Heads To Health

05/12/2023

Initiating mindful and fruitful discussions about a student's mental health may present a maze-like challenge for both teachers and parents. However, it is a conversation of critical importance in today's ever-evolving educational climate.

Diving into this piece, you'll gain insights, acquire new strategies, and understand the importance of collaboration in safeguarding the mental health of students. So, sit back and ready yourself for a journey to pave the way for more wholesome and beneficial parent-teacher interactions.

- 70-80% of children with mental health disorders do not receive appropriate treatment

- Only 36% of students with mental health issues receive counselling services

- Students with mental health disorders are more likely to have academic difficulties

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Effective communication between parents and teachers is crucial for addressing students' mental health.

27/11/2023

Don't compare yourself to those filtered lives. Yours has beauty in the messy and the wise. Your life has meaning in the ups and the downs. Not in the likes, hearts or followers around 💜🤝

https://www.headstohealth.org.uk/amp/behindthefilteredlife

24/11/2023

Creating a safe and supportive learning environment is crucial for the emotional well-being of students. In the United Kingdom, teachers play a vital role in promoting emotional wellness by setting up their classrooms as safe spaces.

Emotional safety refers to an environment where students feel secure, valued, and respected. It is a space where they can freely express their thoughts, emotions, and concerns without fear of judgment or ridicule. By establishing such an environment, teachers can foster a sense of belonging and trust, which are essential for students' emotional well-being.

Creating a supportive, emotionally secure environment is undoubtedly vital for cultivating students' emotional health in the UK and beyond. As educators, we must respond to this all-important responsibility with sustained dedication and innovative strategies. Our classrooms, whether physical or virtual, should be vibrant spaces where trust, acceptance, empathy and respect bloom. This not only enhances our students' academic achievements but also empowers them to become emotionally resilient adults.

Always remember, the commitment to fostering emotional safety does not end as the school bell rings. In close collaboration with parents and guardians, we can extend this support system into the students' homes, promoting emotional wellbeing outside as well as inside the classrooms.

In following the suggestions offered in this article, let us strive to make every student's learning journey a fulfilling and emotionally nourishing one. In doing so, we are ensuring the best possible future for our students and, indeed, our society. After all, the children of today are the leaders of tomorrow, and their emotional health is paramount to their success.

Read More: https://www.headstohealth.org.uk/article/creating-safe-spaces

Creating a safe and supportive learning environment is crucial for the emotional well-being of students.

22/11/2023

Often, the cloak of social stigma further drenches teenage substance abuse and mental health in shadows. Victims may find themselves trapped in a cycle of shame and fear, compelled to maintain their struggles in silence. This not only exacerbates their condition but also facilitates further withdrawal from help and support.

However, it's not just them battling this war; it involves us all. As a society, we need to pivot our view, replacing blame with understanding, judgement with empathy. Notably, public perception can inflict more damage to a teenager grappling with substance abuse than the substances themselves.

Perhaps, the battle against stigma begins with having open conversations - a much-needed step towards change. Acceptance won't happen overnight; it's a collective journey we must undertake. Sadly, condemnation is so deeply ingrained in our society that we consciously or subconsciously tend to isolate individuals suffering from substance abuse. Instead, we ought to exercise kindness, exhibit patience, and genuinely listen to their experiences without the compulsion to provide immediate solutions or judgement.

Remember, you, as the carer, friend, teacher, or advisor, can shape a teenage individual's battle with substance abuse. The mental health of our adolescents should never be a topic left behind closed doors - it's crucial we illuminate it, expose it to the light of understanding.

In this brave new world where we unabashedly discuss physical ailments and injuries, let's strive to bring the same energy to raising awareness around mental health and substance abuse.

We must be allies, not obstacles, in their journey from darkness to light, from stigma to support.



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Prevention and intervention strategies play a crucial role in mitigating the negative impact of substance abuse on teenage mental health. Educating teenagers about the risks associated with substance abuse, promoting healthy coping mechanisms, and fostering supportive environments are all key compon...

21/11/2023

Services from established organisations like the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) and BEAT offer helplines, online support groups, and referral services to appropriate treatment options.

Eating disorders are much more than a pathological relationship with food; they are complex mental health conditions.

20/11/2023

It's crucial that we hone our ability to recognise eating disorders as signs of deeper psychological distress.

Eating disorders are much more than a pathological relationship with food; they are complex mental health conditions that often embed themselves in feelings of inadequacy, anxiety and depression. Stated simply, recognising an eating disorder is often the first step in unmasking a larger mental health issue.

Actions and behaviours that may appear slightly peculiar or perhaps even 'quirky' at first - such as an obsessive focus on healthy eating, or an extreme aversion to eating in public - might actually be tell-tale signs of an underlying eating disorder. It's about looking beneath the surface and peeling back the layers to reveal the hidden struggles that your loved ones may be dealing with.

However, recognition is just the beginning. After recognising the warning signs, it's important to offer unflinching support and understanding. Encourage them to seek professional help; a multidimensional approach to treatment that includes mental health counselling and clinical interventions can often help to mitigate the impact of these disorders.

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Eating disorders are much more than a pathological relationship with food; they are complex mental health conditions.

15/11/2023

Whilst there is a key focus on children and young people during anti-bullying week, we must not forget that bullying can happen and can effect anyone. It does not discriminate any age, gender or sexual orientation.

Bullying at work is a huge problem.

Workplace bullying, you might wonder, what exactly it is and what it isn't.

By definition, workplace bullying is a repeated behaviour that offends, insults, humiliates, or intimidates an individual or a group of individuals in their work environment. This behaviour can be explicit, such as demoralising comments, public shaming, or overt hostility. Alternatively, it can be subtle, like creating an unpleasant or hostile work environment, constant criticism without constructive feedback, or setting someone up to fail by providing them with unmanageable tasks.

However, it's crucial to note what workplace bullying isn't. While bullying can be misbehaviour at work, not all misbehaviour should be considered bullying. Isolated incidents of harsh words, occasional differences in opinion, a single incident of bad-temper, or disagreements are not considered workplace bullying unless they become persistent and create a hostile work environment. It doesn't include lawful management actions done in a reasonable way such as performance management or disciplinary action.

Overall, understanding these distinctions plays a vital role in fostering a respectful, inclusive, and professional work environment.

When we turn our lens to the UK, the extent and pervasiveness of workplace bullying become startlingly clear. Sadly, this issue is neither minimal nor isolated in our society.

According to a recent YouGov survey, 'one in three workers in the UK report having been a victim of workplace bullying'. That's a staggering 33% of our diligent and resilient workforce.
What's more concerning is that many cases of bullying go unreported.

Many workers, gripped by fear or not wanting to 'make a fuss', suffer in silence. Therefore, the real scale of workplace bullying may be much larger than the statistic indicates. Moreover, the Covid-19 pandemic has introduced new challenges with the shift to remote working, further complicating the issue.

This data is not only alarming, but it highlights a pressing need for increased awareness and effective action against this pervasive issue plaguing UK workplaces. We can no longer turn a blind eye to workplace bullying, and must recognise it as an urgent concern that requires robust interventions and policies.

Read More: https://www.headstohealth.org.uk/article/understanding-workplace-bullying

workplace bullying is a repeated behaviour that offends, insults, humiliates, or intimidates an individual or individuals at work.

14/11/2023

Picture this, you're walking through your life in complete silence. Every day, you see or experience bullying behaviours, but for one reason or another, you feel powerless to say anything.

Now imagine, what if you could summon the strength within you to break this silence, to stand tall and make a noise against abuse? Welcome to Anti-Bullying Week 2023, where our theme is exactly that: "Make a noise about bullying".

Every one of us has a strength inside, an untapped potential that can skyrocket us from the quiet bystander to a vocal advocate against bullying. This transformation is no small feat; overcoming fear of retaliation or stigma takes time and grit. But we're here to help. When we say “from silence to strength”, it is not just a catchy tagline. It's a journey we want to take you on, offering tools and direction to empower you to find and raise your voice against bullying.

This year, we aim to be a beacon of hope and empowerment.
Uniting voices from across the country, our collective roar will serve as a strong deterrent for bullies. With events that provide education, share personal stories, and celebrate progress, we strive to transform you from being a silent observer to a fearless crusader. Remember, your voice has tremendous power. Use it, amplify it and let it be heard. It's time to make a noise about bullying.

Kidscape Anti-Bullying Alliance

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The importance of taking a stand against bullying during Anti-Bullying Week 2023.

07/11/2023

In today's fast-paced and interconnected world, the ability to understand and manage emotions is becoming increasingly important.

Emotional literacy, the skill of recognising, understanding, and effectively expressing emotions, is a crucial skill for 21st-century learners.

With emotional literacy, you're equipped to deal with life's challenges in a healthier way. It helps in avoiding the mental pitfalls of depression and anxiety by equipping you with the ability to identify what you're feeling, why you're feeling it, and what can be done about it. This leads to increased resilience and an improved ability to bounce back from setbacks.

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Emotional literacy - the ability to identify, understand, express, and manage emotions - is a crucial skill in the 21st century.

06/11/2023

Eating disorders in teenagers can sometimes go unnoticed. As a parent, carer, or friend, you may not always recognise the warning signs until the disorder has really taken a hold. Eating disorders manifest in various ways, including anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorders. It's crucial to seek both advice and support as early as possible.

Teen eating disorders are unfortunately quite prevalent. According to the Eating Disorders Association, up to '25% of those suffering from an eating disorder are male, demonstrating that this disorder is not gender exclusive'. Furthermore, the Mind Charity found that '1.25 million people in the UK are living with an eating disorder and around 11% of them are under 16 years of age'. This highlights the serious extent of this issue among teenagers.

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Discover the warning signs of eating disorders in teenagers and find support for your teen.

06/11/2023

The link between type 1 diabetes and eating disorders is significant because people with type 1 diabetes are at a higher risk of developing an eating disorder. In fact, studies have shown that people with type 1 diabetes are two to four times more likely to develop an eating disorder than the general population.

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Studies show that people with type 1 diabetes are two to four times more likely to develop an eating disorder than the general population.

04/11/2023

In today's fast-paced and sedentary work environment, promoting physical health in the office has become more important than ever.

Many employees spend the majority of their day sitting at a desk, which can have detrimental effects on their overall well-being.

Recognising this issue, employers are now seeking innovative ideas to encourage their employees to lead healthier lifestyles while at work.

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Promoting physical at work, crafting a culture of wellness that fosters healthier, happier, and more productive employees.