May 18th is the start of this years Mental Health Awareness Week.
The theme is ‘kindness.’
We have seen over the last couple of years more and more people speaking out about their own mental health, and it is no longer the taboo subject it once was, but there is still more to be done.
1 in 4 of us will at sometime during our lives suffer with our mental health.
During this Pandemic we will have had a rise in our anxiety levels I am sure, I know that I vary from one day to the next, one day I will quite enjoy the quiet, other days I wonder how long will this go on.
Nothing feels normal anymore, we face a new normal.
As adults we are feeling worried about these uncertain times, so are children, their lives have been turned upside down overnight.
The safe continuity of school has not been there for the majority and they find themselves in a world where they aren’t allowed to hug their parents, grandparents or anyone.
As humans we need that human contact, and I am definitely finding it increasingly difficult, not being able to hug family members, it is just so counterintuitive.
We do tend to portray the ‘stiff upper lip’ attitude, when in fact once we are behind our closed door, we are shedding countless tears.
Even before the Pandemic the children in the UK are said to be the unhappiest they have been in 25 years.
Almost a quarter of a million children in the UK – around 219,000 – report being unhappy with their lives as a whole, according to The Children’s Society.
There will be many reasons for this, but it is obvious to me that the enormous number of family breakdowns that take place, plays a part.
Children/grandchildren who are already confused and anxious as to why they are denied contact with a parent or grandparent, will be feeling that anxiety even more during this lockdown.
At a time when all family members should be helping one another and supporting in any way they can, the opposite is true.
No doubt there are many grandchildren who are worried about their grandparents, wondering if they are safe and well.
It would take just one small text or email to put those children’s minds at rest, but sadly the adults in their lives are nor putting the feelings of the children first.
During this Mental Health Awareness Week, don’t suffer in silence, talk to someone, you are not alone.
Remember the theme, KINDNESS.
It costs nothing but means the world.
