (July 2022)
Pride Month (July 2022)
Workplace (July 2022)
Awareness Days for this month (July 2022)
