Wellbeing at Work

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This course provides thorough information about a range of mental illnesses, teaches how to recognize the symptoms of mental health problems, how to provide initial help and how to guide a person towards appropriate professional help. This course takes a first aid approach to mental health.

www.mhfaengland.org.uk

This training is facilitated by mental health users and is appropriate for all staff with none or limited experience of working with people with mental health problems. It will demonstrate basic mental health awareness in line with the national service framework requirements (this training is not aimed at mental health professionals)

Next course on the 28 Sept 2010

For further details contact sue.bradbury@rbk.kingston.gov.uk;sam.knight@rbk.kingston.gov.uk

This training helps people change the way they think, feel and act. It helps to break free from a downward spiral of negative thought and action, and make positive choices that support wellbeing.

www.bemindful.co.uk

ACAS offer trainings on a range of topics which may be relevant for employers wishing to support employee wellbeing.

Areas that they cover include; Conflict management, Discrimination, People management, Absence management, Employing people and Work/Life balance.

https://obs.acas.org.uk/

Samaritans is an established workplace training provider delivering bespoke, specialist communication skills courses for frontline staff and managers.

They can provide for training needs in the areas of improving working relationships, helping staff to handle difficult contacts or listening skills to improve relationships with service users and customers.

http://www.samaritans.org/your_emotional_health/skills_training_for_business.aspx

Many employers feel challenged by the prospect of dealing with staff with mental health problems. It's important to remember that Mental Health problems can happen to any of us. In the same way that physical health and illness affects us all, our mental health also fluctuates. It’s normal to experience some periods of ill health, and managers should treat mental illness with the same approach they would a physical one.

One effective way of supporting staff with Mental Health problems is to become informed.

‘Mind’ produce comprehensive and quality information about a range of Mental Illness and other issues related to mental health. Their website is a great place to get started if you are trying to learn more about Mental Illness. http://www.mind.org.uk/help/information_and_advice?signpost

Here we’ve listed some of the more common Mental health problems and mental Illnesses, and provided some links where you can seek further information.

Stress – The Shift line managers resource provides the following information about stress:

A useful definition of work-related stress is provided by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) as “the adverse reaction people have to excessive pressures or other types of demand placed on them at work”.

A certain level of pressure in a business environment is desirable. Pressure helps to motivate people and will boost their energy and productivity levels. But when the pressure people face exceeds their ability to cope with it, it becomes a negative rather than a positive force – in other words, stress. People can also feel stressed when they are bored, under-valued or under stimulated.

Stress is not a medical condition but research shows that prolonged exposure to stress is linked to psychological conditions such as anxiety and depression.

The effect of pressure on any employee will be influenced by a variety of factors including support systems at home and work, personality and coping mechanisms. What may be too much pressure for one person at a specific time may not be for the same person at a different time or for another person.

Recognising early signs of Mental Distress

Mind offer the following information on the Early signs of Mental distress

“Mental distress covers a range of experiences that seriously limit an individual's ability to cope with day-to-day living. One person in four will have some form of mental health problem, according to some estimates, and for as many as one in fifty, it will be serious. Although figures and definitions vary, what is clear is that millions of people in the UK will encounter problems themselves, or know someone else who does.

The kinds of problems include:

Hearing and seeing things that others don't. This is a common feature of mental distress (although many people see or hear things without it causing them any distress).

Other differences in perception, for example, mistakenly believing that someone is tying to harm you, is laughing at you, or trying to take over your body.

Mood swings that are very extreme or fast. Deep or prolonged depression can be very disabling, and very difficult to escape from. Extreme highs are often more difficult for those around the person concerned. But they can cause serious problems, particularly when they are associated with sleep deprivation.

Self-harming behaviour, such as cutting yourself.

Changes in eating habits; eating distress.”

“The first signs of mental distress will be different for the onlooker than it is for the person in distress. When someone's mood starts changing, for instance, it may take some time for them to become aware of it; people around them may be much more conscious of the difference.

Changes in sleep patterns are a common sign, and appetite may also be affected. Lethargy, low energy levels, feeling antisocial and spending too much time in bed may indicate the onset of depression. Wanting to go out more, needing very little sleep, and feeling highly energetic, creative and sociable, may signal that a person is becoming 'high'.”

For more information on this topic, please refer to the full article at: http://www.mind.org.uk/help/diagnoses_and_conditions/early_signs_of_mental_distress

Depression

Mind gives the following information about depression and anxiety:

In its mildest form, depression can mean just being in low spirits. It doesn’t stop you leading your normal life, but makes everything harder to do and seem less worthwhile. At its most severe, major depression (clinical depression) can be life-threatening, because it can make people suicidal or simply give up the will to live.

At least one person in every six becomes depressed in the course of their lives. One in 20 is clinically depressed. Anyone can be affected, and it’s important to take symptoms seriously and not to dismiss them as an inevitable part of growing up or growing old. By recognising and treating the symptoms and getting help, it’s possible to overcome depression, and prevent it coming back.

There's no one cause of depression; it varies very much from person to person and can occur through a combination of factors. Although depression doesn't seem to be inherited through genes (with the possible exception of manic depression), some of us are more prone to depression than others. This could be because of the way we're made, or because of our experiences or family background.

Some factors which may trigger or impact on depression include life experiences, underactive thyroid, poor diet and physical ill-health.

The following link can provide more detailed information about depression including signs and symptoms http://www.mind.org.uk/help/diagnoses_and_conditions/depression

Anxiety

People who are depressed are often very anxious. It's not clear whether the anxiety leads into the depression or whether the depression causes the anxiety. A person feeling anxious may have a mind full of busy, repetitive thoughts, which make it hard to concentrate, relax, or sleep. They may have physical symptoms, such as headaches, aching muscles, sweating and dizziness. It may cause physical exhaustion and general ill health.

The following descriptions are provided by the NIMHE – the former national body for mental health.

Anxiety States

Doctors describe chronic fear, tension and panic attacks as ‘anxiety states’. The condition becomes defined as an illness when it becomes an individuals main experience and stops them getting on with everyday activities.

Follow this link to Mind’s website for a more detailed description of Anxiety http://www.mind.org.uk/help/diagnoses_and_conditions/anxiety

Bi-polar disorder/Manic-Depressive illness

Some people experience profound changes in their mood, which can switch from depression and lethargy to periods of elation and over-activity. Doctors call this ‘bi-polar’ or ‘manic-depression’. Some people may move from depression to elation and back in a week, while others may go through this cycle once a year or less often.

Rethink can provide more detailed information about BiPolar disorder http://www.rethink.org/about_mental_illness/mental_illnesses_and_disorders/bipolar_disorder

Dementia

Dementia is caused by a slowly advancing form of brain damage, although the cause is often unknown. A person with dementia may become forgetful initially and extremely anxious and confused as the disease progresses. Twenty percent of people over 80 suffer from dementia.

Dementia UK can provide more information about Dementia http://www.dementiauk.org/information-support/about-dementia

Eating disorders

Starving to the extent of severe, sometimes life threatening slimness is diagnosed as ‘anorexia nervosa’. Compulsive eating and vomiting is known as ‘bulimia nervosa’. Both behaviour patterns are often a way of coping with psychological or emotional problems.

BEAT – The leading UK charity for eating disorders can provide more detailed information on the different eating disorders : http://www.b-eat.co.uk/AboutEatingDisorders

Psychosis

Psychiatrists use the term ‘psychosis’ when someone is unable to distinguish clearly between what is real and what is imaginary, or what is external or internal to their own thought processes.

Mind’s description of a psychotic episode may provide further information http://www.mind.org.uk/help/diagnoses_and_conditions/psychotic_experience

Schizophrenia

The popular understanding of the term, as describing a Jekyll and Hyde split personality is not true. Doctors use the term ‘schizophrenia’ to describe a state of mind in which people’s sense of their own identity, thoughts and perceptions go beyond the range of normal experience. People who hear voices, for example, or believe that they are being persecuted by other people may be diagnosed as having schizophrenia.

Rethink can provide more detailed information about Schizophrenia: http://www.rethink.org/about_mental_illness/mental_illnesses_and_disorders/schizophrenia/index.html

Time to Change

Time to change is a national campaign working to eliminate Mental Health discrimination. They raise awareness about the issues faced by individuals and run and support a wide range of events. You can find details of local events being run and get access to support and resources from the website.

http://www.time-to-change.org.uk/

Shift

Shift is an initiative to tackle stigma and discrimination surrounding Mental Health in the UK. They have a particular work place focus and produce a number of resources to help managers and employers.

http://shift.org.uk/index.html

Open up

Open up is a forum run by Time to Change which allows people experiencing Mental Distress to share their experiences

http://www.open-up.org.uk/home

Be Mindful

Be Mindful is a campaign by the Mental Health foundation raising awareness of the benefits of ‘Mindfulness’ – a program which helps people experiencing mental distress to change the way they think and feel.

http://www.bemindful.co.uk/

5 ways to wellbeing

The new economics foundation have researched the best ways to maintain mental wellbeing. You can find details of research and how to participate in the ‘5 ways’ on this website.

http://www.neweconomics.org/projects/five-ways-well-being

See Me

See me is a Scottish based anti-stigma mental health campaign. You can find factsheets about Mental Illness and great resources encouraging us to see the person not the illness. Please keep in mind that there may be some legislative differences between Scotland and England when using these resources.

http://www.seemescotland.org.uk/

National Mental Health Development Unit (NMHDU)

The NMHDU provides national support for implementing mental health policy by advising on national and international best practice to improve mental health and mental health services. 

http://www.nmhdu.org.uk/

Centre for Mental Health

The Centre for mental health work to improve the quality of life for people with mental health problems by influencing policy and practice in mental health and related services.

They focus on criminal justice and employment, with supporting work on broader mental health and public policy.

http://www.centreformentalhealth.org.uk/

Scottish Association for Mental Health (SAMH)

The Scottish Association for mental health is Scotlands leading Mental Health Charity. They provide an information service, conduct research, campaign and produce policy and run national and local programmes. Please remember that as SAMH is Scotland based not all information will be relevant for Kingston residents.

http://www.samh.org.uk/