On this Mental Health Day, we wish all the students that they make mental health and well being  a priority. The present and future CA,CMA,CS need to be kinder to themselves, recognise the signs of mental health problems and take preventative action to help keep their mental health and wellbeing on an even keel.

As Mental Health Awareness Week kicks off, Anjul Gulati one of the mentor at Virtual mentors, is urging Institute members and students to prioritise their mental health as the stresses and strains of the post-pandemic landscape present us with an opportunity to implement good mental wellbeing strategies.

 The pandemic had affected people in their working lives where people had experienced unpredictability at home. This had increased the question regarding  “How to maintain mental health” which saw more searches this year than ever before, as well as “how to recover from the same”.

Keeping negativity at bay was crucial to many as the term “doomscrolling” became a popular search in January. Doomscrolling means the act of spending an excessive amount of screen time devoted to the absorption of negative news. Doomscrolling is having a harmful effect on mental health.

Recognizing that the face of work  has changed  and employee wellbeing and mental health is more critical than ever. Also, the CA, CMA and CS student are taking online classes rather than offline which means they are having less interaction with the people. The various platform aims to promote the best practices for mental health awareness.

Virtual Mentors highlight the 5 Steps to mental wellbeing as a useful starting point for strategies to help everyone cope with the stress of day-to-day life. They include being physically active, connecting with other people, and learning new skills.

5 Steps to Mental Well Being

1. Connect with other people

Good relationships are important for your mental wellbeing. They can help you to build a sense of belonging and self-worth, give you an opportunity to share positive experiences provide emotional support and allow you to support others. There are lots of things you could try to help build stronger and closer relationships:

DO’s

ü  if possible, take time each day to be with your family, for example, try arranging a fixed time to eat dinner together

ü  arrange a day out with friends you have not seen for a while

ü  try switching off the TV to talk or play a game with your friends or family

ü  have lunch with a friend/colleague

ü  visit a friend or family member who needs support or company

ü  Volunteer at a local school, your apartment or society, hospital or community group.

ü  make the most of technology to stay in touch with friends and family.

ü  Video-chat apps like Skype and FaceTime are useful, especially if you live far apart

Don’t

ü  do not rely on technology or social media alone to build relationships. It's easy to get into the habit of only ever texting, messaging or emailing people

2. Be physically active

Being active is not only great for your physical health and fitness. Evidence also shows it can also improve your mental wellbeing by:

ü  raising your self-esteem

ü  helping you to set goals or challenges and achieve them

ü  causing chemical changes in your brain which can help to positively change your mood

Find out more about getting active

Do

ü  find free activities to help you get fit

ü  if you have a disability or long-term health condition, find out about getting active with a disability

ü  start running with good music

ü  find out how to start swimming, cycling or dancing

ü  find out about getting started with exercise

Don’t

ü  do not feel that you have to spend hours in a gym. It's best to find activities you enjoy and make them a part of your life

3. Learn new skills

Research shows that learning new skills can also improve your mental wellbeing by:

•          Boosting self-confidence and raising self-esteem

•          helping you to build a sense of purpose

•          helping you to connect with others

•          Even if you feel like you do not have enough time, or you may not need to learn new things, there are lots of different ways to bring learning into your life.

Some of the things you could try include:

Do

ü  try learning to cook something new. Find out about healthy eating and cooking tips

ü  try taking on a new responsibility at work, such as mentoring a junior staff member or improving your presentation skills

ü  work on a DIY project, such as fixing a broken bike, garden gate or something bigger. There are lots of free video tutorials online

ü  consider signing up for a course at a local college. You could try learning a new language or a practical skill such as plumbing

ü  try new hobbies that challenge you, such as writing a blog, taking up a new sport or learning to paint

Don’t

ü  do not feel you have to learn new qualifications or sit exams if this does not interest you. It's best to find activities you enjoy and make them a part of your life

4. Give to others

Research suggests that acts of giving and kindness can help improve your mental wellbeing by:

ü  creating positive feelings and a sense of reward

ü  giving you a feeling of purpose and self-worth

ü  helping you connect with other people

It could be small acts of kindness towards other people, or larger ones like volunteering in your local community.

Some examples of the things you could try include:

ü  saying thank you to someone for something they have done for you

ü  asking friends, family or colleagues how they are and really listening to their answer

ü  spending time with friends or relatives who need support or company

ü  offering to help someone you know with DIY or a work project

ü  volunteering in your community, such as helping at a school, hospital or care home

5. Pay attention to the present moment (mindfulness)

Paying more attention to the present moment can improve your mental wellbeing. This includes your thoughts and feelings, your body and the world around you.

Some people call this awareness "mindfulness". Mindfulness can help you enjoy life more and understand yourself better. It can positively change the way you feel about life and how you approach challenges.