Feeling anxious? You’re not alone!
- Written by: — Development Officer
- Published: 23rd May 2023
The ALLIANCE marked Mental Health Awareness Week and European Mental Health Week with various activities to promote positive mental health.
Mental Health Awareness Week’s theme this year was anxiety. Anxiety is an emotion we all feel, in different ways. Symptoms of anxiety include heart palpitations, shaking, sweating, feeling nauseous. Lots of different things can lead to feeling anxious, including relationships, work stress, and living with a long term condition. Focusing on anxiety for this year’s Mental Health Awareness Week has helped to increase awareness and understanding of anxiety, by providing information on ways people can prevent and reduce symptoms, as well as signpost to support.
The Scotland Reducing Gambling Harm programme marked Mental Health Awareness Week by hosting a roundtable discussion on the link between gambling harms and mental health. This event brought together people with lived experience, policy makers, and those who work in gambling harms and mental health. We really enjoyed the opportunity to discuss where we are now, where we would like to be in the future, and how to get there as a collaborative. As people with a mental health diagnosis are twice as likely to participate in harmful gambling activities, this was an important opportunity to reflect on the intersections between both issues.
The Living Well programme also hosted a “Living Well and Anxiety” webinar session with Living Well partner organisation Versus Arthritis, who shared key tips on how to manage anxiety related to living with a long term condition. This session covered different self management approaches for managing anxiety, which included using effective communication, problem solving, setting personal goals, and positive distraction.
There are lots of different things we can all do to relax when we are feeling anxious, and different things which help to alleviate stress and the likelihood of experiencing anxiety include:
- Having a good night’s sleep
- Keeping active
- Getting some fresh air
- Getting creative
- Eating a healthy diet
- Learn something new
ALLIANCE staff also marked Mental Health Awareness Week with a coffee morning to talk about our own mental health and what we do to prevent feelings of anxiety. We shared homemade cakes, hot drinks and used the time to colour in and share self care tips, as well as things we took for granted before COVID-19 that are now priorities in our day to day life (for example, getting outside for a nice walk)! We also talked through the challenges we face from time to time, and the best ways to support colleagues to open up about their mental health. This coffee morning was organised by the ALLIANCE’s internal Stigma Working Group, thanks to everyone who could make it!
There has been lots going on at the ALLIANCE to mark Mental Health Awareness Week and we look forward to thinking about different ways to prioritise mental health and wellbeing throughout our work!
End of page.
End of page.
You may also like:
A child cannot truly feel safe in a school or community if they do not feel that they belong.
Continue readingFor 20 years, The ALLIANCE has listened to member voices to help protect and improve Scotland's care services.
Continue readingWith the ALISS Customisable Map Tool, organisations can share info about community resources in ways that work for the people they support.
Continue readingIrene Mackintosh, CEO at Mhor Collective shares highlights and hopes for rights in a digital age.
Continue readingIn her latest TFN column, our Chief Officer Sara Redmond reflects on the proposal to collapse Scotland's 14 regional health boards into two.
Continue readingWhen we listen to lived experience, we create better resources, challenge assumptions and help create safer communities for everyone.
Continue readingGozie reflects on supporting citizen engagement, digital inclusion and hopes for the future.
Continue readingDCP member and Project Co-ordinator Esther Misajel shares Pachedu's journey towards digital inclusion.
Continue readingChris Mackie, Director of Digital, reflects on what ALISS has achieved so far this year and shares what is still to come.
Continue readingAt the ALLIANCE and beyond, true and meaningful policy reform means turning people's experiences into lasting action on the ground.
Continue readingGLP-1s can transform health but without adequate wraparound support, weight loss may come at the cost of nutrition, muscle and wellbeing.
Continue readingSheila Duffy, Chief Executive of ASH Scotland, is appealing for support for proposals to restrict tobacco, vapes and nicotine products.
Continue readingBilly McClean reflects on why SCIC26 offers a vital opportunity to learn together, share what works, and shape the future of integrated care
Continue readingTo mark the ALLIANCE's 20 year anniversary Paul Okroj reflects on the importance of supported self management.
Continue readingTo mark Scottish Learning Disability Week (7 - 13 September), Bruce Adamson reflects on this year's call to action.
Continue readingIn her latest TFN column, our Chief Officer Sara Redmond reflects on the current state of social care in Scotland.
Continue readingKicking off September for the ALLIANCE's 20 year anniversary, Grace reflects on the Self Management Programme
Continue readingSara Redmond, ALLIANCE Chief Officer, on the priorities for 2026's Programme for Government.
Continue readingSandra Auld reflects on the ALLIANCE's people focused impact, collaboration, lived experience, campaigns and lasting change in Scotland.
Continue readingMark shares his experience with gambling harms, and how this intersected with the launch of the ALLIANCE's ScotRGH programme in 2020.
Continue readingProfessor Anna Glasier celebrates 20 years of the ALLIANCE and it's vital role in shaping the Women's Health Plan for Scotland.
Continue readingSara Redmond, ALLIANCE Chief Officer, on the challenges faced by community-led health organisations in delivering prevention.
Continue readingAnnie shares her experience of youth politics, and how SAFE has helped her make connections and makes sense of the world of politics.
Continue readingChloe Craig reflects on how we have helped connect Scotland’s lived experience voice to conversations happening beyond our borders.
Continue readingDr Irene Oldfather reflects on two decades of growth, collaboration, and person centred impact across Scotland and beyond.
Continue reading