 Spotlight on Mental Health
by Carolyn Barber International research is now telling us a lot more about the impact of Covid 19 on our mental health, and the picture is not good. What does the research tell us about those who are less stressed, depressed or anxious? There's a lot we can't control about the current situation, so what can we control? . For example, research from 28 countries conducted in mid-March found that the more people used social media, the more fearful they were. Frequent social media users in China were more likely to feel both depressed and anxious at the same time. So consider putting limits on your use of Facebook. Does that mean ignorance is bliss? Definitely not! It's about finding the right sources of information. The research tells us that being informed helps to reduce uncertainty and anxiety. Its all about finding the right balance as overloading ourselves with information can cause more worry. Online or offline, reading news or imagining worst-case scenarios with family, the people who spent three or more hours a day focusing on COVID-19 were more anxious. So make sure you take good long breaks from news and social media. Practising basic safety and hygiene can also help with your mental health. In Chinese studies in January and February, people who engaged in proper hand washing, wore masks, and avoided sharing utensils tended to experience less depression, anxiety, stress, and PTSD. Its important to remember that we can’t self-improve our way out of the pain and difficulties created by Covid 19. We’re going through a collective trauma, or at the very least a major stressor on a global scale, and the task is to build our emotional resilience to pull us through this time. Life really is harder by a little bit or a lot, depending on your situation. Many of us will be facing really difficult feelings of fear, sadness, anger and loss, but this is part of being human—even as we continue to do our best to feel better, stay connected, and help others.
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 Just the Bare Necessities .... by Carolyn Barber The coronavirus lockdown measures have now officially pushed the UK into an economic recession following the biggest slump on record during April to June this year. A Briefing Paper for the House of Commons said: "Consumers may be reluctant to return to ‘normal’ spending patterns. This may be due to health concerns but also perhaps due to concerns over their income. A key factor will be how high unemployment levels rise. Particularly important is how many employees currently furloughed will return to work and how many will become unemployed. Uncertainty may also dampen businesses’ inclination to invest." Financial difficulties are a common cause of stress, anxiety and depression, and the stigma of debt means that people often don't seek help. Essentials may be cut back such as heating or eating. The numbers of people being referred to foodbanks is just one indicator, and during lockdown those already struggling with the pressures of insecure work, high rents and child care costs are likely to be worst affected by the economic impact of the pandemic. Its all too easy to get into a negative cycle whereby financial worries and uncertainty cause intense anxiety, made worse by cutting back on essentials or aggressive creditors. This in turn makes it harder to manage spending or debts, and harder too to ask for help. But help is exactly what's needed, both with taking care of mental health, and with guidance about money and practical support to get through this incredibly difficult time. Here are three weblinks to explore: Martin Lewis of Money Saving Expert fame has set up a charity which focuses on Money and Mental Health, campaigning for more support to help people access essential services, and get help with managing money. The Money Advice Service offers free and independent advice, set up by the government. They offer a Money Navigator Tool in response to the impact of the coronavirus lockdown. Turn2us is a national charity helping people when times get tough. They provide advice on benefits and access to financial support to help people get back on track. Creative Options Wednesday 5th August 2020 Quiz Answers
1. Mayflower 2. Spain 3. Corgis 4. The lava lamp 5. Neil Armstrong 6. Smaller 7. Like an Egyptian 8. Cherry 9. Mozzarella 10. Maple 11. Hydrogen 12. Salmon 13. France 14. Rook 15. Rome Creative Options Wednesday 5th August 2020 Quiz Questions - Answers to be posted on Thursday 13th August 2020
1. On this day in 1620, the Pilgrims left Southampton for America. They made their transatlantic voyage on two ships, the Speedwell and which other iconic ship? 2. If you dug a hole through the centre of the earth, starting from Wellington in New Zealand, which country would you end up in? 3. What breed of dogs does Queen Elizabeth II own? 4. Which iconic 1960s lighting object was invented and made in Poole? 5. Which famous American astronaut and aeronautical engineer, celebrated as being the first person to walk on the Moon, was born on this day in 1930? 6. Does the pupil of the eye get smaller or larger when exposed to bright light? 7. In the song, how did The Bangles walk? 8. Amongst other beautiful gardens, Compton Acres features a Japanese garden. The blossom of which tree draws crowds of visitors every spring in Japan? 9. Yesterday was International Day of Italian Cuisine. What is the name of the southern Italian cheese traditionally made from buffalo's milk? 10. Which tree yields a sugary sap that tastes great with pancakes? 11. H is the chemical symbol for which element? 12. Which fish has different species called Pink, Sockeye and Atlantic? 13. In which country was the film ‘Amelie’ made? 14. Which bird is also another name for the castle piece on a chessboard? 15. In which city is the Vatican City?  Make, Bake and Create by Carolyn Barber "Why should we all use our creative power...? Because there is nothing that makes people so generous, joyful,lively, bold and compassionate, so indifferent to fighting and and accumulation of objects and money" Brenda Ueland Have you ever felt completely absorbed in an activity? Commonly people doing physical exercise like jogging or swimming describe that feeling of being 'in the zone', and that's one of the greatest benefits of exercising. There are plenty of other activities you may get that feeling from - gardening, cooking, crafting - something that means you're fully involved, enjoying the process, and gaining a deep sense of satisfaction. Repetitive creative motions like knitting, drawing, or writing help activate flow, and are all tasks that create a result. And when you succeed at creating a result, no matter what it is, the sense of satisfaction floods your brain with dopamine, that natural anti-depressant. This idea of being in flow, and the benefits for good mental health and wellbeing, has been studied by psychologist Milhaly Csikszentmihalyi. The effects are similar to meditation with focused concentration on the present moment, absorbing our minds so we have little sense of time and our thoughts are not wandering off into the past or the future. Creativity reduces anxiety, depression, and stress… And it can also help process trauma. It really is a win-win that creative activities that make us feel good, really are good for us. So grab a pen and start writing, doodling, or colouring. Get messy with pottery, baking or gardening. Listen to some music, or pick up an instrument. Whatever you decide to do, it’s time to start getting creative! Our Mental Wealth Academy Summer Online programme has experimented with online creative workshops and courses, alongside mindfulness, discussion events and personal development. Journal Writing, Art and Wellbeing and Enlightened Bellydance workshops have actively engaged over 50 participants in the past 6 weeks. While there is still time for people to register and catch up with these courses, the programme will be finishing at the end of August when the funding ends. We are hopeful that we can continue the Mental Wealth Academy courses, both in real time in the autumn, but also online. So this is an opportunity to seek your views on what kinds of workshops or courses you'd like to take part in, in the future. We can then pitch these ideas to future funders. Please click here to complete this very short survey on the future of the Mental Wealth Academy. Be great to get your feedback!  Click here to find out more
We recognise that this has been an incredibly challenging time, coping with sudden and dramatic changes in our lives, intense feelings, anxiety about the future, loss of contact with loved ones, experience of illness and bereavement. At the Good Mental Health Cooperative, we believe that connecting with others, and informal arts and wellbeing learning activities, are really important ways to take care of our mental health, and build the emotional resilience we need to get though these difficult times. The programme takes place mainly through July and August, and includes the following:
http://mwa.goodmentalhealth.org.uk Creative Options has been fortunate to secure some special funding to put on Positive Psychology Courses with Instar Training with Kim Furnish and Bryony Ash. We cannot recommend this course highly enough. The course consists of two 6 session courses of 1 1/2 duration via. zoom on a Saturday afternoon. Part 1 will be an initial 6 weeks followed by another six weeks for part 2 This is available to all paid up members and is £60.00 a course with £10 securing a place. The places are limited to 12 persons, so please contact us as soon as possible if you are interested in a place. If people manage to complete part 1, part 2 will be provided at half price. Please contact us if interested as soon as possible. All bookings by 19th August please.
Creative Options Wednesday 29th July 2020 Quiz Answers
1. Paris 2. Arsenal 3. True. Adults can weigh up to 363kg (1/3 of a tonne) 4. Buttered popcorn. It contains the compound 2-Acetyl-1-pyrroline that gives it its distinctive smell 5. Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer 6. St Bernard 7. The Little Mermaid 8. Eurythmics 9. Hurdles 10. Helicopter 11. Conundrum 12. Blue 13. Orca 14. Iceland 15. Paperclip Creative Options Wednesday 29th July 2020 Quiz Questions - answers to follow on Wednesday 5th August 1. On this day in 1836, the Arc de Triomphe was inaugurated in which city? 2. Which London football team’s badge features a cannon? 3. It is International Tiger Day today. True or False: Tigers are the largest cat species in the world? 4. Tiger urine has an unusual smell. Does it smell of (a) chocolate, (b) candyfloss or (c) buttered popcorn? 5. 39 years ago today, a worldwide TV audience of over 700 million people tuned in to watch the wedding of which couple? 6. What breed of dog better known for being a mountain rescue dog, was rescued from Scafell Pike in Cumbria last weekend? 7. “Under the Sea” is a song from which Disney movie? 8. Which band were at number one 35 years ago today with “There Must Be an Angel (Playing with My Heart)”? 9. Sally Gunnell was born on this day in 1966. Which athletic specialty is she associated with? 10. A Chinook is what type of what vehicle? 11. What is the word used to describe the anagram puzzle used at the end of every game of Countdown? 12. What colour is the Piccadilly Line on the map of the London Underground? 13. Which is bigger, a porpoise or an orca? 14. What country has a geothermal spa called The Blue Lagoon? 15. What common object is this a close up of?  Click here to find out more
We recognise that this has been an incredibly challenging time, coping with sudden and dramatic changes in our lives, intense feelings, anxiety about the future, loss of contact with loved ones, experience of illness and bereavement. At the Good Mental Health Cooperative, we believe that connecting with others, and informal arts and wellbeing learning activities, are really important ways to take care of our mental health, and build the emotional resilience we need to get though these difficult times. The programme takes place mainly through July and August, and includes the following:
http://mwa.goodmentalhealth.org.uk  Laughter is the Best Medicine! by Carolyn Barber "What Soap is to the Body, Laughter is to the Soul" Yiddish Proverb Children laugh spontaneously and naturally - it's not something they have to learn. Apparently children laugh 200-400 times a day, while adults laugh as average of 15 times. Laughter, along with playfulness, gets lost as we grow up and take on responsibilities and obligations. Being playful is just as important for adults as it is for children. Creative activities like singing, dancing, writing, art, gardening, running and jumping ........ are all ways we can play and feel delight and joy, if we allow ourselves. Of course during lockdown many of these organised creative activities stopped overnight, but for those of us still able to go out for daily exercise there was often new delights to be found connecting with nature. Back to laughter or playfulness though - how much has the lack of contact with others affected this over the past few months? Our bodies actually change when we laugh. We stretch muscles throughout our face and body, our pulse and blood pressure go up, and we breathe faster, sending more oxygen to our tissues. This is very similar to the benefits of exercise. One pioneer in laughter research, William Fry, claimed it took 10 minutes on a rowing machine for his heart rate to reach the level it would after just one minute of hearty laughter. Laughter strengthens the immune system, reduces stress hormones in the body, improves circulation, releases tension, promotes relaxation and deeper sleep, increases levels of positivity, creativity and energy, provides an antidote to anxiety and worry, re-motivates and lifts our spirits. Amazingly if you practice pretend laughing, apparently it has the same effect on our wellbeing as the real deal, and the more you practise the more you're likely to laugh spontaneously and naturally - just like children. Creative Options Wednesday 22nd July 2020 Quiz Answers
1. Football 2. Comet 3. An earthquake 4. A sword 5. Rosette 6. Blue and white 7. A bird (falcon) 8. Annie 9. 12 10. Venice 11. Kneecap 12. December 13. Lettuce 14. Australia 15. Napoleon Bonaparte |
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