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How Good Oaks Home Care looks after the mental health of our clients and carers – World Mental Health Day 2021
World Mental Health Day is an international day to raise awareness of the importance of mental health and to reduce the social stigma surrounding the topic. In the UK, one in four people will experience a mental health condition each year – this could include anxiety and stress, depression, post traumatic stress disorder or phobias. One in six people in the UK experience a common mental health issue like anxiety in any given week. (From charity Mind.) This goes to show that no one is alone in facing these concerns and that they are more common that people often realise or like to admit.
One of the most important ways to help with feelings of worry and stress, is to have someone to talk to about them, to help find solutions or just to listen. Talking about mental health can be as simple as having a cup of tea with someone and asking how they have been. With Covid having caused wide-spread anxiety, we have all found it important to talk.
This World Mental Health Day we have created an article to show the top ways to help keep yourself or a loved one feeling content as the nights draw in this winter and show how we are helping our clients and carers to feel supported with their mental health.
- Feeling sad and down very often
- Feelings of worry, guilt and overwhelm
- Trouble sleeping
- Fatigue, tiredness and exhaustion
- Lack of motivation to do activities you once enjoyed
- Withdrawal from life – not seeing or speaking to family or friends
- Difficulty dealing with everyday life
- Eating more or less than normal
- Extreme anger or hostility
- Feeling hopeless and worthless
- Talk about your concerns with someone you trust
- Ask for help with things you are struggling with
- Don’t be afraid to talk to your GP if you need to, about treatment options
- Try and do things you enjoy and are good at
- Try and take exercise if you can – even sitting in a garden for 10 minutes has been proven to help mental health
- Eat well and keep hydrated
- Try and get good sleep
Only of the key areas people can struggle with, especially as they get older and are less mobile, is loneliness. Our carers can provide a vital companionship service and go round to make tea and have a talk. They can also help keep people more active for longer by helping them go and see friends and family and take part in activities and clubs. For more information about how we can help you or your loved one with companionship visits or help with day-to-day tasks, please call for a free assessment on 01202 757787.
Good Oaks operates an open-door policy giving our carers an option to come in any time and share their concerns about work, personal life, or anything else they can think of.
Our teams check in on each other and are constantly supported at work, so that they never feel alone. Our digital platform allows carers to see up to the minute information on clients wellbeing, so that every member of the team is prepared and knows what their role will entail that day. We believe that if our carers feel supported and empowered to do their jobs then they will be happier and more confident.
When carers start with us, they are given mentors which they shadow for the first weeks. This helps them get to know the role and what is expected, but also gives them an experienced carer to ask questions of and makes them feel more connected to the team.
