Category: General News

After a relaxing summer away from school, it can be nice to begin looking forward to the new school year and the new challenges that lay ahead. However, if this feeling of excitement is replaced by a strong feeling of anxiety and doubt, the next week or so can feel like one big nightmare. 

Whether you are a pupil, teacher, or someone supporting these people – It’s important to try and deal with these feelings early, before they begin to affect school life and possibly the quality of education or job progress. 

The Ajuda team have put together some tips to cope with this feeling of anxiety in the hope that we can support anyone struggling at the moment. If you feel your child may be suffering from back to school anxiety, give some of these strategies a try.

1. Talk over the concerns

Try to have an open conversation with them about what it is that’s causing the worry. You could perhaps encourage them to write them out into a list. Visually reading the problems can help to break them down and sometimes help them to see that there aren’t that many worries in the first place. Let them know that they can come back to you at any time if they feel worried or anxious, and you’ll always have time to sit and talk to them about it. 

2. Plan how to overcome these if possible

When you are consumed with anxiety, it can be difficult to see a way out of the situation and things can seem hopeless. You can support the person by helping them go through their concerns and try to find solutions to some. If they are worried about struggling to make friends, what ways could they start a conversation? If they’re worried about getting lost or missing the bus, could they call anyone for help or find an alternative route? 

3. Focus on the positives 

Just like the list of worries, you could also encourage them to share the things they will look forward to about going back to school. They may have friends they haven’t seen over the holidays, or a favourite piece of playground equipment that’s only available on the school grounds. The list can help to relieve some anxiety and replace it with excitement. 

4. Go through some calming techniques

If you are concerned that the anxiety and stress could become overwhelming for them during school, go through some techniques that can help to relieve anxiety. Some people who regularly deal with anxiety recommend strategies such as deep breathing, or making a list of all the things in a room of a particular colour. These can help to control breathing and focus their mind on something other than the difficult situation. 

If you’d like to learn more about supporting someone with anxiety, in less than 6 week’s time Ajuda will be hosting our first Talking Mental Health National Conference at Cardiff City Stadium on October 10th. The day will include inspiring stories from people who have lived with and overcome their mental health struggles, along with talks from charities and professionals involved in Mental Health Awareness. 

If you’d like to join us on the day to learn more about mental health and tips on wellbeing, please order a ticket here.

The Ajuda team are dedicated to doing everything in our ability to spread as much knowledge and understanding of mental health as possible. Through our range of courses, events, and awareness blogs we want to teach our customers and readers a little bit about mental health and wellbeing to help others in their daily lives. In recent weeks, we have featured blogs on PTSD, Workplace Mental Health and Children’s Mental Health – and we hope to continue writing these to help people to save lives. 

This month is Time to Talk month, which is a campaign organised by the Samaritans charity to raise awareness of what their service offers to local communities. Some branches will be arranging special sessions and events to connect with local people, so take a look on the Samaritans’ website to see what your local branch has planned.

This week’s blog will keep with the talking theme, and will explore ways we can encourage conversation about mental health and talk about it with others. 

How you can open up a conversation.

Just asking how the people around you are feeling on a regular basis can be an important step. It develops a bond and a level of trust where people can feel more comfortable opening up to you, as they know you care and will listen. 

If you are concerned about someone in particular who is showing signs of ill mental health, set aside some time to talk to them with no interruptions or distractions, in a place where they feel comfortable. Some people you will speak to may want to avoid an intense face-to-face conversation, so it could also be a good idea to ask them what they would like to do (e.g walk, listen to some music). 

Although you may need to prompt the person with some questions at times, it is important to allow them to lead the conversation and share as little or as much as they would like.  

Tips for listening

Make it clear to the person that you are listening to what they are saying with simple gestures such as eye contact, nodding and small verbal responses. You could also repeat back some of the things they say to reinforce the fact that you are listening and understand what they are saying. This tip can also be useful for the person to hear back their feelings in order to process them more fully. 

Asking open-ended questions are the best way to allow the person to explain the situation fully in their words. Instead of saying “I can see you are feeling down” you could try “how are you feeling at the moment?” and “when did you start to feel this way?”

Keep an open mind when listening to friends or colleagues speaking about their feelings. You may not agree with some of the things they will say, but it is important to try and remain balanced so you can offer the best advice. 

How you could respond. 

It can help to discuss some ideas with them about ways they might want to try and feel better in the future. Remember to keep up the open-ended questions, rather than making plans for the person and possibly taking control of the situation – it’s important that they feel in control.

As much as you may like to give the person a range of tips, ideas and advice, it is also important to remember that you are not a medical professional and in some cases it may be best to signpost the person to some professional help too. You can offer to go to the doctors with them, or support them to tell other people such as their family. 

Make it clear that if they ever want to speak about it again, they can arrange another time to speak to you and that day-to-day things will not change and they will not be treated differently based on what you have heard. 

Remember that if you fear for their safety, or think they may have already hurt themselves, you must contact a professional immediately. 

For more tips and advice, Ajuda will be hosting our first Talking Mental Health National Conference on on 10th October 2019 at Cardiff City Stadium – providing a day of keynote speakers, expert knowledge, free resources and professional advice concerning mental health and wellbeing. Tickets cost £95.00 for a full day including a 2 course lunch and refreshments, and can be ordered from our Eventbrite page here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/talking-mental-health-national-conference-tickets-61777247410

We are delighted to announce that Ajuda became the proud winners of the Veterans Business of the Year at the Welsh Veterans Awards earlier this week. The awards ceremony took place on Wednesday 26th June at the Village Hotel in Swansea, and welcomed a selection of Wales’ most successful veterans for a night of celebration and recognition of their achievements. 

The Welsh Veterans Awards is an annual award ceremony in association with ABF Soldiers’ Charity, a cause which our director Dawn holds very closely to her heart. Dawn served in the military for 12 years, where she gained the strength and skills she possesses today, and met her husband who also served in the military.   

On their website, the Welsh Veterans Awards announce: “In Wales, we have a huge number of highly successful Armed Forces Veterans that have made the transition from the Military to civilian life and we want to reward these veterans who have gone above and beyond and excelled in their relevant fields. They will act as role models for future service leavers.”

It is a huge honour for Ajuda to have been recognised among the collection of fantastic businesses and individuals who were nominated and in attendance on the night. It was amazing to be part of such an inspiring and motivating occasion, in aid of a fantastic charity, ABF Soldiers’ Charity. 

This year is also very significant to the charity, as they are also celebrating 75 years in service, having been founded in 1944. The charity provide a lifetime of support to soldiers, veterans and their immediate families in a large number of ways such as financial aid, housing, elderly care, access to opportunities through training and education, along with so much more. 

Later this year, in September, Dawn and her husband will be taking on a big challenge to raise money for the ABF Soldiers’ Charity. They will be climbing Mount Toubkal in Morocco, the highest mountain in North Africa. Training for the climb has been well underway for months, and now there’s just two months to go!  

You can donate to Dawn and Ianto’s fundraising page here: https://www.justgiving.com/companyteams/MountToubkal19 

Ajuda are also honouring the 75 year anniversary of the charity by offering all veterans 10% off any of our in-house or online courses. If you wanted to try something new and develop your skills, there’s no time better! To take a look at our courses, please click the links below. 

Online Training

Local Training

This week on the 27th of June the world acknowledges PTSD Awareness Day to help raise knowledge, understanding and awareness of the causes and symptoms of PTSD, and how we can support those who are suffering with it in their daily lives.

The date of PTSD Awareness Day has been selected for a poignant but heartbreaking reason. In 2007, Staff Sergeant Joe Biel died after suffering from PTSD; Biel committed suicide after his return from duty to his home state. SSgt. Biel’s birthday, June 27, was selected as the official PTSD Awareness Day, which is now observed every year.

Suffering with PTSD can take over a life, and make people feel like there is no way out of their mental struggles – but there are ways that everyone can help them understand their feelings and realise that support is available out there to them.  

This week, our blog will provide an overview of some signs and symptoms of PTSD, and ways that we can provide support to those living with the condition.

PTSD: What is it?  

PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) is a mental health condition which can develop after a person has survived, or sometimes witnessed, a traumatic or violent life-changing event. People who have experienced events and circumstances such as military combat, sexual assault, road traffic accidents, bereavement of a loved one, terrorist attacks, traumatic childbirth and more could develop PTSD in the aftermath.

Due to the level of trauma the incident has caused, sometimes our brains cannot process the event fully, which can cause the person to develop PTSD as the brain attempts to process what has happened.  

Signs and Symptoms (provided by PTSDUK website)

Increased anxiety and emotional arousal

• Hypervigilance (On constant ‘red alert’)
• Intense physical reactions to reminders of the event (e.g. Pounding heart, nausea, muscle tension, sweating)
• Irritability or outbursts of anger
• Irrational and intense fear
• Reduced tolerance to noise (hyperacusis)
• Difficulty concentrating
• Being easily moved to tears
• Panic attacks/anxiety/depression/mood swings
• Feeling jumpy and easily startled
• Difficulty falling or staying asleep
• Anger or aggressive behaviour
• Tense muscles

Avoidance and numbing

• Work-related or relationship problems
• Inability to remember important aspect of the trauma
• Loss of interest in activities and life in general
• Sense of a limited future
• Feeling numb and empty
• Avoidance of people and places
• Feeling isolated
• Frequent periods of withdrawal into oneself

Re-experiencing the traumatic event

• Flashbacks (Acting or feeling like the event is happening again)
• Nightmares (either of the event or of other frightening things)
• Feelings of intense distress when reminded of the trauma

Other common symptoms

• Feeling suicidal
• Self harm and self-destructive tendencies
• Feeling distrustful and suspicious/blaming others
• Guilt, Shame, embarrassment or self blame
• Misuse of alcohol/drugs/gambling and/or food
• Exhaustion
• Seeking out high-risk/dangerous pursuits
• Physical aches and pains
• Over-reactions to minor situations
• Fear of being alone and fear of being in crowds

Ways you can help.

If you have a friend, loved one or colleague suffering with PTSD, you have already taken a great first step by reading this blog and other websites for advice and to learn more about the condition. Having PTSD can cause feelings of isolation, so being around for them, talking about things they want to talk about, and making it clear you are dedicated to helping them recover are the next steps.

Depending on the person, they may want to talk about the experience, or alternatively want to avoid conversations like that altogether. It’s important to allow the affected person to “lead the way” and let them make decisions on what they want to do. This will help them to feel in control of their environment and actions, which is important for recovery.  

Many of the treatments of PTSD are dependant on how the individual is coping with the condition. Steps that can aid the recovery can be developing routines, reinforcing trust, having something to look forward to in the future, reminding the person that they are valued and important and many more. There are so many different ways of supporting someone with PTSD, and people will respond to different things so it can be a case of trying different things and making note of what works and what doesn’t for the person you are supporting.

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If you would like further support and guidance for dealing with the condition, PTSD is covered in Ajuda’s Mental Health Courses, which are run monthly in our Cardiff Bay Training Academy. We can also offer this training in a venue of your choice for a group of 12 people.

Ajuda currently offer Mental Health First Aid, Youth Mental Health First Aid, and Level 1 in Mental Health Awareness.   You can view and book our Mental Health courses here: https://www.ajuda.org.uk/product-category/courses/mental-health-first-aid/

Useful Links: 

PTSD UK: https://www.ptsduk.org/

Mind: www.mind.org.uk

Rethink Mental Illness: https://www.rethink.org/diagnosis-treatment/conditions/post-traumatic-stress-disorder

SANE: http://www.sane.org.uk/home

Ajuda are dedicated to providing opportunities to as many individuals as possible, and are always interested in ways we can help more people gain vital skills and knowledge. Learning Disability Week is taking place from 17th-23rd June, and we are proud to provide opportunities to many different learners with a range of skills and abilities.

Learning disabilities charity Mencap conducted a survey of 300 18-35 year olds with learning disabilities, and the survey discovered that “49% would like to spend more time outside their house”, while “18% feel alone and cut off from other people”.

It is important that everyone feels they have the opportunity to meet new people and engage in new activities, which is why Ajuda aim to ensure there are no barriers to people wanting access to learning. We always strive to make our training inclusive and accessible for as many people as possible.

There are many ways we support learners with disabilities and limitations, in both our local training and online courses, which we offer in a huge range of subjects. If you are unsure whether our course would be suitable for a certain individual, please get in touch where our friendly team will do our very best to find a solution.

Some of the ways we can support learners…..

• For people who struggle with sight, or with learning disabilities such as dyslexia and other reading related issues, we can provide a reader on-site to help the learner through any quizzes or exams that may be required as part of their course.
• Similarly, if you struggle to read small print we can arrange to have our exam papers and resources supplied to you in larger print.
• Many of our courses are practical and taught with a different approach to simply sitting down and writing out facts and figures. If your mind is suited to a more practical and active style of learning, our team will be happy to advise you of a suitable course.
• We have recently taught a course in British Sign Language, and can offer many of our other courses including First Aid and Mental Health First Aid with the help of a BSL interpreter.
• If booked for 12 or more people, we can provide training for a group wherever they feel comfortable, which can be ideal for individuals with many varieties of mobility, social or mental disabilities.

Last year, Ajuda became part of the Remploy Community Partner Network, and now work closely with Remploy, a leading provider of specialist employment and skills support for disabled people and those with health conditions.  

If you have any similar schemes or events that you feel Ajuda would be suited to, please let us know!

If you would like to learn more about learning disabilities, we have an online Learning Disability Awareness course available which provides an overview of some of the common types and causes of learning disabilities and how they affect people. The course also touches on how to adopt a person-centred approach, and ways to break down the stigma around learning disabilities.

This week is Child Safety Week, which aims to raise awareness on ways in which children are at risk of accidents every day, and how the adults in their care can be more aware of these potential accidents and in turn prevent them.

In recent years, it has become increasingly apparent that young people’s mental wellbeing is just as important as their physical for long term positive development and a long and healthy life. Yet, our youth are left at risk every day of developing mental health issues as many can go unnoticed by those who are unaware of the signs.

Ajuda have recently launched our new Youth Mental Health First Aid course, which teaches adults how to assist adolescents who are developing a mental health problem, experiencing a worsening of a mental health problem or in a mental health crisis, and equip adults with the knowledge and tools to deal with this on a First Aid basis.

In this week’s blog, we’re listing just some of the many ways youth mental illness can impact their daily life, which can also help you to diagnose an ongoing mental health condition in a young person.

Activity

Depending on the type of mental health condition the child is suffering with, they may lose interest in some of their favourite interest and hobbies, and in other tasks such as school or socialising with friends.

Keeping active and engaged with hobbies and activities has many benefits such as developing communication skills, fitness in the case of sports, confidence and much more.

Concentration

When an adolescent is having difficulty understanding and dealing with their emotions, having to focus on other things too can become a heavy burden – so they may seem distant and distracted at seemingly simple tasks.

Having a good level of concentration in school is crucial to ensuring they develop the knowledge and skills to further their education and set them up for life.

Behaviour

Having to deal with these negative emotions can also show in a young person’s behaviour, sometimes communicated in angry outbursts, get frustrated more easily, or sometimes take risks that they may not have taken before due to a feeling of hopelessness.

Dangerous and angry behaviour can cause significant risk, and could lead to them putting themselves in the way of potential of injury or harm.

Appetite & Sleep

Certain types of mental illness can cause people to eat and sleep noticeably more or less, or a variation where they may have periods of regular eating and sleeping and times where this pattern suddenly changes.

Maintaining a healthy level of sleep each night impacts so many crucial factors such as those points listed above, and eating can also have an effect on how healthy their body and mind is too.

If you’re concerned about a young person, or would like to know more about the ways of spotting ill mental health in the children in your care, we have ongoing courses in our Cardiff Bay Training centre which provide great knowledge and understanding – and could potentially save a life! We can also offer this course to groups of people either in our centre or in a location of your choice.

Take a look at our course description here.