Mental Health Awareness

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Mental Health Awareness

• Inge Axt-Simmonds, Mental Health Project Officer,
  South West England
• NIACE/NIMHE/LSCPARTNERSHIP PROJECT

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Some background

• Being a student.. The best time of your life?
• 10 of young people have mental health problems
  that require professional help.
• One in four adults will experience mental ill
  health at some point in their life.
• Prejudice, discrimination and social exclusion
  against people with mental health difficulties is
  widespread.
• 70 of people would not tell their employer about
  their mental health difficulties.

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Reading the signs

• The term Mental Disorder is often used
  differently by different people.
• Look at the scenarios in your handout and decide,
  how far they fit into y o u r category of mental
  disorder.
• Discuss with the person next to you and agree a
  score.

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The most common mental health difficulties

• Depression
• Stress
• Anxiety
• All these have low self-esteem in common

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Impact on learner

• Anxiety
• Restlessness
• Irritability
• Easily tired due to poor sleep
• Difficulties with concentration and memory
• Physical symptoms panic attack, shortness of
  breath, sweating, fear of fainting, pounding heart

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Impact on Learner (2)

• Depression
• Low mood
• Loss of pleasure and interest
• Feelings of worthlessness or guilt
• Poor concentration
• Lack of energy particularly in the morning
• Psychotic symptoms (e.g. distorted
  thoughts/beliefs)

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Impact on Learner(3)

• Stress
• Hyperactivity
• Restlessness
• Poor concentration
• Verbal aggression
• Low tolerance threshold
• Forgetfulness

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Strategies to support learners with mental health
difficulties

• We learned not to second guess what might work
  not to restrict our thinking not to forget the
  individual We have broken down our rigid
  thinking patterns and considered what might be
  effective, not just what the accepted strategy
  is.
• The learner is the expert on his/her mental
  health it is the discussion with each individual
  learner that counts.

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What could you do?

• Talk to the learner, broach the subject
• Know your limits
• Make the time
• Ask the right questions
• Know how and where to refer to/liaise with
• Look after yourself
• Be supportive and non-judgemental
• Dont turn away in a crisis

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Mental Health First Aid

• Panic attacks
• Self-injury
• Suicidal thoughts
• Aggression

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Top 10 ways to promote positive mental health in
Adult Education

• Think about the culture and environment of your
  organisation
• Involve and consult learners
• Do policies and procedures promote well-being?
• Audit well-being like a Health and Safety audit
• Use positive images and promotional material

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Top 10 ways to promote positive mental health in
Adult Education

• 6.Training and awareness for learners and staff
• 7. Raise mental health awareness through
  curriculum teams and subjects
• 8. Make information about mental health
  accessible
• 9. Celebrate success and achievements
• 10.Set a positive example of healthy working.

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Contact details

• Inge Axt-Simmonds
• Regional Project Officer, Mental Health South
  West
• NIACE/CSIP(NIMHE) Partnership project supported
  by
• Learning and Skills Council
• Learning Team
• Provincial House
• 25 Oxford Road
• Bournemouth
• BH8 8EY
• Tel. [phone]
• mob. [phone]
• e inge.axtsimmonds_at_lsc.gov.uk
• inge.axt-simmonds_at_niace.org.uk