Free Mental Resilience Workshop Activity Guide for Ages 11-19

To mark this years Mental Health Day on the 10th of October we have designed a free workshop guide  which deals with this years theme of mental health in young people with a focus on building mental resilience.

Download a copy of the free activity sheet which come complete with teacher guides for running the workshop (link expires 31st October 2018): FREE MENTAL RESILIENCE ACTIVITY SHEET

World Mental Health Day 2018

culled from: http://www.who.int/mental_health/world-mental-health-day/2018/en/

Half of all mental illness begins by the age of 14

Half of all mental illness begins by the age of 14, but most cases go undetected and untreated. In terms of the burden of the disease among adolescents, depression is the third leading cause. Suicide is the second leading cause of death among 15-29-year-olds. Harmful use of alcohol and illicit drugs among adolescents is a major issue in many countries and can lead to risky behaviours such as unsafe sex or dangerous driving. Eating disorders are also of concern.

Growing recognition of the importance of building mental resilience

Fortunately, there is a growing recognition of the importance of helping young people build mental resilience, from the earliest ages, in order to cope with the challenges of today’s world. Evidence is growing that promoting and protecting adolescent health brings benefits not just to adolescents’ health, both in the short- and the long-term, but also to economies and society, with healthy young adults able to make greater contributions to the workforce, their families and communities and society as a whole. 

Prevention begins with better understanding 

Much can be done to help build mental resilience from an early age to help prevent mental distress and illness among adolescents and young adults, and to manage and recover from mental illness. Prevention begins with being aware of and understanding the early warning signs and symptoms of mental illness. Parents and teachers can help build life skills of children and adolescents to help them cope with everyday challenges at home and at school. Psychosocial support can be provided in schools and other community settings and of course training for health workers to enable them to detect and manage mental health disorders can be put in place, improved or expanded. 

Investment by governments and the involvement of the social, health and education sectors in comprehensive, integrated, evidence-based programmes for the mental health of young people is essential. This investment should be linked to programmes to raise awareness among adolescents and young adults of ways to look after their mental health and to help peers, parents and teachers know how to support their friends, children and students. This is the focus for this year’s World Mental Health Day.

Download a copy of the Free E-Book 6 Quick Ways to Cultivate Mental Strength

We are so happy to share with you this new resource from Moses Ida Michaels and our founder Oyinda Fakeye 6 Quick Ways to Cultivate Mental Strength. The book touches on a variety of techniques aimed at promoting positive mental health and encouraging emotional wellbeing through tools and theories which cover mindfulness, mindset, behaviour and mood.

There's No Shame in Taking Care of Your Mental Health

When stress got to be too much for TED Fellow Sangu Delle, he had to confront his own deep prejudice: that men shouldn't take care of their mental health. In a personal talk, Delle shares how he learned to handle anxiety in a society that's uncomfortable with emotions. As he says: "Being honest about how we feel doesn't make us weak -- it makes us human."

When stress got to be too much for TED Fellow Sangu Delle, he had to confront his own deep prejudice: that men shouldn't take care of their mental health. In a personal talk, Delle shares how he learned to handle anxiety in a society that's uncomfortable with emotions. As he says: "Being honest about how we feel doesn't make us weak -- it makes us human."

There's More to Life Than Being Happy

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There is more to life than being happy yet all the messages we receive seem to point to a need for us to pursue happiness at all cost. I think its time for us to learn to be comfortable with all of the facets of life; the good the bad & the ugly!

Oyinda Fakeye and Amanda Ihemebiri Talk Mental Health after Kate Spade and Anthony Bourda

Our Founder Oyindamola Fakeye featured on Arise TV's 'The Morning Show' alongside Ndidi's Amanda Ihemebiri to discuss issues around celebrity and mental health, in response to the recent death's of Kate Spade, Anthony Bourdain and the increase in incidences coming to light in Lagos.

Mindfulness found to be Useful in the Treatment of PTSD

If you have experienced and/or witnessed a threat to your life, your body, your moral integrity, or have had a close encounter with violence or death, you may have felt an array of emotions including that of fear. Fear triggers what is commonly known as a  “fight, flight or freeze” response in the body that results in psychological, behavioural and physiological actions to occur in the body during the event. Those who continue to experience effects related to the occurrence after the danger or problem has subsided may go on to be diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

PTSD is described as a severe response to trauma and can causes a huge deal of distress and severely limit active daily life in those who experience it. PTSD is characterised by three primary symptoms:

1.     Re-experiencing the traumatic event
2.     Avoiding any reminders of the event, or feeling emotionally numb 
3.     Hyper-arousal, which consists of a very sensitive startle/fear response

Those who experience PTSD may also develop other mental illnesses such as severe anxiety, depression and suicidal feelings