The theme of this year’s Mental Health Awareness Week (May 15 – May 21) is anxiety, and we want to remind everyone at JTL of our open-door policy for any learners or employers who may be struggling with anxiety, stress, or depression.
For this year, we will also be taking part in the Mental Health Foundation’s official Wear it Green Day initiative (May 18.) For this, we will be encouraging colleagues to wear something green to help raise awareness of the fact that one in six people are affected by mental health problems every week.
Additionally, we’d like to remind people of the free and accessible resources available on our TuneUp channel, which is part of Toolbox. Here you can find a collection of videos that cover topics including mental health and provide our guidance for staying healthy.
We have also partnered with the Electrical Industries Charity (EIC) to offer a range of welfare support services to all learners and employers working within the electrical sector and the wider building services industries. You can find out more here:
Here are some tips from the Mental Health Foundation for managing anxiety.
1 – Focus on your breathing
Breathing exercises can help to ground oneself when feeling overwhelmed by anxious thoughts. Consider a 4-7-8 technique, four seconds inhale, seven seconds hold, and eight seconds exhale.
2 – Spend time in nature
Studies have shown that, whether it be something simple like tending a potted plant or something bigger like camping, spending time in nature can have a positive impact on our mental healt
3 – Exercise
Exercise can be a good way of dealing with anxiety. This doesn’t have to be lifting weights at the gym, it could be playing a sport, doing yoga, or just going for a walk.
4 – Talk about how you feel
Anxiety can be isolating, and spending time with others can help to lighten this load. If you feel comfortable to open up, verbalising your anxieties to others can help to reduce their power.
This is why we will always encourage anyone who trains or works with JTL to be open about how they are feeling. Whether it be with a training officer, a friend, a family member, or a mental health professional.
We believe that everyone deserves to be heard. To view more tips please visit: https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/our-work/public-engagement/mental-health-awareness-week/what-can-we-do-cope-feelings-anxiety
