Children’s mental health week successful?

~ Vickyw

Last week was Children’s mental health week but how successful has this been and what new initiatives are there to help young ones cope with the current pandemic?

Now more than ever its important to make sure that the youth of today are properly nurtured as many have the added stresses of being isolated from friends, lack of interaction with teachers and learning new ways of learning and life.

What many people forget is the fact that mental health in both adults and children isn’t new. It has however, increased due to lifestyle changes being forced by the current worldwide pandemic.

Children’s mental health week takes place once a year on the first week of February.

The charity Place2Be sets up resources to help primary schools celebrate each year.

As part of this years theme “Express yourself” children were encouraged to find ways to share feelings, thoughts, or ideas, through creativity.

Expressing themselves through art, music, writing and poetry, dance and drama, photography and film, and doing activities that they enjoy.

Sadly, a lot more research needs to be done for both children and adults in research and treatments.

Its all very well having 2 or 3 weeks a year when mental health is discussed by the media and charities but everyone needs to make sure that mental health is being researched properly.

Children should have mental health education in schools both secondary and primary and they should also have on site counsellors.

Only then, there will be less suicides Mental health is still, even in 2021 not taken seriously due to lack of funding and treatments available.

Mental health sufferers may no longer live in isolation physically but mentally there is still a stigma.

How many of you are guilty of ignoring your loved ones mental health? Avoiding them when you know they are feeling low?

Please feel free to share how you encourage your children to stay positive throughout the pandemic and any successful treatments you feel have worked?

What are your thoughts children’s mental health week? Were you and your child or children aware of this week?

UK’s launches an app to fight Mental Health

~ Vickyw

An innovative new COVID-safe app has been launched in the UK to fight the ‘tsunami’ of mental health problems.

The app called My Pocket Therapist connects anyone needing help to a range of therapists including psychotherapists, counsellors, hypnotherapists, cognitive behavioural therapists and more.

Clients choose therapists from a list of video profiles. Sessions are conducted via video call and are COVID-secure. 

This means that anyone self-isolating or in lockdown can access mental health services without leaving their house.

The app vastly reduces appointment waiting times, and anyone wanting to see a therapist can connect to one within an hour of requesting help.

Founder of My Pocket Therapist, Daniel Solden, said:

“My Pocket Therapist serves as a vital lifeline and has been designed to help people access mental health services when they most need it, as quickly as possible. 

It is convenient, and anyone can use the service from their own home or phone. During COVID-19, many people are under lockdown, working alone, and cannot physically access any of their routine services. 

He added: “Some people who have not ever had mental health problems now need to see a therapist urgently and can’t due to crippling waiting times and restrictions. “

The app allows you to view therapists’ video profiles and see someone in an hour.

However, the downside is that to book a therapist isn’t cheap as prices start from £60 for a 50-minute session. That’s a week’s money for someone who is unemployed or on disability benefits.

You can only download the app from the Apple store, so you need an iPhone. 

Download the app and let us know what you think about using “My Personal Therapist or what you’re doing to help fight your mental health.

Let us know in the comments below or on our social media.

Mental health treatments scarce in Cornwall – due to COVID

~ Vickyw

Mental Health treatments are scarce in Cornwall due to COVID. I have been trying to seek help for my failing mental health and have been put on several counselling lists.

I haven’t heard from the CMHT at Trevillis House in Liskeard for months.

I contacted them back in November to say that I was struggling with my mental health and needed some counselling and they rang me back to say they would be in touch to tell me where I am on the list.

Which never happened.

I decided to look for other mental health treatments and counselling as I came to a point where it was either sink further into depression and anger or get help and try and get better and seek a more positive outlook on life.

Before Christmas, I contacted Valued Lives after seeing an online Instagram post promoting their vans in Sainsbury’s car parks throughout the county.

After sending them a private Facebook message, they contacted me to make an appointment.

Two people from Valued Lives rang me, and the first person referred me to Penhaligan counselling.

I was told there was a long list due to COVID and the second person who called me later that day, reminded me of putting together a comfort box with my favourite things and said she would phone the mental health team to see if she could help speed things up.

I also phoned Mind another charity in the hope of getting some phone or Zoom counselling, but the man who answered the phone told that their list was full.

The man then rang me back to say they couldn’t offer counselling at this point, but he could ring me once a week for a chat.

I purchased a DBT book as I felt like I was running out of options, and so far, the book has helped me learn a technique called the REST option. I will be reviewing the book on here once I have completed it.

Waves Counselling are phoning me this week, so I’m hoping they can help if not, I’m going to pay for counselling with Betterhelp.

Betterhelp is an online counselling service for people in the US and the UK.

Even the Guardian published an article on New Years Day about the rise in people within the UK now being prescribed antidepressants as the pandemic cuts face to face counselling services in a time where people are confined to their homes, away from loved ones.

The paper quotes that “more than 6 million people in England received antidepressants in the three months to September, part of a wider trend and the highest figure on record.”

Let us know if you or your loved ones have struggled to find mental health treatments in your area?

Changes required in mental health and crime?

~ Vickyw

With an increase in anti-depressants being prescribed we ask a legal professional what needs to change with mental health and crime.

Covid-19 and lockdown is dictating the ways in which we live so there’s never been a better time for the legal profession to ask itself if it properly serving clients with mental health issues.

In regards to mental health and crime, there’s been a definite failure by the legal profession, over the years, in obtaining proper and full assessments of clients suffering from one or more mental health issues.

This means the profession is letting down its clients and acting without the highest standards in mind. 

Having specialised in the field of Criminal Defence for 14 years, the last eight years operating as a licensed paralegal preparing cases for my own clients both within solicitor firms and more recently on a privately funded client basis.

I have been involved in the preparation of defense cases for a considerable number of clients with mental health issues.

In the last two years with awareness of mental health issues even being raised by members of the Royal Family, the onus must surely be on the authorities and legal professionals throughout the UK to thoroughly consider a client’s potential mental health state from the outset.

This should start at the police station interview stage.

Adverse behaviour as a child or teenager growing up in care, for example, or within a dysfunctional or disadvantaged family is currently deemed to be not enough of a concern for many legal representatives to consider further investigation or expert reports.  

Such incidents have led to miscarriages of justice in the past, yet still, today not enough consideration is given to those with mental health issues who get caught up within the criminal justice system.

As a police station accredited representative, I have attended at police stations, and other venues, to advise and assist clients who are being interviewed by police.  

At the police station when a client has been arrested and is being booked in to the custody suite they are asked if they suffer from mental health issues as part of the welfare check.  

Many will not divulge that information due to a perceived stigma associated with mental health.  

I remember a client where their mental health issues were known to exist and a mental health nurse was on hand to determine whether the client was fit to be detained and fit to be interviewed.

When it comes to mental health and crime one of the biggest mistakes made here is that the nurse determined that the client was fit.

I arrived, and in consultation with my client it was clear that they were unfit – they were talking about angels and the devil, and clearly did not understand the reason for their arrest or where they were.

Having made representations to the mental health nurse and the custody sergeant I was advised that despite my concerns and representations the interview would proceed!  

Within a minute of that interview commencing the police officer agreed that the client was not fit to be interviewed nor detained.

The client was subsequently released into the care of their carer.  

Clearly there had been a significant error on the part of the police force and mental health nurse.  

Thus, it is imperative that police station accredited representatives and solicitors take the time to assess a client and perhaps, more importantly, make suitable representations to the police and mental health professionals if there are concerns.

Another incident involving a client with mental health issues involved one who was already serving a significantly long sentence.

That client advised me that they became involved in bad behaviour as they believed that they would be killed if they were not segregated.  

That client had received no mental health care in the, approximately, 10 years they had been incarcerated.  

Due to my concerns, a full psychiatric and psychological assessment and expert report was obtained. 

 It transpired that one of the experts believed that the client’s original case was unfair due to the client’s mental health issues and that the client should consider appointing a legal professional to look at their original case with a view to submitting a fresh application to appeal.  

That client, with the diagnosis, evidence and advice submitted in the expert reports, was finally given mental health care and treatment in the prison.

These are just two examples of many I have dealt with, some in relation to submitting applications for leave to appeal, where I firmly believe a miscarriage of justice has taken place.

What needs to be done to address mental health and crime?

Here is what I believe needs to happen in order for the legal profession to better serve people with mental health challenges: Education.

Education of legal professionals – defence and prosecution – to help them understand mental health issues and the treatment options. 

Further educating legal professionals to note and consider these issues if they have concerns when dealing with a client.

Encouraging them to obtain those vital expert reports, from psychiatrists and psychologists, as to their client’s mental health.

More often than not those assessments prove vital to the outcome for the client.  

  • Start at the police station. Full and proper consideration/assessment by Mental Health Nurses at the police station stage.
  • The aim is to determine, where a client suffers from mental health issues, their real ability to understand and give instructions and/or an interview. 
  • All too often clients are deemed fit for interview at the police station, when clearly, they are not.
  • Assessment. An in-depth assessment by the Crown instructed expert psychiatrists and psychologists.
  • Often these people are only given the defence expert report and prosecution evidence.
  • The Crown’s experts should be given sight of the medical records of those they are assessing, and they should provide a full assessment and report on the person’s ability to understand the trial process and take part in it.
  • They should not be asked simply to provide a report aimed solely at a continuation of prosecuting a defendant.  Often the full mental health issues are not covered in these Crown instructed reports.
  • Rehabilitation. Prisons should revert to proper rehabilitation techniques. These appear to have waned over the past 10 years or so. 
  • This should include suitable assessment of those with suspected mental health issues particularly within the Autism range, ADHD, and PTSD; all of which can be complex.
  • Appropriate treatment should be given to those serving custodial sentences. 
  • Those with significant learning difficulties and/or low IQ should be provided with approved courses and treatment to help with coping and progression, as well as obtaining employment once released. 
  • The government should put in place a service for those released from prison who suffer from mental health issues so that they may continue to be provided with assistance and treatment, in order to reduce reoffending behaviours.
  • Utilising help. Deeper consideration and use of Hospital Orders. Utilising the help available from the Probation Services and ensuring that the most vulnerable are protected by the courts.   
  • Intermediaries.  The use of intermediaries in court proceedings appears to be a rarity. 
  • In a world where there is a significant trend towards those with mental health issues facing proceedings before the Courts, intermediaries should be instructed to assist the client during trials and other hearings/conferences where necessary. 
  • This intermediary service is currently heavily overlooked.

Full expert reports should be obtained by defence solicitors/firms on their client’s behalf where and when possible.

Legal aid funding is available for these expert reports where clients are legally aided. 

For those clients who are privately funding their defence case, their defence team should advise them about the importance of obtaining expert reports on a client’s mental health issues as this can be at a significant cost to the privately funded client.

Mental Health is a wide-ranging condition which is all too often either not fully considered by legal professionals and related authorities or considered at all.  

This attitude and lack of proper consideration must change for future generations.

What areyour thoughts on mental health and crime?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Caroline Spencer-Boulton is a NALP Licenced Paralegal from 24:7 Criminal Defence. 

The National Association of Licenced Paralegals (NALP) is a non-profit Membership Body and the only Paralegal body that is recognised as an awarding organisation by Ofqual (the regulator of qualifications in England). http://www.nationalparalegals.co.uk

Twitter: @NALP_UK Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NationalAssocationsofLicensedParalegals/

Help Fund a Children’s mental health picture book

~ Vickyw
mental health picture book girl

Mental Health researcher Ruth Spence has been accepted for the ‘Back Her Business’ scheme by Natwest & Crowdfunder, to help fund a children’s mental health picture book.

The Back Her Business scheme is a business start-up programme where contribute funds equivalent to 50% of a crowdfunding target.

The book is a picture book, so for children under the age of 10, she developed it with some clinical psychologists’ input. 

 It’s about a girl called Charlie who moves house and leaves all her friends behind, but then she meets a black dog.

The dog in the book makes Charlie miserable. For example (it goes through various common symptoms of depression, such as the fact that she has to carry the dog everywhere, making her tired.

The dog likes to sneak up and bark at her, so she finds it hard to relax and gets headaches.

She never knows when it will surprise her, so she finds it difficult to sleep at night). 

Charlie’s mum notices that she’s unhappy and decides her new friend has to go.  She knows when you think sad thoughts, you feel sad, and when you feel sad, it can stop you from doing the things that make you feel good.

Ruth said: “I decided to write the book because I’ve read so much about how common mental health problems are on the rise and they are increasing in children too.

 If people get help early, they tend to have better outcomes, but services are stretched so many people can’t access them, or their problems aren’t considered severe enough to get treatment.” 

The book isn’t going to solve these problems, but Ruth hopes it can open up some discussions around mental health and help people become more aware of depression.

She added: “My focus is on how adverse life events interact with personal vulnerability to cause depression.

I like that way of thinking because it shows the external world can impact the internal world, explaining why anyone can get depressed given the right circumstances. That help should focus on society as well as the individual. “

Ruth is hoping this book might help children recognise that what they’re going through is ok or it might make other children who aren’t having problems realise that other people might and that that’s ok too.

 She’s also hoping it can be another resource for people to use that’s easily accessible and helpful – in it, I try to give a couple of useful things they can do.

They talk about the dog, and some things Charlie can do which she’ll enjoy and some things she can do that she’ll feel proud of.

They do a bit of each, and the dog gets smaller and quieter – it doesn’t go away entirely, but they know how to handle it if it gets bigger again.

The children’s mental health picture book features a discussion guide and some activities at the end of the book.

There are also some questions like what do you do when you feel sad? What makes it better? What makes it worse?  (The book doesn’t use the word depression at any point).

Let us know in the comments section what you think?

    World Mental Health Awareness Week

    ~ Vickyw

    World Mental Health Week

    This week is World Mental Health Awareness Week and the focus is on sleep or the lack of it and its impact on our mental health.

    Kalms are working to raise awareness of the ‘stress-sleep cycle’, and the impact that it can have on our mental health and wellbeing.

    Mark Rowland, Chief Executive, said: “By understanding what affects our sleep, we can help protect the mental health of millions of people and also support recovery.”

    “We want to start a national conversation about how we can all sleep better, and uncover the hidden mental health costs of the poor sleep that affects so many of us.”

    One in 4 Britons reports that stress is the main contributing factor for losing sleep.

    Stress is our body’s reaction to pressures from a situation or life event.

    In many everyday cases, it can be seen as a normal reaction that helps keep us awake and alert, but when stress becomes excessive or persists over some time, the opposite happens.

    The knock-on effects of stress can have a vast impact on our mental and physical wellbeing while disrupting the balance of hormones released.

    Dr Irshaad Ebrahim, co-founder of The London Sleep Centre and neuropsychiatrist, comments; “When our internal neurochemical systems are working normally, they regulate biological processes like sleep, appetite, mood, and energy levels.

    If we are stressed, the Adreno-Cortical System is dysregulated, and our energy sources are diverted, resulting in sleep disruption and mood changes.”

    The persistence of stress can affect our ability to sleep. As we continue to accrue a sleep deficit – the cumulative effect of not getting enough sleep, our ability to concentrate worsens, mood drops, and productivity decreases, all of which can emphasize feelings of stress and anxiety.

    Physical effects of stress can lead to a heightened risk of respiratory problems, heart disease, diabetes, and obesity.

    Feeling stressed increases physiological and psychological arousal in ways that are incompatible with the conditions your body and mind need to enter a relaxed, restorative sleep.

    This process repeats and a stress-sleep cycle is formed.

    Dr. Irshaad Ebrahim explains; “Many peoples’ sleep issues are worsened through anticipatory stress, whereby we fear an outcome before the event has taken place.

    When this happens repeatedly, a cycle begins to form.

    The Stress Sleep Cycle

    Here Dr. Irshaad Ebrahim shares his top 5 tips to help break the stress-sleep cycle:

    1. “Ensure consistency with your bedtime routine.” Going to bed and waking up at the same time helps maintain the circadian rhythm – the body’s 24-hour internal clock.

    2. “Switch off your electrical devices.” Bright lights before bed can stimulate us, again interfering with a person’s circadian rhythm. Turning off your electronic devices an hour before bedtime is a significant intervention to assist sleep – go on try it for two weeks!

    3. “Consider trying a traditional herbal remedy (THR)”. Based on long-standing use as traditional herbal remedies, Kalms Night One-A-Night is used for temporary relief of sleep disturbances. In contrast, Kalms Day is used for the temporary relief of symptoms associated with stress. Both contain Valerian Root.

    4. “Relax and clear your mind” Reducing cortisol levels, and in-turn stress levels, before we go to bed is a must. Try 15 minutes of meditation or breathing exercises beforehand to help decrease anxiety and promote relaxation.

    5. “Exercise regularly – but not before bed” Physical activity is great for helping our body balance hormone levels, improving sleep, and reducing stress. It’s a great way to release endorphins and other chemicals in the brain, which reduces stress and regulates mood.

    Kalms products

    Kalms Day packaging

    Kalms products are available to buy at most supermarkets and pharmacies to suit your needs.

    Kalms Lavender
    One-A-Day Capsules is a traditional herbal medicinal product used for the temporary relief of the symptoms of mild anxiety such as stress and nervousness, exclusively based on long-standing use as a traditional herbal remedy.

    Kalms night packing

    Kalms Night and Kalms Night One-A-Night
    These are traditional herbal medicinal products used for the temporary relief of sleep disturbances, exclusively based on long-standing use as a traditional herbal remedy – Contains Valerian Root.

    Kalms lavender packagingKalms herbal
    This is a traditional herbal medicinal product used for the temporary relief of; symptoms associated with stress such as mild anxiety and irritability exclusively based on long-standing use as a traditional herbal remedy.

    Mental Health Awareness Week is the perfect chance to try out new remedies and techniques.

    Have you ever tried Kalms? Share your thoughts below or on our social media pages.

    Bring me to Light by Eleanor Segall

    ~ Vickyw

    I love the way Bring me to Light was written with Eleanor highlighting her Jewish family roots and understanding her past.

    Eleanor describes her experience at school is similar to mine, which people can also relate to this.

    Being bullied is something that even the most famous people can relate to.

    I had an uneven jaw and big teeth and was called names such as “Goof Troop” a lot, and as a result of this, I ended up learning to fight back and defend myself.

    I became an angry individual, and this still haunts me to this day.

    Throughout the book, Eleanor refers to her social anxiety which is something that I also can relate to.

    Eleanor describes this as “Two Yous” which is how it can feel like one minute you are fighting for attention with the other person you can also see and the next you want the world to swallow you up and for everyone in it to leave you alone.

    One of the only experiences that I haven’t had is being hospitalised for my episodes, which I am grateful for.

    On the other hand, Eleanor appears to have had a lot more NHS help and support for her bipolar than I have.

    Different parts of the UK offer various treatments, and this is where mental health funding and support aren’t consistent or joined up.

    The book is a must-read for anyone with or without mental health issues.

    What I love the most about “Bring me to Light” is the fact that Eleanor goes into great detail about her illness and how she strived to overcome this and become the ambassador and writer she is today.

    Even with her relapses, she has achieved so much, and that’s something I would love to be able to achieve myself.

    The book is an honest account of a young woman who has been through a lot, and I have found myself inspired by the fact that painful experiences can turn into a positive.

    Time to Talk Day 2020!

    ~ Vickyw

    Time to talk day 2020 logo

    Time to Talk Day 2020 isn’t that easy for everyone.

    There isn’t any mental health support on the NHS due to lack of funding and family and friends just don’t get your problems and all the NHS can do is put you on a waiting list with support numbers on a letter.

    Time to Talk Day 2020 takes place on February 6th.

    Every year people are encouraged to talk about their mental health and open up to their family, friends, and professionals, however, mental health teams across the UK are struggling to keep up with the demand for this, and family and friends can’t always deal with their loved-ones issues in today’s busy society.

    At the beginning of the year, I received a letter telling me that I have finally been allocated to the local mental health team in my case Trevillis House in Liskeard in Cornwall.

    The letter states that I am currently placed on a waiting list and that my mental health will be monitored by phone calls.

    The letter was dated January 7th and we are now in February and I’m yet to receive one single phone call.

    This is how much help you get. The letter also lists a number of helplines if I need to talk to someone before then.

    Time to Talk Day 2020 lack of research and funding

    Due to the lack of help available on the NHS, apparently due to funding, despite the fact that Teressa May stated a few years ago that money would be put into funding mental health.

    Family and friends can help so much, but they often don’t know how to or what to do or say and they aren’t professionals.

    Often those suffering from mental health feel too ashamed or embarrassed to admit how they are feeling to those they are closest to.

    Maybe we should actually be using Time to Talk Day 2020 to discuss the lack of research on mental health.

    Mental health hasn’t had the funding that Cancer and Heart research and charities have received.

    New treatments such as scans on the brain need to be explored.

    What are your thoughts?

    Please feel free to comment below.

    What are you doing for Time to Talk Day 2020?

    Turning 37 and life lessons

    ~ Vickyw

    37 Candle
    Last week, I turned 37 a milestone I never thought I’d make due to my mental health and suicidal tendencies.

    I always thought I’d be joining the 27 club with some of my musical idols.

    Turning 37 is weird for me as I’m not in the place I thought I’d be but then again who is? By the age of 25, I expected to be married, with kids, a career, and a better car instead I’m a freelancer with no kids or partner and still living at home.

    Unfortunately, like many others, I’ve been in the wrong place at the wrong time, and instead of life running smoothly and everything falling into place.

    I have dealt with some of the hardest life lessons ever. I’m not being negative or giving the hard done by story, it’s just my perspective on life.

    Last week, I spent the day before my birthday with my Mum, sister, and my niece and nephew and received a Rhino pandora link and we had cake.

    On my birthday, I spent it with a mate who also treated me with a cake and I went kickboxing.

    I went for a run in my new Nike clothes last Wednesday after receiving 25% off on Nike clothing for my birthday.

    My Mum brought me some guitar strings for my acoustic Epiphone and some Nike football bottoms and I purchased a long sleeve top and a t-shirt for training and running.

    I also treated myself to my first ever pair of Nike Air trainers. These were big in the 90s but I never had these before.

    I also treated myself to an iPhone XR which I brought off the Facebook Marketplace.

    Two years ago my parents brought me the iPhone SE for my birthday after my iPhone 5S was stolen from outside my sister’s house.

    The iPhone SE started playing up last year and the battery goes down if you turn it off then on again and it only lasts a few hours.

    I’m pleased to now have a phone that works a lot better and has a bigger screen.

    I also hope to review the iPhone XR on my tech and music blog.

    I’ve given up making plans despite turning 37 because I always put too much pressure on myself and get upset when others can’t join me due to other commitments.

    Workwise, I’ve been learning and doing some online tests and been looking for ideas for blog posts on both blogs.

    Learning to be more consistent

    ~ Vickyw

    picture of key

    In 2020 I will be learning to be more consistent instead of making lots of plans which I fail to achieve then I get depressed and angry when they don’t materialise.

    I didn’t bother to go out and celebrate this New Year, I decided that I would try and see if New Year’s eve 2020 will be a better year and will give me something positive to celebrate.

    I’ve been told that if I want to achieve I have to learn to be more consistent and give my blogging audience and YouTube audience regular content to look out for.

    I often start really enthusiastic and have spells of being overactive and then when I’m depressed I stop posting content as I never have the drive or energy for it.

    Despite not achieving what I wanted to on my blogs and vlogs, I did manage to make the top 10 Vuelio UK blogs and I was featured on bloggers spotlight.

    Featuring on the website was the best thing I achieved in 2019.

    Many of you will have written or read blog posts about New Year’s resolutions and getting organised for 2020. I’m not setting myself any goals this year.

    I could talk all day about fitness programmes and diets and things that I’m going to do this year, but I haven’t planned anything and I’m not going to.

    I lost a lot of money planning spontaneous trips last year and I can’t afford to do that.

    Yes, I have dreams and ideas of what I would like to achieve and I will share them in my content if I achieve them, but another New Years’ resolution post full of ideas can easily be written but not so easily achieved.

    If anyone would like to share their stories and guest post on this blog please email admin@looneychickblog.co.uk and don’t forget to comment and post on our social media channels.

    Happy New Year and let’s hope 2020 will be a positive one!