Welcome to 2022!

January is typically the time of year when we look back at the year just gone and enthusiastically make plans for the forthcoming year. I have been reflecting on 2021 and what a year it was! It certainly was not what many of us had hoped for. Unfortunately, our expectations of it being a better […]
World Menopause Day: supporting women in the workplace

Menopause is a diversity issue. Companies lose women at senior levels if they don’t have menopause support built into their policy. Every year on October 18th, World Menopause Day is observed. The goal of the day is to increase awareness of the menopause and the resources available to help women improve their health and wellbeing. […]
First time ever I saw your face: notes from our first ‘real life’ team meeting

We held our first face to face meeting since substantially growing our training team. We normally meet once a month virtually, but we thought we’d take advantage of eased restrictions and a beautiful venue in the heart of the city to munch on bacon rolls and for some of us, to meet each other in […]
Take me to the river

A year before the pandemic we moved to a flat directly overlooking a river. Initially we worried that it could flood (it had done in the past) but it was so picturesque and mesmerising that we took a chance and, despite some freak weather when the flood gates got locked and we lost a beautiful […]
Living alone during lockdown or other periods of isolation.

Some of us get along fine with our own company, others feel isolated and lonely, and the last couple of years have exacerbated those feelings. For a person looking for a relationship, the challenges of physically meeting someone have been barriers. For others not looking for relationships, missing meeting up with friends is a challenge […]
Getting on with your partner during lockdown

In our sessions, we often hear from people who are worried about the mental health of their partners. And if you are both struggling with your mental health it can be hard to have the time or energy to be supportive to each other. If you are in the middle of your working day and […]
Understanding stress

Some of us get along fine with our own company, others feel isolated and lonely, and the last couple of years have exacerbated those feelings. For a person looking for a relationship, finding new connections or missing meeting up with friends is a challenge that can feel difficult to manage. Even though restrictions change all […]
Challenges for mothers during lockdown

A Course attendee, at one of our mental health first aid courses, said: “I feel as though I have three jobs now and I am overwhelmed and failing at all of them.” A recent study of over 6,000 adults by the Office of National Statistics (ONS) shows that one in three women who are homeschooling […]
Children in lockdown

The impact on kids and on family life During many of our recent training sessions, parents have often expressed that they are now looking after or are concerned about the mental health of their children. We’ve compiled some ideas from these sessions that we find work for us. Whilst we are looking forward to things […]