Stress Awareness Month prompts Healthcare employers to review policies

~ Vickyw

This month is Stress Awareness Month with the latest statistics demonstrating how important it is for employers to familiarise themselves with the signs and symptoms of stress.

 Mainly an increase in the cost of living threatens to compound the issues faced by many.

With 79% of employed British adults commonly experiencing workplace stress (20% higher than last year), it is an issue that impacts workers across all sectors and occupations, as the latest data shows.

According to a recent study, 84% of those working in Healthcare confirmed they had experienced feelings of work-related stress at some point in their career.

Meanwhile, Government (92%), Telecoms (88%), and Media & Marketing (85%) made up the top three most stressed sectors.

Despite many people hoping that a return to normality in the post-pandemic era would bring about a period of financial stability, the reality of hiked energy prices will undoubtedly exacerbate feelings of stress, which could impact work performance and productivity. 

Tina Chander, Head of the Employment Law Team at Wright Hassall, commented: “Much has been said about work-related stress in the last two years, as pandemic-related redundancies and furloughs created an overwhelming sense of uncertainty amongst

workers. 

“Unfortunately, just as it looked like the worst of Covid was behind us, a steep increase in the cost of living has left many feeling anxious about their current financial situation. 

This directly impacts how they feel at and about work in many cases.

“Considering that 79% of adults already experience workplace stress regularly, this latest news should prompt employers to familiarise themselves with the signs and symptoms of workplace stress to spot potential cases and offer the necessary support.

“Given that April is Stress Awareness Month, there couldn’t be a perfect time for businesses to review their existing stress management procedures, taking steps to combat the issue, whether with flexible working hours, access to counseling services, or an ‘open-door policy.

“It is in the best interests of employers to do so, as failing to support stressed employees can lead to higher staff turnover, decreased productivity and poor morale, amongst other issues.”

Cornwall Mental Health facility urgently required

~ Vickyw

Sadly this is more proof that Cornwall desperately needs a mental health facility as a Cornish blogger took her life.

Over the past 12,-18 months suicides are becoming more frequent and need to be avoided, especially people jumping over the A30 bridges.

Having no help from mental health teams and no psychiatric doctors and nurses available in Cornwall is appalling, and with suicide rates soaring, this needs to be addressed. 

Cornwall needs a mental health facility

Cornwall desperately needs a mental health hospital facility where people can go without travelling miles out of the county away from their loved ones. 

At the moment you can’t easily access help in Cornwall. I live in South East Cornwall and there is no psychiatrist in the area and Trevillis House is short-staffed as are the rest of the mental health facilities in other areas of the county.

I’ve been told that if I need help I have to go through to Outlook South West who refused to treat me before as they told my previous doctor that they don’t get paid enough to treat my illnesses.

Cornwall blogger takes her own life

Beth Matthews documented her mental health issues in her blog Life Beyond the Ledge, which discusses how she struggled with her health over many years. 

Beth was a mental health sufferer and a severe trauma patient before becoming an influencer on social media.

 Cornwall Live reported that the young Cornish woman died on Monday (March 21). 

Beth suffered serious injuries four years ago when she attempted to commit suicide, which, as she related to her mental health suffering, was not her first attempt. 

The 26-year-old had attempted suicide on several occasions, including on a road in Cornwall in April 2019.

At the time, she was brought to safety by college student Natalia Cartmell who was on her walk to work at Tesco along the A388 Tavistock Road in Launceston. 

Two days later, Beth received multiple severe injuries at the same spot, including broken bones, a damaged spine, and damaged internal organs.

 But she was saved by paramedics and Cornwall Air Ambulance.

Beth, who loved the outdoors, was a blogger and an influencer who had built a following of her own. 

She opened up about her mental health challenges and how she dealt with them, giving others the power and bravery to do the same.

If you feel you need to reach out to someone about a friend or relative or for yourself, please call one of the numbers on the helpline page. Don’t suffer in silence. 

The Waves Counselling Project in Cornwall

~ Vickyw

I contacted the Waves Counselling Project in Cornwall in 2021 for therapy after suffering with my mental health. 

The WAVES Counselling Project is an award-winning confidential counselling and outreach service provided by specialist trained counsellors.

They provide specialist trained counselling in Cornwall to those who have experienced abuse or domestic violence, regardless of gender, sexuality, age or income.

After signing up with the programme last year, I was finally allocated a counsellor at the end of 2021. 

You can either refer yourself or refer someone you think could also benefit from this service.

Is counselling free?

You are assessed and put on a waiting list that is now slightly less than a year long. You are then offered 12 sessions, and you are asked to pay a small donation from session four upwards, which can be as little as £5 if you aren’t working or are on a low income. 

The donation is discreet, so there is no need to worry about your counsellor or anyone else knowing how much you donated. Counselling is provided countywide via face to face, telephone, and video and is over seven days a week.

Referrals can be made via completing a short form on the website, texting or phoning and leaving a message, sending a message over WhatsApp, or messaging on any social media, including Twitter, Facebook, etc Instagram, and Snapchat.

Who to contact

Jo Stone the position WAVES Manager on 07815136743

E-mail wavescounsellingproject@live.co.uk

Facebook WAVES Counselling Project – Domestic Violence & Abuse’s facebook page

Twitter WAVES Counselling Project – Domestic Violence & Abuse’s twitter page

Supporting Employees to Keep Active and Healthy

~ Vickyw

As many workplaces have gradually switched to a flexible working scheme, alternating between working in the office and at home, make sure you are supporting employees in keeping active and healthy.

The NHS suggests that adults aim for 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity every week. Prolonged inactiveness accounts for about 70,000 deaths per year in Britain alone.

What’s more, research shows that the rate of unexpected, illness-related absenteeism is more substantial in workers who are less physically active. Minor tweaks in habits can significantly impact productivity, absence rates, and overall health.

With some insights from Richard Holmes, Director of Wellbeing at Westfield Health, we look at how employers can prioritise employee wellbeing and encourage their staff members to be more active both outside and inside the workplace.

Setting up a culture of movement.

Workplace culture can have a significant effect on employee wellbeing and behaviour. 

A manager or leader who promotes the importance of physical health will truly encourage their workers to exercise more during the day.

One way of embedding activity into the workplace culture is to include physical health support as a key feature of your wellbeing plan and strategy. Here are some policies you may want to consider:

  • Offer discounted rates for equipment and gym access
  • Schemes to support employees to cycle to work
  • Educational fitness classes or exercise sessions that are free of charge
  • Reserving time slots for exercise and physical activity during people’s shifts
  • Standing desks and flexible workspaces

Of course, every organisation will take a different approach based on its needs and possibilities, but always ask your employees how you can help keep them active while at work.

Share your exercise policies with your team and invite them to take advantage of the various options. 

To keep track of the effectiveness of your physical activity programme, make a note of people’s engagement and evaluate the long-term impact it’s having on the business.

Supporting employees to move more and feel empowered!

To ensure you incorporate physical activity into the working day, it is crucial to enable your people to prioritise it. One idea could be to send out monthly wellbeing emails with resources, links to online workouts and general exercise tips.

Also, make allowances for managers to discuss physical wellbeing and mental health, personal targets, and performance during one-to-one meetings with team members.

 Ultimately, employees will feel empowered to prioritise physical activity if their managers are too.

As for in-office facilities, business owners can actively support their workers’ physical health by creating a designated area for exercise and activities within the workplace. 

Whether converting a quiet corner or a compact meeting room, an active space with mats, resistance bands, and dumbbells can become a massive asset to the office. 

Supporting employees to enjoy some exercise at work.

If you don’t have enough space for a functional space, consider offering your employees discounted memberships for popular chain gyms. 

This will help your team stay fit and healthy, whatever their schedule.

Seven great resources to help get you started

  1. NHS physical activity guidelines – Exercise advice for people aged 19 to 64.
  1. Sit less with Get Britain Standing – Tips and information to encourage employees to stand up more during the day, whether in or outside the workplace.
  1. Helpful Move More at Work guidance: Feel free to download these resources as a PDF and print out some helpful workplace posters. You will also find some 10-minute workplace exercise videos.
  1. Adaptable, active spaces – Advice on tailoring functional spaces to your workplace to get your people moving.
  1. Pomodoro Technique and Tomato Timer – An online timer that reminds you to take short breaks every 25 minutes.
  1. Health and lifestyle screenings – Confidential one-to-one health screenings for employees with an experienced coach.
  1. Physical wellbeing webinars – Our own recorded and live webinars cover posture and back pain topics.    

The Four Dangers to Self-Diagnosing Mental illness

~ Vickyw

With an almost limitless amount of information available to us 24/7, it has become common to self-diagnosing mental illness through the web.

However, while in theory learning more about potential symptoms may help ease a person’s mind, the risk of self-diagnosing looms large.

A Statista survey found that 68% of British adults diagnose themselves through the web at least every few months – if not more regularly.

The issue with self-diagnosis is that it may deter people from visiting a doctor.

Without medical expertise, self-diagnosing can often become misdiagnosed. Together, with Jonjo Hancock-Fell at private health cover provider Westfield Health, we look at the critical issues with self-diagnosing using the web.

  1. Inaccurate information from self-diagnosing

One of the most significant problems with self-diagnosing is that it can often be based on inaccurate information.

In the case of online searches, unregulated sources of medical information on the web can be highly unreliable. With limited medical knowledge, it’s not always easy for a patient to determine the information’s credibility.

This is why it’s crucial to ask for professional help when something’s not right. A doctor will spot what is causing an issue and give safety advice.

With years of training, qualifications, and experience under their belt, they should always be the first port of call.

What’s more, physicians have access to a patient’s medical history, which provides them with a clearer picture and a better understanding of the potential causes of symptoms.

This also means that they can prescribe safe medications and solutions, considering existing conditions and whatever other medication the patient is taking

2: Overlapping symptoms of self diagnosing

It is fair to say that many conditions have similar symptoms. Weakness, pain, and fatigue are generally the most predominant, and they can be linked to an extensive range of possible health issues.

Therefore, it is often tricky to formulate a diagnosis alone based on these common symptoms.

Doctors have the knowledge and equipment to rule out possible illnesses and identify the actual cause of discomfort.

A quick and accurate diagnosis is vital, as some conditions will need further treatment – a door that self-diagnosis cannot open.

Occasionally surgery may be required to treat your condition correctly. For faster access to surgical treatment, you can get private health insurance, helping you avoid lengthy waiting lists for surgery and getting you on the road to recovery quicker

3:Over or under-diagnosis

Of course, another risk with self-diagnosing is overestimating or minimising symptoms.

Confusing a headache for a much more severe condition can lead to unnecessary distress, but in the same way, dismissing a pain with reassurance from the internet could cost a patient their critical early diagnosis window

4:Self-diagnosing can cause stress

There is no denying that self-diagnosis can be anxiety-inducing. Based on online information, a person may start to feel worried and anxious, believing that their health is worse than it is.

This is particularly true for people suffering from cyberchondria, a condition that induces a person to both seek medical information online and feel very nervous about the intimidating diagnoses they find.

Self-diagnosing can hide an array of potential risks and dangers.

There are many downsides to trying to self-diagnose, from inaccurate sourcing information to miscalculating the gravity of symptoms.

Therefore, we hope this article shines a light on the importance of seeking medical help and advice, which can instead provide founded answers and – hopefully – some much-needed peace of mind.

Sleeping positions good and bad for your health

~ Vickyw
Sleep expert Nathan Amni from Each Night reveals sleeping positions that are good and bad for your health.

Which sleeping position is the healthiest option? 

For an average person, sleeping on your side is generally considered the healthiest sleeping position.  It provides adequate alignment and support for your spine, while also minimizing acid reflux.   The ideal way to sleep on your side is with a medium to the soft mattress that provides plenty of pressure relief and cushion for your hips and shoulders.  

Is there a sleeping position that can help with neurological health? 

Yes, sleeping on your side has been found to be the most beneficial position for your brain, with the position helping your brain to clear out interstitial waste faster than other positions. This leads to multiple benefits including potentially reducing the risk of developing neurological diseases such as Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s.  
 
Which sleeping position reduces back pain the most? 

Again, side sleeping is the best option for those suffering from back pain, more specifically, the fetal position. For those that suffer from lower back pain, it is best to avoid sleeping on your back as it can lead to more stress on your lumbar spine and lower back muscles. A simple solution is to place a pillow under the knees as this will better align your spine, resulting in less pressure on the spine and lower back muscles.  

Which sleeping position offers the best night’s sleep and health benefits to pregnant women? 

Pregnant women can often experience discomfort during the night, and it is better to lay on the left side. This is to prevent discomfort and pressure against the liver. Sleeping on the left side and in a fetal position are often the most useful positions for pregnant women. All other individuals would be better served sleeping on their right side though. 

Is there a sleeping position that provides the least health benefits? 

Stomach sleeping is the worst sleeping position. The position can lead to multiple issues such as strained muscles and joints, stiffness, back and neck pain. Whilst it can often be difficult to transition away from a sleeping position, you can prevent pain and protect your back by placing a pillow under your hips.  


The good and bad of Children’s mental health

~ Vickyw

This week is Children’s Mental Health Week, and the Looneychick blog explores what’s good and bad in Children’s mental health in the UK.

The situation of children’s mental health?

According to NHS data analysed by the Royal College of Psychiatrists for BBC News, some 409,347 children needed help. Between April 2021 and October 2021, the number of children aged under 18 needing care increased by almost 80% compared to the same period in 2019.

The issues range from self-harm to eating disorders.

What’s good in children’s mental health?

The Government has since promised an extra £79m for improving mental health support in England, including 400 support teams by 2023. Still, the charity Children and Young People’s Mental Health Coalition has warned this will only cover about a third of England’s pupils. 

The mental health charity Place2Be runs children’s Mental Health Week and, this year, they have teamed up with Bafta kids to organise two special virtual assemblies hosted by celebrity guests.

What’s bad in children’s mental health?

The problem is the lack of money in the UK available no matter what age you are. We all know previous governments have said they have pledged cash into mental health, but where exactly does it go? Towards psychiatric doctors who have no idea what they are talking about. I have been misdiagnosed. That’s how much psychiatric doctors help. Two or three mental health nurses or mentors could be employed on the salary of one doctor and his big fat pension!

A Cornish mother who has to keep her 17-year-old disabled son strapped in the car for 90 per cent of the day to keep them both safe, has made a desperate plea for help caring for him.

Matthew Harvey has a rare disability called Phelan McDermid Syndrome. He has a severe learning disability that gives him the cognitive ability of a two-year-old, he has autistic traits and it makes him aggressive.

Every day his mother, Sally calls to ask for help. Every day she is told there is nothing available. No residential care, no additional respite.

However, across the border in Devon, she had 70 hours a week of respite including overnight care. In Cornwall, she had just ten hours a week and no overnight care.

This proves that Cornwall is a particularly bad area in the UK for not only Children’s mental health but also for adults.

Where do we go from here?

You can get involved with raising awareness and money for mental health. However, the number of children suffering from mental health is increasing by the day, and it will continue to worsen if no new treatments and research are done.

Review of Manic Man with bipolar

~ Vickyw

Manic Man follows the life of a young man called Jason Wegner, who was diagnosed with bipolar.

He recalls the time when his parents had called the paramedics to take him to the hospital.

The book shifts back to build up to when he started to get hypomanic, which grew into mania.

The book captures the big ideas that come with mania, excessive spending, and lack of sleep.

While manic, the author was writing a lot, including texting and posting on social media and making a lot of audio recordings. 

There are pictures of some of his writing inside the book and on the cover. Together, these different pieces give the reader excellent insights into mania.

The author describes how his friends and family were getting concerned about him and wondering if he was on drugs, but he didn’t have any insight into the fact that he was unwell.

About three-quarters of the way through the book, the author was hospitalized. 

He writes about appealing his admission to the hospital and includes quotes from the panel’s written reasons for keeping him detained. 

It’s pretty interesting to see that side of the story, along with excerpts from doctors’ notes in his chart.

The book then jumps to recovery, interrupted by a depressive episode. Jason worked closely with his psychologist Dr Bernes, who wrote the book’s foreword, and together they developed a holistic program for recovery that they called the Octagon of Life. 

Jason’s therapy included elements like exercise, nutrition, and exposure therapy (including writing this book) to process the traumatic experience of mania. Together, the eight features of the Octagon of Life allowed the author to rebuild his life and achieve post-traumatic growth, and the book takes a hopeful stance that recovery is possible. The author is now pursuing a career as a teacher.

The author shows a willingness to be vulnerable and open about his experiences, even those experiences that might be considered embarrassing. Manic Man presents a very genuine picture of what it’s like to be manic. I think this book would be a good choice for anyone looking to gain a better understanding of bipolar mania, and particularly for anyone who’s been newly diagnosed.

Manic Man is available on Amazon (affiliate link).

Suicidal man on Next Door Neighbourhood

~ Vickyw

The subject of suicide on the local Next Door Neighbourhood site came up over Christmas, following a post from a suicidal man.

A local suicidal man living nearby felt so ill he spoke of ending his life on the local neighbourhood forum and came up against the typical negative responses.

Guess what? He was blocked and deleted from the site and told that this content was inappropriate for the site. As a mental health blogger and sufferer, although I wasn’t surprised to hear this, I’m furious that people with suicidal thoughts are ignored and treated like dirt.

This brings me to local authorities. Yes, the police again threatened to arrest the man with mental health problems, and he was suicidal! What’s wrong with Devon and Cornwall Police? They appear to either assault people or threaten them with arrest or, in some cases, do both!

So people living in Cornwall with a mental health condition can’t see a GP due to COVID restrictions or the CMHT. The local CMHT only see you for a short while and then refer you back to the GP.

By reaching out for help, you get the “Not in my backyard” response by threatening the police, and we all know how useful most of them are or delete and blocked from the site because it’s not what we want to hear.

To those clueless and ignorant, you never know it could be you or a close family member feeling this way, so think before you judge and act!

Last night a man called me from the mental health charity Rethink. He confirmed that since the pandemic, the number of people suffering from mental health has doubled during the pandemic.

The charity is currently hoping to raise £100,000 towards better treatments for sufferers such as one to one help, once the role of a CPN on the NHS and counselling.

Every time a mental health story is published, the papers think it clever to print helpline numbers. If this worked, we would have fewer or no reports on suicides or how the establishment criminalises mental health.

Let us know your thoughts about mental health and stigma on our new forum.

Cornish mental health services are a failure

~ Vickyw

Recent events have proven that Cornish mental health services are failing.

Last week a young man was sentenced for killing his mother and injuring his younger brother. 

Last June, emergency services were called to Crowlas, where Sally Poynton was found dead at the scene. The 44-year-old had suffered knife wounds.

Jacob Poynton-Whiting was charged with murder, which he denied.

The 22-year-old of Tregender Lane in the village later admitted to manslaughter, and the murder charge was dropped.

He also pleaded guilty to a separate charge of unlawful wounding.

Appearing at Truro Crown Court, he was given an indeterminate hospital order under sections 37 and 41 

What happened?

Police were called by the ambulance service to Crowlas, near Penzance, on Tuesday 22nd June 2021, following reports that a man had attacked his mother with a knife.

Mrs Poynton sustained a severe knife wound to her leg before Poynton-Whiting was forced out of the house by a male relative who lived at the property and suffered a severe injury during the struggle.

The male relative dialled 999, and when he was on the line to the ambulance service, Poynton-Whiting broke a window to get back into the house and attacked his mother again.

In the second attack, Mrs Poynton sustained a severe wound to her neck, and she was pronounced dead at 7.25 am by paramedics, who had responded to the emergency call.

Poynton-Whiting was arrested at the scene by police officers and taken into custody.

He was charged with murder, but following psychiatric evaluations, the prosecution accepted his guilty plea to manslaughter when he appeared at Truro Crown Court on Monday 13th December 2021.

Poynton-Whiting was briefly detained at Longreach mental unit in Redruth but was released without a diagnosis and clear support plan in place.

Why Cornish mental health services are failing!

He was struck off the mental health service’s list when he failed to respond to follow up letters.

Mental health patients aren’t always well enough to respond to letters and phone calls. They should be appointed a care person, but due to lack of staff, mental health services in Cornwall is failing as I type!

Mr Brunton said: “Sally battled without success to get Jacob diagnosed and treated. He behaved in a bizarre and antisocial way, but there were no signs of what would come.

The mental health doctor in charge of the Longreach mental health unit is Dr Kusterman, who I had before who not only could not diagnose me, he also broke patient confidentiality and got my notes wrong.

Why are we paying this man £200,000 a year? When two or three staff could be paid this wage to help save lives. 

Mr Poynton-Whiting has been sentenced to a hospital order thanks to Judge Carr and his understanding of mental health. He would almost certainly have been sentenced to prison if it was another judge or up to Cornwall and Devon Police.