How to stay ‘the right side of the door’ when it comes to feeling well
There are lots of good things that come with running my own charity fundraising consultancy. Towards the top is choosing how to spend the ‘training budget’. Earlier this year I had the pleasure of hearing Simon Blake OBE, Chief Executive at Mental Health First Aid England (MHFA England), speak at the Institute of Fundraising’s South West Conference and I immediately knew that I wanted to become a Mental Health First Aider.
Without doubt everyone reading this blog will either have suffered from an episode of mental ill health or will know someone who has, or is, suffering. The facts are stark and, thanks to some high-profile charity campaigns, well publicised. Approximately 1 in 4 adults in England have been diagnosed with mental illnesses (26%), while 1 in 5 report experiencing mental health issues without been diagnosed (18%). Worryingly MHFA England report that 1 in 10 children in the UK have a mental disorder at any one time (aged 13-17). Sadly, despite working for causes that inspire us and having careers that ‘make sense’, the charity sector and its workforce is not immune. UK Fundraising reported in May that 80% of respondents to a Unite members’ survey said they had experienced workplace stress in the last 12 months.
The problem is very real and at the IoF South West Conference I realised (in some small way) there was something positive that I could do to help. Fast forward five months and I have achieved my goal of becoming a Mental Health First Aider. The two-day course was delivered by Peter Larkum who managed to expertly walk the training-tight-rope; covering some pretty dark topics whilst managing to keep our spirits high and our enthusiasm to help intact. It’s impossible to do the course justice in a five-minute blog, the 275-page accompanying manual may give you an idea of the scale and breadth of issues covered.
Most importantly we learnt how to recognise the signs and symptoms of mental ill health and respond appropriately.
Peter gave a lovely analogy of how we can all move closer to or away from mental ill health. He talked about our ‘stress containers’ and how they can fill up over time or during a particularly difficult period. As our containers fill we are moving closer to the door, and it can be something quite small or seemingly insignificant that can result in crossing the threshold of the door and entering into mental ill health.
The challenge is to recognise what moves us closer to the door and take positive actions to manage our stress containers.
Anyone who has spent any real time with me will know that I am a huge fan of talking therapies. Our brains are so important. Keeping our thoughts and feelings healthy is key to leading a happy and fulfilling life. I have used counselling throughout my life, at times when I am stuck or trying to make sense of the world around me. It therefore came as a bit of a shock to learn on the course that only 3% of all adults report attending therapy. To me a good counsellor or life coach not only helps keep me ‘the right side of the door’ but they have helped me move on in life with confidence and direction. At Peter’s request our post course homework was to book a counselling session; I didn’t need to be asked twice! I have also signed up to Peter’s Great Dream Challenge (linked in the takeaways below).
If you are a freelancer, a charity consultant working from home, a parent on the school run or a sole fundraiser working in a small organisation do think about your network and who you can turn to on the harder days. It really is good to talk.
Takeaways
Check out ‘A wellbeing guide for comms professionals’ written by Kirsty Marrins and sponsored by Lightful. Lots of the key messages are transferable to people working in fundraising and the wider charitable sector.
Take a look at the Action for Happiness website and access some free resources including monthly calendars designed to boost happiness (a great resource for families).
Sign up to Peter Larkum’s Great Dream Challenge starting this Monday (30th September) to receive two practical mental health challenges each week for five weeks.
Drop me an email or send me a PM if this blog has resonated with you, I am very happy to be a virtual Mental Health First Aider!
And if you are persistently feeling low or think that talking therapies may be able to help you move forward in your life:
Check if your employer is signed up to an Employee Assistance Programme, this will give you access to free counselling if and when you need it (along with a host of other benefits).
The NHS’s IAPT programme (Improving Access to Psychological Therapies) has been running since 2008. Check out the link to learn more about the programme and how to search for services available in your area.
For friends, family and colleagues living in Hampshire, italk is a free talking therapy service for people aged over 16, not diagnosed with a severe or complex mental health condition and registered with a GP. Support can include workshops, online support and talking therapy (telephone, groups or face to face).
Breathe fundraising exists to support charity leaders and fundraisers achieve success. I specialise in fundraising from Trusts and Foundations and getting organisations 'big bid' ready. If you would like to find out more about how I can support you please visit www.breathefundraising.co.uk or email hello@breathefundraising.co.uk