(West Kent Mind Training Team. From left to right; Lorna Sharp, Ceri Hodgkiss, Sue Sargeant)
As part of Mental Health Awareness Week, we caught up with Lorna, a member of the West Kent Mind team here in Sevenoaks.
Hi Lorna. We really appreciate you giving your time to talk with us about mental health. Can you tell us a bit about your role at West Kent Mind?
I am a member of the Development & Sustainability team at West Kent Mind and essentially my role is to raise awareness and deliver educational workshops and training courses to local businesses, community groups, schools and individuals. Our mission is to give people the tools to recognise the signs and symptoms of mental ill-health, have the confidence to initiate effective conversations, practice self-care and know what support resources and services are available. Our training is available to everyone and is one of the ways in which we are able to raise funds to ensure the sustainability of our community charity and the vital services that we provide.
Since the pandemic, what kind of new concerns or worries are you seeing in people?
The pandemic has undoubtedly exacerbated many of the factors which contribute to mental ill-health. Everyone reacts differently to change and uncertainty and with social isolation meaning that we have limited access to our usual support networks, the past 14 months has had an unprecedented impact. As we start to move out of lockdown and see our society open back-up, we are now seeing anxieties emerge about having to re-engage with office working and socialising.
If someone reading this is concerned about a loved one can you offer them support?
There are small things we can all do to help a loved one feel supported. Firstly, keep lines of communication open and listen to their concerns in a non-judgemental and empathic way. We do not expect people to have all the answers or to be experts in mental health, but a small conversation and human connection can make a real difference. Supporting a loved one can take its toll on our own wellbeing, so it’s important to take time to look after yourself as well. It’s never too early – or too small a problem – to ask for help, so whether you’re finding things hard yourself, or worried about a loved one, we would urge you to get in touch . We are here to help and can give information about West Kent Mind’s support services, as well as guide people towards other local and national support services. We also have a list of resources and further information available on our website.
What is West Kent Mind doing to raise awareness and normalise mental health issues in the local community?
We work tirelessly to normalise conversations around mental health, equip people with the tools and resources to look after their own mental health and support those who are experiencing poor mental health. Removing assumptions and increasing our self-awareness and enabling early intervention are key to our work. We want to reach those who need us and have adapted all of our support services and training to online platforms. We did not close at all during the pandemic and continued to support people in whatever way we could. We offer services such as therapeutic wellbeing groups (including cooking, gardening, photography, mums support group and support groups for over 55s and carers), supported housing and affordable counselling and are continuously seeking funding to enable us to support those who need it.
This year’s Mental Health Awareness Week is focussing on the positive impacts of nature, what tips can you share to inspire people to get out into the great outdoors?
During the pandemic, reconnecting with nature has provided comfort and solace to many and the simple pleasures and benefits that being in nature can have on both our physical and mental health are significant. This year’s theme fits well with the “Be Active”, “Take Notice” and “Care for the Planet” aspects of the Six Ways to Wellbeing, on which we base many of our therapeutic programmes. (westkentmind.org.
How do you personally like to keep your mental health in check?
For me it is about recognising when I am reaching capacity and taking a step back to ensure I am practicing self-care. I enjoy walking and have recently added a puppy to our home. Ensuring that I get fresh air every day (even better if combined with a catch-up with a friend) and learning not to be so hard on myself definitely help to keep me feeling mentally well.
If someone reading this would like to get involved or volunteer, can they?
There are many ways which you can support West Kent Mind. Following us on social media and sharing our content really helps us to expand our audience and reach those who need us. Undertaking one of our training courses or workshops not only helps to increase your skills and self-awareness but also raises vital funds. Our training offering ranges from the full suite of Adult and Youth Mental Health First Aid courses to bespoke workshops on Understanding Stress and Anxiety, Understanding Depression, Self-harm, Suicide Awareness and Mental Health Awareness. Fundraising events have really taken a hit throughout the pandemic but you can still join our team for one of our planned events or choose to support us through your individual fundraising efforts. If you belong to a local business or organisation, then we can work with you to develop a sustainable culture change surrounding mental health in the workplace or you could support us as your charity of the year. We also regularly look for volunteers to help with specific programmes and are indebted to those who give their time to us.
We have a hugely supportive community around us and supporting local has never been more important. We are incredibly grateful for anything people can do to help us on our mission to raise awareness, open conversations and ensure that nobody is alone in managing their mental health . Please get in touch if anything here is of interest training@westkentmind.org.uk.
