Wishing all our Jewish readers around the world a happy, healthy and sweet new year- Shana Tova U’Metuka (which starts on Wednesday night)_ Rosh Hashana- Jewish New Year is a time of reflection on the year that has been and we reflect on how to be better people and do more good deeds.
This year has been particularly difficult for many of us due to the political climate at home and abroad and we hope for peace, prosperity and goodness in the days ahead.
I had the pleasure of reading and reviewing Holly Matthew’s debut book ‘The Happy Me Project’ a few years ago. Holly became a friend when I met her online in 2017 and became one of the first people to sign up to her ‘Happy Me Project’ life reset, which included a workbook and online classes. Holly is one of the most inspirational people I know- not only did she decide to become a life coach and NLP practitioner after the tragic passing of her husband Ross, but she was also an award-winning TV actress and is Mum to two wonderful girls. Holly truly helps people going through difficulties in their lives and so when her new book ‘Find Your Confidence’ came out, I knew I needed to get myself a copy and review it.
The book talks about finding self belief in a wide variety of situations such as in the workplace, at job interviews, at home in every day life. The publisher says,
‘Each chapter is broken down to focus on a different everyday scenario as Holly provides simple and practical advice for tackling confidence head-on. Learn how to: – Thrive in social situations – Develop the tools to be a confident partner and parent – Ace speaking in public and being assertive in the work place.’
(image: Green Tree/ Holly Matthews)
The book’s premise is that ‘Everyone can access confidence – it’s just a case of learning how.‘ Holly says, ‘Confidence is not a skill that we’re born with or without but something that can be taught, practised and developed throughout your life. Focusing on both your inner and outer confidence, will help transform your self-belief from the inside out.’
I absolutely love this guide and tips to strengthen self belief at home and in public. Singer and actress Suzanne Shaw has said, ‘ This book is needed in every household for adults and kids. An absolute guide to help you eradicate self-doubt and give you a huge injection of confidence!
Holly breaks down each chapter into ways to find and build confidence. I truly love the book and know it will be really helpful to me (and others) in specific life situations going forward. Self belief and confidence is something so many people struggle with and having these exercises, links and resources will be invaluable. Working with Holly is very special!
Find Your Confidence: The no nonsense guide to self belief by Holly Matthews is out now in all good book shops (and online).
Brigid and team very kindly gifted me a copy of her wonderful book for review. Although I have not yet finished it, I have found it very inspiring and such an important read. Here’s what Brigid and her publisher have to say:
Brigid Sheehan didn’t receive her bipolar diagnosis until early adulthood but, looking back, she realises how the condition may have affected her in so many pivotal moments. By writing this memoir and sharing her highs and lows, she hopes that her journey into the past will help others in the same position – and show them that they, too, can live full lives in spite of their bipolar diagnoses.
Brigid says, “I have chosen to tell the story of my lifelong experience as a bipolar sufferer because I think another person’s lived experience can help access knowledge, although no two situations are the same… Bipolar has not become a friend, but I have simply got to know it better and found the means to cope.”
Living with bipolar is never easy and Brigid documents the many highs and lows and how she lives with it.
A new film by the charity Nip in the Bud exposes the hidden dangers of social media and smartphone use among children. A Stolen Childhood provides startling insights from children, headteachers and doctors, shedding light on the everyday harm caused by digital platforms.
Launching today, the film highlights several alarming statistics. A shocking 90% of girls and 50% of boys report receiving explicit pictures or videos they did not want to see. Additionally, 1 in 5 children have experienced online bullying, with 24% of those bullied resorting to self-harm and 22% altering their appearance as a result.
Furthermore, boys as young as 13 have been targeted for sextortion scams, and 80% of teenage girls feel pressured to provide sexual images of themselves.
Emma Robertson, co-founder of Digital Awareness UK, emphasises the hidden nature of these issues: “The thousands of children we talk to in schools tell us that their parents often don’t know how much time they’re spending on their devices overnight, or what they are doing online. This is a new and hidden world which adults can find hard to penetrate.”
MRI scans show screen time reduces brain areas responsible for visual processing, empathy, attention, memory and early reading skills.
In response to these findings, many psychologists, headteachers and GPs are advocating for stricter guidelines:
No smartphones until age 14
No social media until age 16
These recommendations aim to protect children from various online risks, including increased loneliness, exposure to harmful content, access to strangers, behavioural addiction and cyberbullying.
At Nip in the Bud we produce free, evidence-based films and other resources aimed at parents, carers and teachers of primary-aged who may be struggling with mental illness or unmet neurodiverse needs.
Our mission is to empower families and communities around our children to recognise and respond to early signs of mental illness or challenges in a neurotypical world, with resources made in conjunction with mental health experts, educationalists and families going through similar experiences – facilitating early intervention, so that problems can be “nipped in the bud”, allowing our children to blossom.
Yesterday was World Suicide Prevention Day. This awareness day is so important as the rate of suicides in the UK and globally is increasing. About 10 years ago, I devastatingly lost a family member I loved dearly to suicide 💔- mental health treatment, awareness and support is so important. Often, even with these, people are still dying. I know myself the power of medicines, therapy and kindness from loved ones.
One of the reasons I wrote my children’s picture book ‘Arabella and the Worry Cloud’ (illustrated by Shelley the Artist) is because I believe that mental health education and understanding our feelings from a young age is so important. My book focuses on teaching children the power of positive thinking to relieve anxiety. So maybe it can do a bit of good in the world! I definitely didn’t have a book like this as a child.
So, I am so thankful today for the No Panic charity team who have shared this blog about my book today.
We’ve all heard the phrase ‘change starts at the top’. And when it comes to building safe and secure work environments, this notion becomes vitally important. Employees are the ones who bear the brunt of a lack of strong, skilled leadership teams. Leaders, managers and HR teams have a duty to look after staff, and wellbeing is a crucial piece of the puzzle.
With appointing physical first aiders being a legal requirement, more and more businesses are beginning to recognise the need for mental health support to be given the same significance – and Mental Health First Aid training is the solution.
Nathan Shearman, director of training and therapy at Red Umbrella, explores the indispensable role of MHFA training for businesses’ leadership teams.
Why is Mental Health First Aid becoming indispensable to business culture?
“Mental Health First Aid is a powerful resource that allows certain individuals to become qualified with a basic understanding of how to provide mental health support – much like physical first aiders do for physical health issues,” explains Nathan.
“Overall, it’s an incredibly reliable solution to building happier and safer work environments. Most of us would hesitate to join a business without physical first aiders, so why would a lack of mental health support be any less concerning?
“Through MHFA, individuals are trained to identify early signs of mental health issues, and how to act in response. Knowledge and education are instrumental when it comes to mental health, and mental health first aiders can ensure individuals who are struggling are guided towards the right resources.
“Appointing MHFAiders can also help prevent issues from escalating, leading to individuals needing to take time off work, or experiencing a full-blown crisis.”
Why is MHFA vital for leadership teams in particular?
“Recent research shows that 31% of employees feel uncomfortable discussing mental health with their managers, which means that employees are less likely to come forward and start that discussion..We’re all familiar with the culture of stigma that dictates that if someone comes forward to voice their mental health struggles, they may be out of a job. This is extremely detrimental for a business.
“By being MHFA trained, leaders can recognise the signs that someone is not okay, and step in to start those conversations. It enables that vital early intervention that can be the difference between someone recovering to their normal levels of functioning and wellbeing quickly, and someone taking extensive time off, or suffering serious mental health issues.
“It also means leadership teams can be better equipped to manage their own mental health. There are significant pressures on leaders and managers, and often the more senior someone becomes in an organisation, the less likely they are to discuss their own wellbeing, or seek support if they need it. The more informed they are, the more equipped they are to respond.”
(image: Unsplash)
How does MHFA equip leadership teams to handle mental health issues within staff?
“Firstly, it’s about awareness. Being able to spot when someone isn’t okay, when they’re struggling, or just noticing when there are additional risks or stresses associated with a task, role or project.
“For example, having a leader say to their team ‘I know this project has tighter deadlines than usual and that might make some of us feel higher levels of stress, what can we do to support you?’ can go a long way to having employees feel seen, heard and supported.
“It also means when they do notice someone isn’t okay, that they know how to respond. They feel empowered to have those difficult conversations, they don’t worry about saying the wrong thing, and they feel confident that they can be the supportive leader they wish to be.
“Being MHFA trained doesn’t mean that issues won’t arise within a team, but if leaders know how to respond well, their team will have more confidence in them and the organisation itself.”
(image: Unsplash)
What are the short-term vs long-term benefits of implementing MHFA for leadership teams?
“Short-term benefits for leadership are greater awareness and therefore visibility of issues within their teams, which enables them to respond quicker to potential issues. It also allows them to immediately check in with their own wellbeing, and make adjustments to their lives so they are able to be the most effective and healthy version of themselves.
“In the long term, employees will feel more supported, will be more engaged and as a result more productive, creative and loyal to the organisation.
“The biggest benefit is if leaders in an organisation are MHFA trained, the culture around mental health shifts massively. It enables more people to come forward when they’re struggling and to access support, and it makes the company more attractive to current and potential employees, driving talent retention and acquisition.”
For more information on MHFA training and how it can benefit your organisation, please get in touch with Red Umbrella: https://red-umbrella.co.uk/contact
About Nathan Shearman
Nathan Shearman is the director of therapy and training at Red Umbrella, an organisation that’s improving the mental wellbeing of the UK workforce by working in partnership with large employers to deliver bespoke mental health training and support solutions.
Nathan is a qualified psychotherapist and counsellor with a background in private practice and 10+ years of experience in the field.
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