Mental Health Awareness Week

Today sees the launch of Mental Health Awareness week and its theme this year is kindness. In these strange and constrained times, we have all had to learn to be a little bit kinder to those around us, who are also feeling the torment of curtailed freedoms and lockdown measures. It is also a time to remember to be kind to ourselves.

We are focusing on a theme everyday, to remind us how to be kind to ourselves and tools to build our emotional and mental resilience drawn from Nigel  Brennan’s atrocious experiences as a hostage for over 460 days. Prisoners who get through long sentences often speak of creating a routine as a way of managing their lives and retaining a small measure of control. Very hard when you are literally being told by the prison authorities what you can and can’t wear, when you can call home, when you can bathe and literally every part of your life and actions are monitored and scrutinized.

Monday is about creating a routine, however small so that your days fits into a pattern, human beings need order and it is too easy to sit around in your PJs or boxer shorts all day, ferrying cups of coffee to the kitchen table/ office. Set out clear chunks of time in your day, just as you would when you are  at work, time to relax, time to work, time ti draw or read, time to eat, time to stop.

We love Mart Forrest’s call on Scala Radio at 5 30, to shut down the laptop, making the end of the working day. Make time for being focused, time to play and time to recharge your energy. Remember Zoom fatigue is a thing and that human interaction is really important, while remembering social distancing, of course.