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According to the World Mental Health Foundation, ‘10% of
children and young people (aged 5-16 years) have a clinically diagnosable
mental health problem, yet 70% of children and adolescents who experience
mental health problems have not had appropriate interventions at a sufficiently
early age.’ Similarly, according to Mind, ‘90% of young people with mental
health problems will experience stigma and discrimination, which stops them
seeking help, living normal lives, and sometimes, makes them give up on their
hopes and dreams.’ This is a huge percentage that can be decreased with the
destigmatisation of mental health which we can achieve if society becomes more
open to the discussion and starts to accept the impacts of mental health,
allowing people to get the help they need! However, this change could take a
long time to come around so in the meantime, there are a number of things we
can do to improve our mental health and limit the chance of it ruining life’s
experiences…
Talk about how we feel: Whether big or small, all feelings are
important and impact us, so by discussing them with others, whether that’s a
doctor, a parent, a friend… anyone, it can help let some of the thoughts escape
your mind, even if it’s only temporary and can reduce the chance of everything
building up to a point where you can no longer handle it.
Spend time with people we care about: It can help clear your
mind and improve your mood to take a break from daily stresses by spending time
with others you care about, doing something you enjoy. It can give you the
breath of fresh air you need.
Do something you love: Linking to the previous point, taking
time out of your day to do something you enjoy, can help clear your head and
bring a bit of positivity to your life for a bit.
Accept that it’s okay not to be okay: There are so many times
when we have to carry on as if nothing is wrong, often smiling or laughing more
than normal to cover how we really feel, but you don’t always have to do that.
Sometimes all you need is to just accept everything is not fine and spend time
having a good cry, curling up in bed or listening to sad music which can really
help let things out and make you feel a bit better afterwards.
Take a break: If you’re doing something you find stressful or
have a hectic day, taking a bit of time out to de-stress and focus on yourself
can really help.
Eat well: When you don’t feel great, eating habits can also
deteriorate, either by eating more or less than usual or eating less healthily.
The best approach to take is to fuel your body with healthy food which doesn’t
leave you feeling a bit rubbish afterwards and occasionally treating yourself
to an unhealthy snack if that’s what you fancy.
Exercise: Exercising can be the last thing you want to do when
you feel a bit pants but if you get yourself out there and do something, your
body often thanks you later and makes you feel slightly more perky. The release
of endorphins and use of energy can also help declutter your mind and feel more
positive.
Ask for help: Possibly the most important and the most
difficult but admitting you’re not okay and requesting help can have such a big
impact on your mental health and life in general both short and long term.
If you want more information on mental health and the help
out there, you can visit:
Mind at http://mind.org.uk/
Young Minds at http://www.youngminds.org.uk/
Rethink at http://www.rethink.org/living-with-mental-illness/young-people/mental-health-services-for-young-people and many other websites.
I hope some of you found this post useful, if you have any thoughts on this subject that you want to share, leave a comment below.
Love, Steph x
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