*Content Warning: Suicide*
How are you feeling lately? Are you finding it difficult to cope between the cost of living crisis, post-Covid exhaustion, the ongoing threat of global warfare, or personal ups and downs? The other day, I struggled to get out of bed. This wasn’t just because of the recent cold and January gloom or typical Hump Day blues. Simply put, it felt like life was sitting on top of me. I wanted to take a parent mental health day off but unfortunately, deadlines were calling.
Managing Anxiety and Mental Stress
My anxiety has been extra high lately, following an increase of youth crime in our area targeting school kids. Without going into confidential details, this has affected our family directly as well as other parents and kids locally and there’s a general feeling of unease in our neighbourhood. Every day, I worry about my sons’ safety as they walk to school and back. Fortunately, they are becoming more streetwise. They move in groups, travel by well-lit streets, keep their valuables out of sight and take every precaution they can. But it doesn’t guarantee that they will come home unscathed. There have been too many incidents escalating to violence lately and it’s set my teeth on edge.
The boys seem to be coping ok for the most part but I’m careful not to minimise the impact of what’s happening on our children’s mental health. From street crime to academic targets, bullying, body image and social media, there are untold pressures on kids these days. Since the pandemic, medical experts have seen a huge rise in children’s mental health issues, with 1 in 6 children ages 7 to 16 estimated to have a probable mental health disorder (according to the most recent NHS data). As a parent of boys, I am especially concerned about the statistics around male suicide, which happens at a rate three times more frequently than among females.
Some natural experts suggest trying all natural supplements for anxiety and depression. Many of these supplements include ingredients like Ashwagandha and Rhodiola, which are said to reduce the impact of external stressors on mental health. However, please remember to consult your doctor or physician before starting any new supplement.
Finding Help on Parent Mental Health Day
Today (January 27) is Stem4’s Parent Mental Health Day which is a day to raise awareness around the mental health of grownups as well as the young ones they care for and to promote mental wellness for the whole family. This year’s theme #BuildFamilyResilience highlights ways that parents and carers can adapt to life challenges, cope with their own stress and anxiety, and help their family navigate through tough times.
YoungMinds**, the UK’s leading mental health charity for children and young people, offers a range of resources, tools and advice to support families. It can feel incredibly lonely when you are dealing with your own and/or your child’s mental health concerns, but the key message from YoungMinds is that you are not alone. I’m the type of person who resists asking for help and yet one of the best things I ever did for my mental wellbeing was to reach out for support. I know that YoungMinds offer free advice and guidance via their Parents Helpline, Webchat and Email service.
If you are the parent or carer of a child or young person aged under 25, you can access their Parents Helpline, Webchat and Email service to speak with a trained advisor. Below are some guidelines from YoungMinds on accessing this service:
Getting Support via the Parents Helpline, Webchat and Email service
How can I access the helpline? You can call our Parents Helpline on 0808 802 5544 or contact us via webchat, Monday – Friday 9:30am – 4:00pm. It is available in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. We also offer an out of hours email service, that you can reach when our helpline and webchat is closed. You can access the webchat and email service online by clicking here.
What happens when I contact you? You’ll speak with a trained adviser who will listen and explore through your concerns in complete confidence. Your adviser will help you to understand your child’s behaviour and give you practical advice on what to do next. If you need further help, they’ll arrange for one of our independent, experienced professionals to call you for a free 50-minute telephone consultation within seven days.
What can you support me with? This service is intended to provide practical advice and emotional support. We can also point you in the direction of where to get further help. We cannot provide advice on medication, counselling/therapy treatments or assess and diagnose mental health conditions.
In 2021/22:
- Our Parents Helpline team answered 14,047 phone calls, web chats and emails.
- 82% of parents and carers said they felt more confident after contacting the Parents Helpline.
- There were almost 2.3 million page views of the parents’ information and advice on our website, a 64% increase on the previous year.
This Parent Mental Health Day, find time to do something positive for your mental health. If worries or concerns about your child’s wellbeing are getting on top of you, speak with one of YoungMinds’ trained advisors and get practical information and advice on what to do next.
**In collaboration with YoungMinds, all opinions are strictly my own.
London Kids Weekend Scoop (January 26-29, 2023)
