Learning and Teaching about Mental Well Being Marjorie Lloyd m.lloyd@glyndwr.ac.uk Stephen Yorke Stephen@sjyorke.plus

1. Learning and Teaching about Mental Well BeingMarjorie Lloyd m.lloyd@glyndwr.ac.ukStephen Yorke Stephen@sjyorke.plus.com The learning and teaching about Mental Health in Wales Network LTMHWALES/CYMRU

2. Aims of LTMHWales/ Cymru • Accessibility • Usability • Transferability • Informative • Inclusive

3. Aims of the LTMH Network • The LTMHWales network aims to enhance learning and teaching about mental health (and well-being) in Wales, by increasing networking and the sharing of approaches across disciplines in higher education and practice. • Through support for the network, mhhe seeks to raise awareness about developments in Wales, both within the country and amongst educators, practitioners, service users and carers  in other countries of the UK and worldwide. • Both the mhhe and the LTMHWales networks are supported by The Higher Education Academy in the UK and in Wales.

4. What is mental health and mental well being? A Carer’s perspective……… • To be able to sleep and to wake refreshed; • To be able to deal with constantly changing situations and to survive, to fight another day. • To be able to laugh occasionally • To have the ability and strength to do something different now and again • To have friends, who will stick by you!! • To feel valued, and accepted

5. Mental health is …. • Mental health means feeling good about ourselves, feeling able to cope with everyday life and having stable relationships with family and friends - Health Challenge Wales • a state of well-being in which the individual realizes his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to his or her community (WHO 2004)

6. Why should everyone know about mental health and wellbeing in Wales? • Every single person in every single organisation could be affected by the ignorance and stigma around mental health issues. This includes all staff, students, managers and politicians who are making decisions about how we should cope with our daily lives. • Mental ill health is one of the top four burdens of disease in Europe meaning more days are lost due to illness. World Health Organisation 2008 • Most people are encouraged to give up work or their dreams because of mental illness rather than address their needs under disability discrimination law. • A recovery approach is required to prevent this happening

7. What is mental health recovery? • Mary Ellen Copeland suggests that there are 5 concepts that together can foster mental health wellbeing • Hope – that things will get better • Personal responsibility –for our actions • Self advocacy- to obtain the help we need • Education- about our own mental well being • Support- creating networks of help • Mary developed the Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) to incorporate the above concepts

8. Wellness Recovery Action Plans WRAP is based on strengths not weaknesses/illness and includes the following - • Wellness toolbox – personal resources • Daily maintenance plan- routines • Identify and plan for triggers • Identify and plan for early warning signs • Identify and plan for when things break down • Crisis planning – what needs to be done • Post crisis planning- how did it go

9. A few stories? • Johnny stayed in bed all day because he could not cope with his voices and paranoid thoughts • Sally thought she would never pass her assignments so why should she bother • Tina thought no one would love her if she got fat so she starved herself and cut her legs • Max was so bogged down in work he could not sleep at night and was drinking too much • We all know these people – if we looked………

10. What is mental health awareness? • not making judgements too quickly • Being aware that you too could be ill at any time given the right set of circumstances, • “mental illness” comes out of “mental wellness” • Any one can become mentally unwell, no one is exempt • It’s not the end of the world, but will benefit from the proper care and attention

11. What do we need to be aware of? • Changes in sleep pattern over prolonged periods • Inability to think coherently/rationally • Unable to carry out tasks without stress/ confusion • Increased/decreased levels of activity affecting appetite, exercise, physical health in general • Increased reliance on alcohol, or recreational drugs • Irritability, snappy, aggressive behavior. • Not able to listen, preoccupied thoughts, intrusive thoughts, paranoid ideas • Withdrawal from social networks or social isolation

12. What are other people doing in Wales? • Social Networking - Mental Well Being Wales Face book Group • Emergency Advice - Call Helpline (+ Drug & Alcohol Network) • Information – Unllais/ All Wales Mental Health Promotion website • Charity/ Peer Support – Hafal, Mind, Journeys,Gofal, Alzheimer’s Society, Mental Health Matters Wales, Mental Health Foundation Wales • Education – Modules, Peer Mentors, Research & Network Meetings, LTMH Wales/Cymru • Policy – Care Council for Wales, Welsh Assembly Government - mental health, Health in Wales(NHS)

13. How can we reduce the stigma and raise awareness? • Talk to people about mental well-being • Organise / take part in activities and exercise • Develop your own Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP)and tell people about it • Make time to relax and take allocated work breaks • Learn about sleep hygiene and relaxation techniques • Find out what local help is available and share the information with your peers

14. How do we know if someone needs emergency/ immediate help? • Loss of hope /plans for the future • Loss of self care skills e.g. eating, washing etc • Risk of harm to self or others • Risk of neglect • Risk of exploitation by others e.g. money • Suicidal thoughts/ unable to carry on • Unusual behaviour, out of character

15. What can I do in an emergency situation • Try and persuade the person to go to the Emergency department at local hospital • Phone local GP surgery – if known • Contact any support services already involved • Try not to leave the person alone • Try to remove anything that might be used to harm • Identify carer support and inform of actions • Keep talking to the person offering reassurance that help is being sought

16. Develop A Mental Well-Being System Identify your Support Networks Know your Strengths & Weaknesses Keep healthy – sleep, diet, exercise etc Keep your mind /body active

17. Quiz • What does LTMH do? • What can aid mental well–being? • Why should people maintain their mental well being? • How would you know if someone had good mental well-being? • How would you know if someone needed emergency help? • Who would you contact and why? • What is your Mental Well Being System?

18. Further Reading • Clark (2010) Mental Health Matters for FE Teachers Toolkit • Slade M (2010) Mental Illness and Mental Wellbeing : the central importance of positive Psychology and recovery approaches. BMC • Slade M ( 2009) 100 Ways to Support Recovery. Rethink Mental Health Shop (free download) • Allot P Loganathan L (2002) Discovering hope for recovery from a British perspective. • World Federation for Mental Health – World Mental Health Day information (10th October)