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Life under lockdown

Undoubtedly, the coronavirus has affected everyone to a greater or lesser degree and people have responded in different ways to the virus itself and the lockdown measures that have been placed upon them.

In a study by The Policy Institute at King’s College London, three distinct categories of the population and their respective attitudes and behaviour to the virus and lockdown were identified against the following criteria:

Based on previously published data from a survey of 2,250 UK residents aged 18-75 from 1-3 April 2020, responses from the groups, named as The Accepting (48%*), The Suffering (44%*) and The Resisting (9%*), are summarised below:

*Note: Percentages of three groups sum to 101% due to rounding

The AcceptingKey Demographics: These responses correlate with the key demographics of the group, 59% of whom were male with a mean age of 50, voted Conservative over Labour by 40% to 21% and voted ‘Leave’ over ‘Remain’ by 47% to 39%.

The SufferingKey Demographics: 64% female with a mean age of 44, equal split between Labour (30%) and Conservative (29%) and voted ‘Remain’ over ‘Leave’ by 46% to 35%.

The Resisting: – Key Demographics: 64% male with a mean age of 29, Voted Labour over Conservative by 35% to 22% and voted ‘Remain’ over ‘Leave’ by 57% to 43%.

Summary

The above gives an overview of a sample of individuals over a short period of time but the effects of the coronavirus change daily so it is likely that if the same survey was conducted today, responses are likely to be different. People have had to come to terms with significant changes: loss of life, separation from loved ones, unemployment, isolation and anxiety.  However, many have adjusted using technology to have contact with friends and family and adapting to virtual working from home.  Others have used it to access counselling and psychological treatment when the need arose.  A sense of community and resilience has helped society move from the initial panic of the unknown to an understanding and appreciation of lockdown measures and a gradual acceptance as we wait for a new ‘normal’ to evolve. 

Anxiety, Depression and COVID-19

COVID-19 and Anxiety

The COVID lockdown has caused a huge upheaval to all our lives and has increased our sense of threat and uncertainty – these are understandable triggers to worry and anxiety.  Here are some helpful tips for managing worries related to COVID:

https://www.psychologytools.com/assets/covid-19/guide_to_living_with_worry_and_anxiety_amidst_global_uncertainty_en-gb.pdf

The BABCP have also shared a blog about managing anxiety about COVID:

http://letstalkaboutcbt.libsyn.com/?dm_i=5J93,V81,FF9HM,2YWL,1

COVID-19 and depression

The current situation means we have had a rapid change to our routine and lost a lot of normal activities that we may have found important for our wellbeing.  We may be socially isolated, suffer losses, and feel the stress of financial worries or juggling multiple roles and demands at home.  All these factors can lead to an increased risk of low mood.  MIND have produced some helpful tips on managing routine and well-being during lock down:

https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/coronavirus/coronavirus-and-your-wellbeing/#TakingCareOfYourMentalHealthAndWellbeing

It’s good to know that there are things we can do to help our well-being during this time and get through a difficult period until we’re on the other side – focusing on the things we do have control over in the present (and less on the things we don’t have control over!), keeping a balanced, structured routine in place and being kind to ourselves and each other.

World bipolar day 2020

World Bipolar Day 

World Bipolar Day takes place every year on March 30. This year perhaps it got a bit lost in the COVID crisis, so I wanted to bring some attention to this.

Bipolar disorder used to be called manic depression and is a serious mental health condition that affects over 1m people in the UK as well as their families. 

It mainly affects your mood and people experience episodes of mania and depression but can also feel well between these times. When your mood is affected, you might see changes in your energy levels, sleep, thinking patterns or how you act.

The NHS service provision that people receive for this condition can be hit and miss, which is unfortunate as there are treatments that can make a significant difference to people’s lives, including medication and CBT.  The BABCP have produced a blog on CBT for Bipolar disorder and this page also links to other helpful resources and information:

http://letstalkaboutcbt.libsyn.com/bipolar-disorder-edit-26320

It is certainly not an easy condition to live with but people can learn to spot the early warning signs of an episode and take helpful action to stop the bout spiralling out of control.  You can also learn to understand your stress triggers that might lead to an episode and manage these differently to reduce the likelihood or frequency of episodes. 

Epsom Mental Health Week 2019 – Round-up

Thanks to the organisers at Love Me Love My Mind for running this year’s Mental Health and Wellbeing Festival in Epsom, Surrey. It was another great and worthwhile event and it’s fantastic to see open and honest discussion taking place about Mental Health.

It’s important to have events like these to break down barriers and taboos open psychological well-being.

Epsom is only a short hop away from our clinic in Banstead so we always try to get along to as many of the events as we can.

This year’s theme was Joys & Sorrows and there were more than 100 events spread across 20 venues in Epsom and Ashstead. Venues ranged from St Barnabas’s Church to Epsom College to McDonalds so there was a great variety of places and locations to make it easy for people to attend.

Here are some of the sessions that particularly caught our eye:

Mental Health for girls” was a talk hosted by Ben Blackman from CYP Haven. We’re particularly interested in this topic as, coincidentally, we are all mothers of girls ourselves and we do treat a lot of teenagers and young adults who have anxiety issues at this particularly challenging time of life.

Continuing the theme of young people’s well-being Helen Keevil, Assistant Head at Epsom College, presented an interactive workshop entitled “Striving for balance: well-being in schools, businesses, homes….

On the Sunday Dr Max Pemberton, Patron of Love Me Love My
Mind, chaired a panel discussion “An opportunity to ask the medical and mental health questions that have been on your mind…” which was attended by none other than The One Show’s Dr Sarah Jarvis.

It wasn’t all talking though and there were 5-a-side football and circuit training events at the Pound Lane recreation ground and a choral session by the Appleby Choir – showing that you can have fun and live well with dementia.

Two talks other talks close to our hearts were the Autism and ADHD with Dr Jeremy Mudunkotuwe and the Pets As Therapy sessions. In fact these two topics could possibly be linked as we know first hand of the therepeutic effect that pets can have on children who are on the autisitic spectrum or who have ADHD.

There were too many sessions to cover them all here. All in all it was another great success and we’d urge anyone interested in Mental Health and Psychology to get along to next year’s Epsom Mental Health and Wellbeing Festival in October 2020.

Surrey Mental Health Week – Preview

From the 5th-12th October, it’s the 11th annual Epsom Mental Health and Well- Being Festival. It is perfect for anyone who has a passion and interest in psychological well-being to experience this Festival. The theme this year is Joys and Sorrows, which are two big things that we sometimes can struggle to accept in life, and that they can also run together at times. We hope that people who come to this Festival we be able to reflect on this idea and find some joy in the programme.

Some of the things you can look forward to being; An interactive workshop with Helen Keevil, Assistant Head, Pupil Welfare at Epsom College, on Saturday about striving for balance: well-being in schools, businesses, homes. Or maybe you’d rather listen to Alice Allen, a student counseller at Epsom college, about living with the pain of grief. Perhaps you can get your creative streak ignited with their Art competition, with three separate age groups, to win a 100-pound prize. This is open to absolutely anyone, and you can enter any art you like, you could paint, you could draw, you could make something out of pottery, or even a DVD as long as it reflects their ‘Joys & Sorrows’ theme.

On Sunday you are welcome to join us for an opportunity to ask the medical and mental health questions that have been on your mind with Dr Sarah Jarvis of The One Show and chaired by Dr Max Pemberton, Patron of Love Me Love My Mind. This is a valuable opportunity to get those questions out of your head, and hopefully help you in the time you are going through. That afternoon there is tea, and planting a tree in memory of Ghodsie Hardwick,

On Monday you can join us for creative lunch, drumming with Ray. Or how about sitting in with an identity discussion with Cynthia Page from Outline, conversing about the 33 gender types. However maybe you’re health and diet is more on your mind, and you will want to listen to the weekly drop-in Niki Den Hollander, on how we can healthily enjoy our food.

Tuesday is all about types of Mental Distress and time for carers. There is a talk of schizophrenia with Dr Antonio Fiahlo, followed by Dr Catherine Huckle, Clinical Psychologist, discussing bipolar disorder. Make sure you stick around for the beautiful Appleby Choir who will be showing us that you can have fun and live well with dementia, followed by a delightful Afternoon Tea. Who doesn’t love an afternoon tea?

Then we come to Wednesday, a hectic day but fulfilling, but some of the highlights are the talk of pets as therapy, Body & Brain and QiGong Taster Class with Sam Lee, and an Autism and ADHD talk with Dr Jeremy Mudunkotuwe.

Then there are three whole other days filled with more things happening, and we’d be here all day talking about them, and this was only a small selection out of the many fantastic events taking place. It would be great to see your face and experience this Festival with us. All events are free, open to everyone, with free refreshments throughout the week. Unless stated otherwise the activities will be held at St Barnabas Church, Temple Road, Epsom, KT19 8HA.

Love me Love my mind

Attitudes towards Mental Health

A funny, sad, true video about attitudes towards mental health; especially depression and anxiety.

What if we talked about physical health the absurd way we talk about mental health? #MentalHealthAwarenessMonth

Posted by ATTN: on Friday, 26 May 2017

Epsom Mental Health Week

Check out http://www.lovemelovemymind.org.uk/epsom-mental-health-week/emhw-2015/ for details of this year’s Epsom Mental Health Week. It will be held from 3rd to 11th October. There will be a variety of talks and events on Mental Health issues such as depression, self-harm, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and mindfulness.

Most events are taking place in St Barnabas Church, Temple Road, Epsom, Surrey, KT19 8HA

HRH The Duchess of Cambridge, Royal Patron of the children’s mental health charity Place2Be, has recorded a video message to support the UK’s first Children’s Mental Health Week (16 – 22 February 2015).

Click here to view.

Dr Louise Oliver will now be offering cognitive behavioural therapy (cbt) counseling services from Cheyham Lodge in Ewell village, near Epsom, Surrey. Cheyham Lodge is an integrated healthcare practice and offers range of services to include Homeopathy, Counselling and an exercise rehabilitation specialist. As a multidisciplinary practice Cheyham Lodge now prides itself on being able to both diagnose and treat an extensive array of different health complaints.

Cheyham Lodge is located between Ewell West and Ewell East train stations and the full address is:

11 Cheam Road
Ewell Village
Epsom
Surrey
KT17 1ST

I hope everyone who caught the events at Epsom Mental Health week enjoyed them and got something out of them. Remember that the charity that organises this Epsom event (Love Me Love My Mind) runs weekly drop in sessions in St Barnabas’ church hall which is in between Epsom and Ewell in Surrey.  http://www.lovemelovemymind.org.uk

They’re possibly good people to talk to if you want to find out more about counselling or Cognitive Behavioural Therapy to decide if it’s right for you.